How to Price Your Music Services (Sync, Features, Live)

“What’s your rate?”

This question terrifies most musicians. Charge too much and lose the opportunity. Charge too little and you’ve undervalued your work and set a precedent that’s hard to escape.

The truth is there’s no universal answer. Pricing depends on your experience, the project, the client’s budget, and your negotiating position. But there are frameworks that help you arrive at fair rates that don’t leave money on the table or scare off legitimate opportunities.

This guide covers pricing for sync licensing, features, live performances, session work, and teaching. Real ranges, not guesswork. And scripts for navigating the awkward conversations.

General Pricing Principles

Before getting into specific services, understand the factors that affect all music pricing.

Your experience level

Be honest about where you are:

Beginners can’t charge what established artists charge. But beginners also shouldn’t work for free forever. Know your tier and price accordingly.

Market rates in your genre and region

A jazz session musician in Nashville commands different rates than an electronic producer in Berlin. Research what others at your level charge in your specific market.

How to research:

• Ask musician friends directly (most will share)
• Industry forums and communities
• Union rate cards (AFM for US session musicians)
• Job postings for similar work

Usage rights and exclusivity

What someone does with your work affects its value:

The more rights they get, the more they pay.

Your leverage

Pricing isn’t just about value. It’s about alternatives. Questions to consider:

• Do they need specifically you, or could anyone fill this role?
• Are you one of many options, or the obvious choice?
• What’s their budget likely to be?
• How badly do you need this project?

More leverage = more pricing power.

Sync Licensing Rates

Sync licensing is placing your music in TV, film, ads, games, and other media. It’s often the most lucrative income stream for indie artists, and pricing varies wildly.

What affects sync pricing

Type of use: National commercials pay more than indie films. Ads pay more than documentaries.

Territory: Global use pays more than US-only. US-only pays more than regional.

Duration: Perpetual license costs more than one-year term.

Exclusivity: If they want you to pull the song from other sync opportunities, they pay for that privilege.

Media type: TV pays more than web. Theatrical pays more than streaming.

Typical sync rate ranges

Note: These are upfront sync fees. You may also receive backend royalties through your PRO when the content airs.

How to negotiate sync deals

Start by asking about their budget: “What’s the budget for music on this project?”

This saves time. If they have $500 and you were thinking $10,000, you can decide quickly whether to negotiate or pass.

Quote higher than your minimum: Leave room for negotiation. If your floor is $1,000, quote $2,500. They’ll counter, you’ll meet somewhere acceptable.

Understand the backend: Performance royalties can be substantial for TV placements. A $5,000 upfront fee on a show that runs in syndication for years might generate tens of thousands in backend royalties.

When to take less:

• Major exposure opportunity with a small budget (rare, but real)
• Relationship building with a music supervisor who can bring future opportunities
• Building your sync resume when you have no credits

When not to take less:

• “Exposure” offers from well-funded productions
• Requests for exclusivity at low-budget rates
• Anything that feels exploitative

Feature Rates (Vocal or Production)

When another artist wants you on their song, pricing depends on your relative status and the deal structure.

What affects feature pricing

Your following vs. theirs: If you have 500k followers and they have 5k, you’re bringing the audience. Price accordingly.

Commercial vs. independent: Major label projects have budgets. Bedroom producers may not.

Flat fee vs. royalty split: Cash now vs. ongoing income. Each has pros and cons.

Writing credit: Are you contributing to composition? That affects publishing royalties.

Typical feature rate ranges

These are rough guidelines. Genre, relationship, and specific circumstances all affect actual rates.

Flat fee vs. royalty split

Flat fee:

• Get paid immediately
• No ongoing relationship needed
• Risk: song blows up and you got $500 while they make millions

Royalty split:

• Ongoing income if song performs
• Aligned incentives
• Risk: song flops and you made nothing

Hybrid deals: Best of both worlds. Negotiate an upfront fee plus royalty points.

Example: $2,000 upfront + 15% of master royalties

The upfront fee is your “minimum guarantee” for your time. The royalties are your upside if the song succeeds.

Getting paid

Always get contracts in writing. Even for friend projects. Include:

• Fee amount and payment terms
• Royalty split percentage (if applicable)
• Credit requirements (featured artist, written by, etc.)
• Usage rights (can they use in music videos, ads, etc.)

Live Performance Rates

Live shows can be your most reliable income stream, especially at the local/regional level.

What affects performance pricing

Venue size and capacity: More seats = higher budget = higher pay potential.

Ticket price: If tickets are $50, there’s more room to pay artists than if tickets are free.

Your draw: How many people will come specifically to see you?

Location and travel: Out-of-town shows should factor in travel costs.

Set length: 30-minute opener vs. 90-minute headliner.

Typical performance rate ranges

Door deals vs. guarantees

Percentage of door: You get a percentage of ticket sales. Risk: if nobody shows, you make nothing.

Example: “80% of ticket sales after venue costs”

Guarantee: Fixed amount regardless of attendance. Less risk for you.

Example: “$500 guarantee”

Guarantee plus percentage: Base payment plus percentage if show exceeds threshold.

