Commissioned Work

There are no absolute rules when it comes to negotiating a commissioning fee, however factors such as a project’s overall budget, how integral the music will be to the project, and of course the complexity of the work commissioned all come into play with regards to the final figure.

We provide guidelines for both live commissions (theatre, orchestral concerts etc) and recorded media commissions (film, TV, advertising, online etc) to assist you as well as specimen commissioning contracts.

You should ensure that any commissioning contract you are offered is submitted to the MU’s Contract Advisory Service before signing.

It is also important that the composer and the commissioner are clear about who will be liable for any other costs that may be associated with the project, such as preparing parts, contracting musicians, studio costs, attendance at rehearsals etc.

Contact your the MU for more information.