How Much Is a Commission for Album Cover Art
HELPING ARTISTS MASTER THE Business organization OF ART, ONE STRATEGY AT A TIME
How much should y'all charge a band for CD and album cover art
A recurring question I get from artists is: "Should I give my art to a band for Album Cover Fine art in substitution for exposure, or should I charge them? And if so, how much?"
This is a ii part question. First, should y'all give information technology abroad for costless? And 2d, how much should you charge?
Read on, and like I ever do, I'yard going to go deep into the philosophy of getting paid and how to get about pricing your work.
SHOULD You lot GIVE YOUR ART TO A Ring FOR FREE?
NO. Why? If it's a major label backed by a tape company, they tin can beget your art.
And, if they are a pocket-sized garage band making their outset anthology, they demand to have some peel in the game. This is how they will learn most business, and music is indeed a concern.
Always charge a fee, even if it's but a small fee. Never give information technology abroad for free.
When someone doesn't want to pay for fine art, it has little to no value to them, and this feeling of no value transcends the ring. It spreads out into the Ether of the Universe. If at that place is no value placed on your art, chances are they won't use the art properly. Or they will accidentally exit off the artist's signature, or they will fail to provide the promotional value that they promised.
Money is an exchange of energy and energy has to menses both ways. Your art is also an exchange of energy. To continue proper balance, your fine art has to flow outward while the money flows inward.
When you don't value your own art, no one else volition, either. And then the energy gets stuck, commonly right in your solar plexus, and afterwards years and years of giving art away you begin to feel used. And and then your relationship with art becomes a dark one. And it will be your error. Sad to tell you that, but, I'grand trying to salve artists from this terrible fate that I've witnessed in older artists.
The amount of money you charge doesn't matter every bit much as the fact that SOMETHING is paid for the fine art.
If it's a small garage band with no budget, and yous LOVE their music and want to be a part of what they're doing, then it'south okay to give them a killer deal on the art. But, if giving a great bargain, be stricter on your restrictions as to how they can use it. (I'll become into particular on that more later in this post.)
Below are my top reasons for charging small bands for your fine art:
i – Making an album is a costly endeavor. If a band is recording an album, they have to come up up with money to rent studio time (almost $300-$500/day), pay for mastering the album (nearly $500+) and then having the CD'due south fabricated ($300+). On the very cheap end, they are investing about $4,000+ to make an album. The album comprehend art fee is but added to that cost of having an album made. Anybody else gets paid, so why shouldn't the creative person? (The band will get paid when they sell their music.)
two – Yous don't want to over-expose your art in the music world. You take to pick and choose which bands will use your art, and if you're giving it away, and then y'all run the risk of over-exposure by making your art as well hands available.
iii – When people pay for fine art, the artist actually has MORE control over the fine art. This is a psychological matter. The mere deed of exchanging money implies that the art is valued, and the artist has say in how their art is displayed, how their proper name will appear on the cover, and what the art can exist used for in addition to the embrace (i.e. merchandise, tees, posters, etc.)
If you lot aren't charging for the art, and then you will most likely become sloppy nearly everything else, such as, what you are agreeing to allow the band to do with the art besides putting information technology on the CD comprehend. Y'all might merely hand information technology over and allow them do anything they want with it. And this is never a good thing, because later you might see your art printed on posters, tees, hats and all sorts of trade, with no mention of your name, and yous will experience used. This happens often.
HOW MUCH SHOULD Yous CHARGE A BAND FOR THEIR CD OR Album Cover ART?
The amount you charge will be determined by the level of the band (how large are they), what they program to employ the fine art for (CD's or merchandise too), and how experienced you are or the value you are providing to them.
The toll ranges shown below assume that you are a professional artist who has been creating art for at least v years and you know how to give a client what they demand. If you are inexperienced and so your prices would be on the low end. If you are experienced and your art gives the band what they demand and provides great value, you would charge on the higher cease.
Yous would besides arrange the pricing if they are using existing art, rather then having yous create new art.
