Paying musicians to record your song

Subject: Paying musicians to record your song
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Mar 10 - 04:58 AM

Hi

I've been trying to find out this information but am not really finding anything and wondered if anyone on the forum could help. I write songs and am interested in getting someone else to sing on them. If I bring someone in to sing on one song, how much should I reasonably be paying them? Is there a minimum amount that they should be receiving?


Thanks

Subject: RE: Paying musicians to record your song
From: GUEST
Date: 29 Mar 10 - 04:59 AM

Should have mentioned am UK based

Subject: RE: Paying musicians to record your song
From: doc.tom
Date: 29 Mar 10 - 05:32 AM

What you seem to be after is information on "session fees" - the performer gets paid (or not) for recording, and then has no further pecuniary interest in the resulting 'product' (but be aware of PPS although it's not your cost). It's wide open! Some people will record on your album for nothing - highly sought after session musicians can command £thousands per hour!

You pays your money and you takes your choice.

Subject: RE: Paying musicians to record your song
From: Leadfingers
Date: 29 Mar 10 - 06:00 AM

As Doc Tom says -IF you want a 'name' performer , you have to make a deal - The Artist will make a charge related to how interested they are in the material .
Alternatively . get to your local Folk Club or Open Mike session , check out the 'Unknown' talent and make them an offer .
If your songs appeal , you may get away with only paying for Studio Time , or even get a free deal .

Subject: RE: Paying musicians to record your song
From: matt milton
Date: 29 Mar 10 - 06:05 AM

You've asked a 'how long is a piece of string' question?

How long do you imagine this will take? Half an hour? A day? Several days? Where will this be recorded? Will you be releasing and selling the results?

Subject: RE: Paying musicians to record your song
From: Howard Jones
Date: 29 Mar 10 - 08:05 AM

The Musicians Union has standard minimum rates for most types of performance, although for some strange reason you can only see these on their website if you're a MU member. Contact them. Of course these are minimum rates and musicians may charge more. On the other hand, most folk musicians are not MU members and may be willing to do it for less.

Subject: RE: Paying musicians to record your song
From: Ebbie
Date: 29 Mar 10 - 11:32 AM

In Juneau, Alaska, USA, standard practice holds that rarely, if ever, does anyone say No to assisting in a recording and it is the project leader's choice as to who and what. They are all friends and admirers or at least acquaintances of each other. There is no financial arrangement but everyone's name appears on the J card, usually with a statement of appreciation.

Subject: RE: Paying musicians to record your song
From: olddude
Date: 29 Mar 10 - 11:38 AM

I have a little different take, people will find your music if the songs are strong enough ... but it takes a lot of work for you to put them out where people can hear them ... perform them at every venue you can ... Also join some sites like www.jpfolks.com
lots of Nashville guys on that site under the hood listening ... a couple of regular people got picked up by their songs on there, revernation is another good one ... myspace music is flooded .. don't know how good that is cause no one has the time to wade through it all but JP folks is specific to new songs

Dan

Subject: RE: Paying musicians to record your song
From: doc.tom
Date: 30 Mar 10 - 04:34 AM

olddude is right, of course. But that wasn't the question. Getting the material out there is a different issue.
TomB

Subject: RE: Paying musicians to record your song
From: Alan Day
Date: 30 Mar 10 - 04:50 AM

I never even considered this question, I always thought that if your song was good enough an artist would contact you and perform it. The first night I performed a song a professional singer asked me if he could use it and of course I gave permission. There are a number of places you can perform your songs and get them aired without actually paying somebody. I would never assume they were that good until I got some sort of feedback, you could be wasting your money.
Al

Subject: RE: Paying musicians to record your song
From: Melissa
Date: 30 Mar 10 - 04:59 AM

When I read the op, I thought our nameless guest was talking about getting somebody to record songs for a demo..thought it was probably a step in trying to peddle the songs to a Name.

I guess I mis-thought, huh?

Subject: RE: Paying musicians to record your song
From: Mr Red
Date: 30 Mar 10 - 05:04 AM

Sammy Cahn said in a talk he gave about his songwriting career said that he put his song out for "adoption" by a singer at (if I remember) $50,000 and Nat King Cole jumped at it. And Nat reported years later that he would have grabbed it for nothing. I can't remember the song but it is one of the classics and earned far more than the sweetener in the long run.

If you believe in the song you may have to put your stake in, because the singer may have to put a reputation in too.

As to the going rate to get that - no idea but there is the follow on - will the singer continue to sing it as part of the act? That is worth more. How well known is the singer and how much self-marketing do they do?

Otherwise it may be session muso's rates +/- negotiation.