Fee for Theme Song for PBS Show?

[largeunit]

Does anyone know what an appropriate range for composing the theme song for a PBS television show should be? I do not know the world of Public Television. It's a weekly show. Thanks.

[Dr. Picker]

Large,

Congrats on the opportunity

Who will own the show? PBS or an independent producer?

Could you own the music and license it for this use or do "they" want to own the music and all rights? (I don't think PBS owns the Sesame Street music.)

We're all being bombarded with the story of George Lucas taking a lower fee but keeping the merchandising for Star Wars. It could work for you.

John

[Audy O]

Hi:

A decent range would be between $5,000 to $10,000 depending on the length of the song and whether you have to record and produce the song also and deliver a finished master. Also, you need to take into account the instrumentation. Do you need live players, strings, orchestration or is it a simple piano and vocal?

Whatever you do, try to retain the copyright AND publishing.

What I do is draft a simple contract which says "The sound recording shall be the exclusive property of PBS. The composition and copyright shall remain the property of the composer."

Remember to negotiate a yearly renewal fee and also stipulate in the contract that "Producer" and/or "PBS" (or the production company) shall make every effort to submit ASCAP/BMI Cue Sheets on a monthly basis and make available airplay logs (so you can send them to ASCAP/BMI). That way, you earn royalties and have proof of airplay if they don't get picked up in their sporadic "sampling."

Audy O

[RKrizman]

Before you play hardball on hanging onto the publishing give a call to ASCAP or BMI to see what the performance royalties are likely to pay. In the tv biz the shows often like to take the publishing, and since they're actually creating a show and putting it on the air so that your music can get heard, in these cases they actually are fulfilling the role of a publisher, so if you have to give it up don't think you're being screwed. OTOH, if there's little or no upfront money then that can be a rationale for you to keep the publishing.

Needless to say, don't give up the writing half, and make sure that you will share in any source licensing they do (i.e. direct to the broadcasters, bypassing ASCAP).

-R

[Audy O]

In my experience, ASCAP has given much better service and paid substantially more in royalties. I have over 35 songs with both ASCAP and BMI and there is no comparison. The service at BMI has at times been rude and unresponsive.

ASCAP's Membership number is 800-95-ASCAP

www.ascap.com

I'd be interested to hear about other writer's experience with BMI and ASCAP.

There is also SEASAC which is smaller but both Bob Dylan and Neil Diamond have chosen to go with them.

If you can, consult an entertainment attorney specializing in music publishing, specifically one who has negotiated deals and knows what deal to make and who can review your contract. Some of them are snobs unless you are a big time writer/artist but in NY, I'm sure you can find someone. Ask some of your fellow composers there for a referral.

Audy O