Y'all would add more $$$ to the prices if: You will be expected to exercise whatever graphic pattern work (like fitting the art to a template for albums or merchandise), or if they take very specific elements and add complexity to the design, or if they volition be using the artwork for a national advertising campaign, or if they want to own all rights to information technology (which I never recommend doing).
At that place are three levels of pricing, based on the blazon of ring. They are:
1 – Garage band (new, immature, never made an album before): $350 – $2,500: If you Love the ring and desire to be a office of what they're doing, come up up with a toll and brand it work for them. Even if all you accuse is $350, at least yous got paid and you lot know they are going to value your work.
2 – Mid level band (making a name for themselves in their local area, already touring and working on their 2nd or 3rd album): $1,500 – $half dozen,000+. Nosotros have had Drew create art for bands such as Mutual Sense and SOWFLO. For SOWFLO, the artwork was designed specifically so that it could be used for multiple types of merchandise, back drops and advertising. Yous can read about our SOWFLO case study here.
3 – Big Name Bands (a band that about people have heard of): $2,500 – $10,000+. We've done work for Sublime with Rome and Eddie Vedder, probably our two biggest musical clients to date. And both were great to work with.
We've given price quotes for many other big bands, but some did not want to pay our prices, so they plant an artist who charged less. It's interesting when you work with bands this well known; some of them withal don't value the artwork of artists, and I notice that ironic, because they are artists themselves! Drew and I choose non to practise business with people who cheapen Drew'southward art, as it doesn't feel good.
Any ring that nosotros have had Drew create art for, is a band that valued Drew and his piece of work.
Since you don't want your art on too many anthology covers, equally you could actually go over-exposed, yous accept to be picky and work merely with those who treat you well.
WHAT RESTRICTIONS SHOULD YOU Place ON THE Ring'S Use OF YOUR Art?
Always have a written agreement, even with a garage band. Your agreement does not have to be a formal contract. You can write upwards a simple agreement and send it by e-mail or take it printed on a piece of newspaper. Endeavor to become them to sign it, but even if they don't sign it, legally it's valid because their payment of your fee indicates understanding to your terms.
Your agreement will spell out the following terms:
PRICING: Indicate what they are paying for the fine art. Specify the amount and the date the payment is due. Get paid a deposit upwardly front to avoid issues later.
*Note on Royalty Payments: I would avoid request for royalty payments from a pocket-sized band – you'll never see the reports or money. (They well-nigh likely don't have an bookkeeping department!) Instead, charge a 1-time fee that'south paid upwards front, before you hand over the art files.
USAGE: Specify what rights they have to use the art for. Yous would list the rights like this: "For printing on album/CD covers, merchandise, advertizement, stage banners, bus wraps." Or, if they program to just use the art for an anthology cover, and so it would say "For printing on Album/CD covers only."
TIME Menses: Specify how long they can use the fine art in years. For example "This agreement is effective for five years."
When working with a large band who is paying top dollar for your art, you would nearly likely give them rights to utilize the art in perpetuity (forever).
If yous are giving a ring a groovy bargain (cheap toll) on the artwork, never requite them long term rights. Take your agreement state that they get to use the fine art for a specific time period (i.eastward. 3 years), or until they are picked upwardly by a record characterization, whichever comes first. If they are picked up by record label, they will take the budget for fine art and can pay you a reasonable fee at that time. If they aren't picked upwards by a record company, and want to renew use of the fine art for another printing, then y'all can charge them another small fee (or whatever feels proficient to you lot).
COPYRIGHTS: Always go on ownership to your copyrights, when providing artwork for whatsoever client, even a band. If you are an artist who has your ain style (and your business model is to become known for your art), you should always keep the copyrights. Even when working with very large bands, like Sublime with Rome or Eddie Vedder, Drew has kept the copyrights to his artwork.
Your agreement might say something like this: "Artist keeps ownership to copyrights to artwork and retains rights to sell art prints of the prototype."
Note: When providing fine art for a ring for their album encompass and their trade, yous shouldn't produce your own merchandise with the art. Information technology's not off-white to the ring, who makes most of their money from trade sales. Only, what y'all can practise with the art is make art prints and sell those. (If you plan to sell the art prints with the band's proper noun printed on the fine art, you have to get written permission from the band to do so.)
