Arranging, Music Preparation and Orchestration Rates

The minimum recommended rates of pay for arranging, music preparation and orchestration, effective 10 December 2025. General Terms & Conditions for Arranging, Music Preparation and Orchestration are available to download below in the Fee Guidelines document. This now includes a rate for demo recordings as they are increasingly requested by engagers.

Secondary use of parts additional to the primary commission is subject to further negotiation
and will attract a fee of not less than 50% of the original commissioning fee.

General arranging minimum rates

Standard hourly rate (9am - 9pm)

£74.98 per hour (or part thereof)

Consultation, routeing, audio transcription, taking down from dictation, standing by, arranging/converting from an electronic format, etc (includes collection/delivery time and travel time if requested).

Per bar rates

Category A (up to 6 players)	£6.46 per bar
Category B (7-14 players)	£7.52 per bar
Category C (15-27 players)	£9.67 per bar
Category D (28-60 players)	£10.74 per bar
Category E (60+ players in a conventional ensemble)	£12.96 per bar
Category F (60+ players in a compound ensemble or unconventional line-up)	£13.95 per bar

Demos

£74.98 per hour (or part thereof)

For the creation of preliminary audio recordings. This rate is payable separately from all other arranging, orchestration or preparation fees. Usage of demo tracks must be agreed in advance with the copyist/arranger. Demo tracks are intended for internal client use, such as camera plotting, timing reference, or other pre-production purposes, and must not be shared, broadcast, or otherwise distributed without prior permission from the copyist/arranger. The copyist/arranger reserves the right to negotiate additional fees if the recordings are used beyond the agreed scope. The arranger retains copyright of all demo recordings unless otherwise agreed in writing.

Jingles, Signature Tunes, Radio/TV Idents etc

100% extra

Original material

Compositional element of arrangement: 100% extra

General rates

Night rate or public holidays (9pm until dismissed or completion (when enforced by client): 100% extra

Administration fee (for projects requiring more than one arranger): 15% of the total

Standby arranger: As per musicians' session fee

Music director (where the arranger acts as a music director): Double the musicians' fee

Expenses (incurred at the request of client, including collection and delivery): At cost

Please see full notes in the Fee guidelines document.

Music preparation minimum rates

Standard hourly rate (9am - 9pm)

(Includes collection/delivery time and travel time if requested): £46.57 per hour

Page rates

Single stave parts: £5.21 per page

Double stave/single stave with other components (including lyrics): £10.42 per page

Triple stave and above (eg incorporating conductor, rehearsal keyboard, choir): £15.66 per page

Copying full score/multiple staves: By negotiation

Tacet sheets: £1.48 per page

Reducing score to rehearsal keyboard part (including copying): £6.46 per bar

Jingles, Signature Tunes, Radio/TV Idents etc.: 100% extra

Photocopying and electronic reproduction

Where the client makes copies from the original, the rate for the original manuscript shall be: 100% extra

Copies made from the original manuscript by the copyist:

• First copy: Original fee
• Subsequent copies and/or score photocopying: £1.24 per page (up to A3 original)

General rates

Night rate or public holidays (9pm until dismissed or completion (when enforced by client): 100% extra

Administration fee (for projects requiring more than one copyist): 15% of the total

Standby copyist / Librarian /Score reading: As per musicians' session fee

Porterage (for the transport of equipment, such as paper and a printer, to and from the location of the engagement (when requested by client): £38.12

Arranging / Converting from an electronic format: £74.98 per hour

Expenses (incurred at the request of client, including collection and delivery): At cost

Please see full notes in the Fee guidelines document.