Example: “$400 guarantee plus 50% of ticket sales over $1,000”

Which to accept:

• If you can draw a crowd reliably: door deals can pay more
• If you’re unknown in the market: take the guarantee
• For any serious gig: negotiate for at least some guarantee

Private events

Weddings, corporate events, and private parties often pay 3-5x what a comparable public venue gig would pay. The client is paying for reliability and exclusivity.

Private event rates:

• Solo/duo: $500-$2,500
• Full band: $1,500-$10,000+

Always require a 50% deposit and a contract.

Session Work and Studio Rates

Session musicians get paid to play on recordings. Producers and engineers get paid to create and refine sounds.

Session musician rates

Union vs. non-union: AFM (American Federation of Musicians) scale rates provide minimums and include residual payments. Union work offers protections but isn’t always available for indie projects.

Production and mixing rates

Credits matter. Producers with hit records can charge 10x what someone without credits charges.

Teaching and Coaching Rates

Teaching is reliable income that scales with your reputation.

For more on teaching as an income stream, see our indie musician income streams guide. If you’re setting up recurring support tiers, our fan funding guide covers platform comparison and tier structure.

How to Raise Your Rates

Underpriced yourself early? Here’s how to fix it.

When to raise rates

• You’re at capacity and turning down work
• Your skills or reputation have grown significantly
• It’s been 1-2 years since your last increase
• You’re resentful about what you’re charging

How to communicate rate increases

To new clients: Just quote the new rate. No explanation needed.

To existing clients: Give notice and frame it positively.

Example email: “Starting [date], my rates for [service] will be [$new rate]. I wanted to give you advance notice. If you’d like to book at current rates, I’m available through [date]. Thanks for your continued support.”

Grandfathering: It’s okay to keep some longtime clients at old rates temporarily. But have a plan to eventually move everyone to current pricing.

Building value before raising rates

Rate increases land better when they follow visible growth:

• New credits or placements
• Growing social following
• New skills or equipment
• Press or recognition

If you’re raising rates, have a reason beyond “I want more money.”

When to Work for Free (or Cheap)

Not all free work is exploitation. Sometimes it’s strategic.

Acceptable reasons to work free or cheap

• Portfolio building: Early in your career, you need credits. Strategic free work can build your resume.
• True collaboration: Both parties contributing value, genuine creative partnership.
• Causes you believe in: Charity projects, community events, causes that matter to you.
• Relationship investment: Someone who could bring significant future opportunities.

Red flags

• Well-funded productions asking for free music (“great exposure!”)
• Vague promises of future payment or opportunities
• Pressure tactics (“other artists would do this for free”)
• Repeat asks (one free project is strategy; ten is exploitation)

The “exposure” trap

“Exposure” is rarely worth what clients claim. Calculate: how many followers/listeners will this actually bring? What’s that worth?

Most “exposure” offers are worth $0-$100 in actual value. Price accordingly.

Pricing Negotiation Scripts

When money conversations get awkward, use these.

When they ask your rate: “For a project like this, my rate is [$X]. What’s your budget?”

When they share a low budget: “My standard rate for this is [$X], but I understand budgets vary. What flexibility do you have?”

When you want to accept lower: “I can work with [$lower amount] for this project, but I’d want [something in return - credit, future work, reduced scope].”

When you need to decline: “Unfortunately, that budget doesn’t work for me on this project. If circumstances change, I’d be happy to revisit.”

When they try to guilt you: “I appreciate the opportunity, but I need to price my work sustainably. Thanks for understanding.”

Don’t apologize for your rates. State them confidently and let the other person respond.

Final Thoughts

Pricing is uncomfortable because it forces you to assert your value in a world that often undervalues artists. But sustainable careers require sustainable income.

Know your worth. Research your market. Start slightly high and negotiate from there. Build relationships that lead to fair pay over time.

You’re not asking for a favor. You’re offering professional services that deserve professional compensation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I charge friends and other indie artists full price?

It depends on the relationship and their situation. A discounted “friends rate” (20-30% off) is reasonable. But don’t work for free repeatedly. Your friends should value your work, and you can’t build a career on discounted projects.

What if they say my rate is too high?

“I understand. That’s my rate for this scope of work. Would you like to discuss reducing the scope to fit your budget?”

This opens negotiation without automatically lowering your price.

Can I charge more if I have fewer followers than someone else?

Absolutely. Followers aren’t the only factor. Quality of work, uniqueness of sound, professionalism, and reliability all matter. Some clients prefer working with lesser-known artists who deliver exceptional quality.

How do I know if I’m charging too little?

Signs you’re underpriced:

• You’re fully booked and turning down work constantly
• Clients never negotiate (they expected to pay more)
• You feel resentful about the work
• Your rates are below market for your experience level

If these apply, it’s time to raise rates.

How much should I charge for a feature?

For emerging artists (under 10k followers), $100-$500 is typical. Mid-level artists (10k-100k) can charge $500-$3,000. Established artists with significant followings charge $5,000+. Always consider whether a royalty split makes more sense than a flat fee if the song has hit potential.

What’s the average rate for sync licensing?

There is no single “average”—it depends entirely on usage. A YouTube creator might pay $50-$300. An indie film might pay $1,000-$5,000. A national TV commercial can pay $50,000-$500,000+. Always ask about the project’s budget before quoting, and remember that backend performance royalties can add significant value to TV placements.