Creative person'S Proper name Conspicuously LEGIBLE ON ALL ITEMS: In your understanding, state that the artists' signature is clearly legible where ever information technology is printed. This is important for professional artists, or those who plan to exist one.
SAMPLES: Specify that you will receive at least 3 samples of the CDs/albums and merchandise they produce, at no charge.
ORIGINAL ARTWORK: If you create the art as a painting or drawing, specify what y'all will accuse extra for them to buy the original(s). Always charge extra for the original artwork. If they choose not to buy information technology, you can earn more than $$$ selling it later on to your collectors.
In my new book, Art, MONEY & SUCCESS, I write well-nigh how to charge for many different things. If you are interested in learning more nearly my book, sign up for the excerpts here: http://eepurl.com/b2IHHT.
Was this article helpful for you? Have y'all worked with bands in the past?
Please share your thoughts and questions in the comments!
Cheers for reading,
Maria xxoo
62 Comments → How much should you charge a band for CD and album cover art
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Hello Maria,
cheers for this wonderful advice. I have my first client and now I search for advice on licencing and some numbers and your commodity really helped me.
I guess yous have a new reader 🙂
Best,
Claudia
Thanks, Claudia. Welcome, and I appreciate your comment!
Yep, slap-up commodity. How would you become about copyrighting though? Does your words solitary solidify your copyright ownership?
Hey Maria, I would similar to right some miscalculations in your pricing model for recording an album. I've worked in a studio for many years along side with many other producers, mixers, And people who master those albums. I would say that actually recording an album is a lot cheaper so what your pricing accept listed higher up. Not simply in the 1 I work in but others also. I would say almost albums (like a full general average for most recording studios artist get to) cost around 2,500$ to brand, simply that's if they are working for a long time in the studio and experimenting with the sounds, just most creative person have the idea and music behind there music. I'd say at most, if the artist is smart, they're anthology will cost 1,500$ at almost. Unless in a major city surface area. That would cost probably closer to the prices you take listed. So for any creative person who make cover albums I'd say conform your prices based on surface area and what recording studios around y'all expanse, and they're toll. Not a compliant against your points on cover artist (graphic and cover artist not musically artist) pay, nor even criticism towards your points. I just wanted to correct the numbers so that the graphic designers and the cover artist know that the price of an album is cheaper so almost people recollect.
Hi Maria,
Great article and I've had a few bands ask me for costless employ of existing artwork and and so decline when I asked that they come with a nominal fee proposal equally an free energy exchange.
The prices y'all quote in your article seem to be for artwork that's created for that anthology. What about a ring that wants to use an image from an existing painting. What would you propose for that?
Every bit ever, thanks!
Dearest Dominique,
Cheers for the annotate and the question! For utilise of existing artwork – I would stick with my price ranges and charge on the lower terminate, as it will exist less work to apply existing art. The pricing depends on so many factors – the size of the band, who their management company is (and their size), what the art is existence used for. But to simplify it, let'due south say the ring is a garage ring (no manager, no money) and they want to use existing art, and we Honey their music and desire to help them out, I might let them employ the art (with a lot of restrictions) for $250. Nonetheless, if it was a big ring with a record label company bankroll them, and they program to use the fine art for multiple types of merchandise, I'd requite them a 30% or xl% discount off of the normal custom art price (refer to the range of pricing in my article above). IN THE END – the about important thing to know is that yous should feel good about what you're being paid. So, come up with a price that feels good to both parties and y'all've got a win-win situation.
Hello Maria!
Great article and very insightful!
I do have two questions I hope you lot could help clarify. I'grand a bit confused with what the price range in the commodity is meant for. My understanding was that it was meant for creating art specifically for the album, which Dominique reaffirmed. Nevertheless, your reply mentioned to stick to the cost range as well for existing artwork.
1) If the band is mid level, made 2-three albums, no label, touring and want an anthology cover art merely, are yous saying that 1500 would be the everyman one could charge for existing art simply if it requires totally customized art and so get higher, staying within that range?
ii) Could you elaborate further on what the deliverables are for customizing the art? Since they'd have to pay actress for the orginal painting, and graphic blueprint is also extra to size information technology up to template, what am I submitting to them in exchange of the $1500 I'll be charging?
Thank y'all for this informative weblog post. I've been approached to provide art for book covers or to accompany poems in a book. A few times it worked out and a few times it didn't based on the theme of your mail service.
🙂
Thank you for commenting, Celeste! 🙂
A really informative read, cheers Maria. I take produced a few album covers over the years, virtually recently for a local band. They wanted me to adapt an existing work which was pretty straightforward. I priced it at £350 which I think was most right for the amount of work I put in, and I didn't have to gear up the graphics up. I was careful to stipulate that the artwork was for the anthology encompass only and the agreement was on that basis. Nevertheless that didn't stop them from asking a month afterward if they could accept the artwork files so they could adapt it for merchandise! Including an art print! I was shocked by their request and politely explained that this was out of the question.
I remember information technology is important to state any restrictions on the utilize of the artwork when you quote them for it.
The best advice yous've given me is to never E'er sell copyright of the image. If I become this request I e'er say no and explicate why, and tell them they can have a license for the image for 5 years.
Your emails and blog posts are invaluable and always total of excellent advice. Give thanks y'all!
Alex, thanks for sharing all of this info!
Suggestion to anyone who gives a slap-up price for usage simply on a cover, so later on the band wants permission to use the art on merchandise – tell them yes, of form, but, it's going to price an extra licensing fee.
I idea you would say that. I idea, why not? just charge extra. But I have a client that I did merch for. If they are still consulting me after the payment while they are working with their merch-makers (me being the designer only) should i charge an actress fee? or only when they demand adjustments?
I've said it earlier, but it bears repeating – you are the only advisor, expert, consultant that I've ever found that gives actual fees when y'all discuss various fine art projects. It is and so helpful to have some thought of where to start, or what the average range is for a variety of art works. I know your advise has certainly changed the way I arroyo clients, and I get the sense that my clients appreciate an artist who is confident in their work and their fees. I'g getting better at introducing a discussion of fees early on in my conversations with clients – it flushes out the ones who never actually planned on paying, or who undervalue artists. To a higher place all, I totally concord with you lot on valuing your art plenty to always accuse something, even if you decide to requite your client a "bargain". Thanks for some other bang-up mail!
Joan, I then much capeesh your kind words! And, I love how y'all wrote "I get the sense that my clients appreciate an artist who is confident in their work and their fees" – this is absolute truth. Glad that you are getting comfy with introducing the coin word early. Thanks for the comment here!
Howdy Maria, thank you lot for this nifty information, tin this be applied also for creating volume covers for self publishing authors?
Hi August, great question. Creating volume covers is totally different. I recommend yous purchase a copy of the Artists Social club'southward Guide to Ethical Pricing – in there it has all sorts of pricing for book illustrations, and pricing depends upon usage (cover, vs. inside of book, etc.).
To compete in the book cover design biz, you have to take a lot of experience and a portfolio showing book covers you designed that makes a volume sell.
In that location are designers on Fivvr selling book embrace design for as low every bit $5. Merely, they aren't very good, so, if someone wants a GOOD volume cover, they volition go to an experienced designer who charges more but knows a lot more than about what makes a book sell.
Cheers Maria for the information. I never thought about bands looking for fine art work for an anthology cover.
I'm a photographer and some of my photos are abstruse. Would a photo work well for a band if they liked the photo, abstruse or not? Would the prices be comparable to a painting? Linking a band to an album cover photo or painting is POWERFUL! If the band is proficient they can be remembered ( more sales for them ) also by the comprehend, besides as their songs.
I worked for Warner Brothers Records in Burbank, Ca. in the late 60s until 1978 in the promotional artistic services area. You cannot dismiss the POWER of an album comprehend in relating it to the bands name.
Dose anyone quondam enough to remember the first Led Zeppelin album with its kodalith black and white encompass in the belatedly 1960s, which had the demise of the Hindenburg on the encompass?
In that location isn't anyone of my age I know that couldn't wait at that anthology cover today ( with the bands proper noun removed ) and non tell you who the bands name was! Thats ability.
I think doing a comprehend for a band is a neat thought for a painter, or possibly a photographer?
hey!
swell advice! what if it's a person, needing a cover art for his single. no company or direction that I know of. it didn't seem like he had one. how should I toll the cover? is information technology the aforementioned for an album cover?? or is information technology different pricing for a unmarried cover?
I disagree with most of the "advice" you mentioned and maybe I should write my own article on the subject field but with the economic downturn of the last decade, people, especially artists and musicians are struggling for money. The fact is their is no money. I've done album covers for well-nigh every genre of music so I know a thing or two about this discipline. Galleries are closing their doors left and write. The Millineals are not buying art or music for the virtually part. So become ahead and inquire a bankrupt musician for $350 and encounter how long that conversation lasts.. Your advice is only correct for a band singed to a tape label though. Too I completely disagree well-nigh overexposing yourself. Impossible! There's no such affair. Evidence me an example. These are skilful problems. Every creative person should just dream of being over exposed.
Howdy Justin, thanks for sharing your feel in working with bands. Yous are totally right nearly that, there are many bands who cannot beget to pay for artwork.
There are as well many who can. And an artist tin choose which type of band they want to exercise business with. I don't work with "bankrupt" bands. Merely that is a choice that I make, driven by the fact that I choose to make my business profitable.
I'm non saying information technology's wrong for you to choose to sell your designs for very cheap to a band who cannot afford much; especially if you lot honey their music and desire to help them out, and maybe you don't need the money. It's very kind of you lot.
Merely for artists who want to earn a living with their art (whom I write this weblog for), they have to be choosy and work only with clients who tin afford to pay them.
Regarding over-exposure: I agree, it's a good problem to accept! But allow me explain further what I meant, and I should have explained information technology in this fashion:
A band doesn't desire a CD cover that has the same style of art as another ring. You accept to be really careful with that, you'll upset the bands you've worked with in the past when yous put your fine art on likewise many covers. This is what I meant by over-exposure. You have to be selective and not put your art on also many covers, it's not skillful for the bands or you.
Howdy Maria,
This commodity was incredibly helpful! I take just started selling my art (mainly custom commission pieces) and have been contacted by a mid level band in regards to creating a t shirt design for them (and take barely any experience with pricing). My biggest question is, should I be charging a 1 time fee for the design or should it be more of a continuous affair, because they volition be selling a lot (hopefully) of shirts? Thanks so much for all your info!
It'southward best to do a erstwhile flat fee with a band, unless they are backed by a giant record label. The reason is that they won't accept an accounting organization in place to pay royalties, and information technology will go a problem. Become the money paid up front, and if your designs sell really well, they will come back to you for more!
Hey Maria!
Amazing article!
I've just been commissioned for 3 panels on an upcoming album and I was wondering how to price it as they want to buy the artworks outright!
Thank you so much for the article It has helped and so much already!
Tanna
Hello Maria,
You are AWESOME!!. Thanks for the wonderful advise. It has given me more than insight the way I deal with my clients.
I loved this article. Does this apply to t shirt licensing? I merely rejected an agreement for an already drawn piece equally a design. The manager wanted to use information technology in perpetuity for a $300 flat fee. His talent is established and about to interruption through. He was very boarish toward me when I wanted to talk about it, so since zero was signed I withdrew from it.
Maria provides many excellent strategies to license art and photographs to musicians and their media utilize.
And yes, it'due south critical to insist that you retain the copyright to works you lot license to CD covers, music anthology, book covers, and other media.
HOWEVER, if you have non "timely" registered your copyright with the U.s. Copyright Office, you lot'll likely have very express enforcement power to pursue licensees who go rogue on y'all (they exceed the licensing agreement terms, skip payment, etc.) or an infringer exploits your published art without your approval. In curt, it can be also expensive to go afterwards licensees and infringers. Don't believe me, ask an experienced copyright litigator!
And so, Earlier licensing your art for a CD cover or other media, go it registered!
QUESTION: How do yous show to a federal courtroom judge that you authored/created/own your artwork, photograph, manuscript, moving-picture show, song, poem, etc.?
Answer: If you register your creative works with the U.s. Copyright Office BEFORE publication or Inside five-years of offset-publication, you lot receive presumptive proof (prima facie prove) that you accept a valid copyright, and the facts you included in your copyright registration application will be deemed valid. Having your copyright Certificate of Registration in-hand helps show that you authored (and own) your artwork and that you have a bona-fide copyright ownership (meet 17 USC § 410(c)). The federal court will not have your use of a poor man's copyright (envelop) or a time-stamping tool to prove your copyright authorship—you need that Certificate of Registration issued by the United states of america Copyright Part!
A timely registered copyright is your insurance policy in case the artwork y'all licensed to the band gets used beyond your licensing agreement. Timely registered works helps encourage/push infringers/rogue licensees to settle the matter (apace) and without going to trial. Don't believe me, then ask an experienced copyright litigator!
Timely registering your copyrights is an accented necessity to protect your art portfolio and to stay in business.
Maria's outline of how to license artwork to music licensees is correct–what's missing is the critical part about timely registering the artwork before licensing it. Encounter below:
Joshua Kaufman, a Washington, DC copyright litigator, explains why yous should timely annals your copyrights (4-minutes): https://youtu.exist/cBOKkrleY3Y
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Thank you so much for this! I'1000 a immature artist (nonetheless in college) but my cousin'due south garage band has commissioned me to make original, traditional album art for their EP. I had no idea what to charge merely at present I accept a much better idea 🙂
Hello guys I have a question about music production , what do you think is it worth to use samples, acapella from here ?
https://www.lucidsamples.com
How does artwork become copyrighted?
Escuse me
Howdy Maria,
Great article! I have a question regarding unlike formats.
Lets say I am tasked to create an illustration for a CD, simply it will exist used for vinyl and cassette record equally well. Should one charge the same charge per unit for apply on these different formats?
Thanks!
Newbies are not aware how much Work is involved in issuing a license, whether free or paid for. Every time I outcome a license, not simply does it take me office time to ready information technology (tape keeping, archiving, reminders, other correspondence, etc), plus allocating extra time in the future to monitor it. People who requests freebies are unaware of how much office/paper time information technology costs you – at least 1/2 hour and fifty-fifty more if there are follow ups. You simply tin't afford to give your time away for free if y'all want to stay in business. Personally, I'd rather say "no" than accuse a small corporeality. I try to find other means to exist charitable.
Question nigh photoshoots. I'm a photogrpaher and make digital art out of photos, then images of bands for their album art/covers involve a shoot and post-processing.
I approximate this is custom artwork by default if they arent using an existing photo. What are your thoughts?
Also, you discuss the corporeality of copies made factoring into the price, what sort of range practice you lot use…. ie 100, 1000, 10k+ copies, etc?
Thanks 🙂
I have a question: A young band I know is struggling to assist back up the parents of ii of the members (brothers) who are ill. I accept painted small portraits of all 3 members as part of a divide projection, and I would like to help them with fine art for an CD cover if they programme to brand one to raise money for their family. Would information technology be better to offer: i) to charge a negligable fee for a restricted and brusk term copyright use of the paintings; 2) to let them use the image for a set time period before paying me a larger fee; or 3) to adjust to have royalties paid me when CD's are purchased? Or none of the above?
Hi Marilyn,
I would not ever advise a royalty arrangement with a small band considering the payout would exist too small to bother with and their accounting may be inaccurate due to lack of the proper software program that only big bands use (and larger bands are non normally willing to pay royalties, either). Information technology's all-time to charge a one-time fee and if you want to limit the number of years the image is used, y'all can exercise that. If they want to continue to utilize information technology afterward the agreement is up, and then they can pay you over again.
Hi, Maria! This has been so helpful! I've been looking at so many articles and yours was perfect! Thank you then much. Quick question – I've been a hobbyist photographer for quite some time and just recently got a message from a small band to utilise ane of my photos for their album. I understand and hold with charging the one fee for the license. I like what they do and want to back up them. But if they want to also utilise it for merchandise is this extra or a percentage? I'm dislocated on that office.
Thank you, that is an first-class summary. I'm a fine art photographer and the question came upward almost licensing one of my pieces. I found this article on the starting time try and it answered all of my questions.
Hi Maria!
Cheers for the cracking post. Do y'all recommend the aforementioned for analogy for the books or book comprehend?
Hi, I've been doing graphic design (generally calligraphy, type and some illustration) on the side to earn extra (usually $1000 each twelvemonth to pay for my child's activities and books). Recently I was deputed by a non-profit tape characterization doing an album for a very small band. I charged them about $200, and $100 for the original. I knew that I cut my prices downwards since I felt they were a new small band and the record label was not-turn a profit and read they were struggling with hire etc. Anyways, my lack of feel with labels, bands and anthology covers may have been at play too. I feel I should have charged double, no? also, if the digital file is priced at $X, is in that location a rule of pollex how much to charge for the original? is it also $Ten or 2X, 3X? I'g someone who is soooo fastened to my original art, and whenever I have to ship it I experience like a piece of me is gone. I demand to go ameliorate at pricing, I experience that my art and the passion I put into it is worth more what I initially put on the invoices, I end up always realizing that after the invoice is sent and information technology'south a terrible feeling. I never seem to larn, always repeating the same.
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Deplorable meant to annotate on the post not as a reply, annotate over again:
Question most photoshoots. I'm a photogrpaher and make digital art out of photos, and so images of bands for their album art/covers involve a shoot and mail service-processing.
I guess this is custom artwork past default if they arent using an existing photograph. What are your thoughts?
Also, you lot discuss the amount of copies made factoring into the cost, what sort of range do you employ…. ie 100, yard, 10k+ copies, etc?
Thanks 🙂
Corking stuff accept learn here. Please keep teaching united states hither.
Years ago, I was at a county fair and basically deputed a painting from a fellow nether a canopy on the street who was making art with spray paint. I own the painting. I did not sign annihilation agreeing to any restrictions regarding use. I do non have whatever contact info for the artist, nor is his signature legible. What's your opinion well-nigh using this painting as an anthology cover? Cheers, and cheers for the insights here.
Hi Joey, thanks for the question. Legally, without the creative person's written permission, you lot cannot utilise that artwork for your anthology cover or for annihilation that will be reproduced. In the USA, the copyright police states that the artist must sign the rights over to someone for such usage. If you tin't track down the artist, then y'all'll have to discover another artwork to employ (one y'all have permission for utilize).
Cracking to know. Thanks!
Hi! I agree with everything you said and I was glad to see that you specified a suggested price for each level of creative person. I have done photos for 2 bands, both would be in your "garage ring" tier. The starting time included photos just, no pattern piece of work, and I worked with them within their budget of $250. The 2nd included fewer photos but also design and required my working with the press on their behalf and was paid $450 and a copy of the CD for the job. To put that in perspective, my typical family unit client pays between $1500-4000 for their session and printed artwork.
Hullo Maria, cheers so much for this helpful post. I do have one question, how practise I know I am giving them all the files they need? I am just starting out and while I can blueprint it simply fine, it is the details that confuse me. I don't want to produce something and forget something vital.
How-do-you-do Maria, corking article! It's always helpful to encounter prices detailed and explained. Your experiences mirror very much my ain with band art. Information technology can be easy to undercharge, especially if you honey the music, just I have found it'due south amend to offering prices true to the value of your work and prepare the bar loftier.
Hi Maria, great article. I showed this to my daughter and it actually helped as a band asked her to design the cover for their single. Quick question, They have now asked for a band logo. Should she charge more? I think she should as the logo will be used on everything from online promotion as well equally band merch. She only charged £75 for the unmarried cover as they were unsigned. Do you think £160 is a fair price or is that crazy haha
Hi, Maria,
Would love your opinion: I recently learned that a painting I gave to a friend as a gift many years ago has been used as the cover art for a CD he made (he's a singer/songwriter of some renown). I really establish out about it on Facebook!
He'south offered me a gratuitous CD.
Am I right in thinking he's being, mmm, stingy?
How-do-you-do Stephanie,
Your friend doesn't have rights to use the artwork on whatsoever commercial or printed detail without your written permission. He should pay you a usage fee, if you choose to give him permission to utilize it.
If he'south a small band, just starting out, I would charge something reasonable that he can beget and that you would experience skilful about. AND he should give you a few cds also!
If the ring is managed by a tape label, then you should negotiate a higher amount $$$$ and as well offer to license them rights to print it on merchandise as well.
If you want help putting it all together delight set upwardly a consulting telephone call with me – go to my "work with me" page to do that.
Thanks!
A band wants to pay to use my existing artwork for their new album comprehend but I am in Canada and they are in California..if I draft a contract through email and send information technology to them..is it bounden of they cannot sign annihilation?
This article was exactly what I needed. hard to explicate how precisely you addressed the range on questions and concerns I had. Excellently job with this commodity.
Mario howdy, great article. Do you have a like commodity or advice for me who sometimes get requests to provide artwork (calligraphy) for a graphic designer who is working on her/his customer's job like agenda, book embrace, store design, packet design etc. I become so confused on what to charge when other artists are sort of delegating elements of their project to me. Thanks.
Thank you for this, it was very helpful!
Thank for the information it was very helpful 😏
Really nice commodity, Maria. I'm from Brazil, and recently I was contacted for a Chicago-based soul ring to work in some artwork. I run into how it works for a album embrace, but aloud me to ask you, how should be my aproach for something smaller as a single cover artwork? How much should I accuse for a work like this for a young band?
Give thanks you, greetings from Brazil.
Hi there. If I may comment on a few things. Get-go, as a musician, I truly appreciate the try an artist puts into my project. I've worked in tandem with several graphic artists and they've always been paid their requested fee in total, with petty or no negotiation necessary. I appreciate every single person that becomes a part of my team and artists are an integral part of that team.
Making music, yet, does not come cheaply. While the cost is considerably less than information technology was in years past, the legitimate cost of an independent ring making a QUALITY anthology rests betwixt $5k-10k. That cost includes musical artist fees (if any), studio time if not recording at dwelling house, mixing & mastering, photography, art fees, & actual CD production. If you use an outside producer, those fees will exist higher. A LOT higher. This is the approximate cost to go it done RIGHT, still.
The thing I institute a bit outdated in your article was the premise that "the band will brand money when they sell their anthology." Certain, if it was 1996. Mayhap fifty-fifty 2006 merely not now. CD sales accept dropped ninety% since the mid-1990s and virtually bands won't sell 500 copies in today'southward world. Further, at .006¢ per stream, the money won't exist recovered in today'southward " streaming business organisation model" unless they're doing Taylor Swift-like numbers.
Given all of that information, unless an artist is working with a heavy hitter on a very big label, your prices demand some serious aligning. About likely, the independent musician will exist operating with hopes to break fifty-fifty. The greater expectancy will be that he/she are most probable operating at a loss. As such, your creative person fees need serious adjustment. Truthfully, I don't know of an indie or mid-label artist who'south paid more than $500-1000 for album artwork. That's reality. Charging more than that to anyone without bottomless pockets will simply lose the account. Unfortunately, that'south today's reality.
In closing, I sincerely wish all artists and musicians reading this the greatest success. Cheers!
Hello Maria,
Great article, I wish I knew yous eleven years ago, I was approached by an emerging musician who liked one of my paintings to add on his anthology. Mayhap because he was new to the music and I as well with my fine art, I gave my image to him for free.
Now I wish I did it differently, well I guess information technology serves to me every bit a learning curve.
I savour reading your newsletters when I receive them.
I am making album art for a close friend. I am not charging him for it, regardless of your advice, merely I will write out a quick contract. Not certain about keeping the original equally of now. And I'd like to receive credit for the fine art. I'll figure information technology out.
Hi Maria, I plant this actually insightful so give thanks you for that.
I am a musician looking to use an artist's painting equally my anthology cover. I take already bought the artwork, which proudly hangs in my living room. The artist has said I tin can utilise a pic of the fine art providing I give her credit, which of course I would practise.
Nonetheless, should I be paying her twice for the use to reproduce her piece of work?