Largest single-use PRO amount you've seen?

[wilx2]

Hello and Happy New Year.  I was wondering what is the largest single-use amount you’ve seen on a PRO statement, and what kind of use was it?  For simplicity’s sake, let’s say writer only.  My personal best is $17, which was for a national 15-second TV commercial, background instrumental, which was placed by an exclusive library.  Thankfully, it ran for a couple months.  But I know the range must go much higher than that.  Does it ever exceed $100?  Perhaps for a super bowl use?  All of my PRO experience is commercials thus far, so I’m also curious how TV show placements compare.  Thanks!!

[wilx2]

Sorry – That should say “Single-Use” in the header. 🙂

[Art Munson]

Sorry – That should say “Single-Use” in the header.

Fixed it

[MichaelL]

But I know the range must go much higher than that.  Does it ever exceed $100?  Perhaps for a super bowl use?

The amount paid depends on 1) the type of broadcast, i.e. major network, cable etc, 2) the time of day, 3) whether or not the performance is a feature, theme or background.

Something like the Super Bowl would have no effect, other than it’s in prime time. About ten years ago I had three cues, about three minutes total in the Golf Digest 50th anniversary show, which was a CBS Sports Spectacular special. I think ASCAP paid about $800 for all three cues. I don’t remember/know if the show was broadcast more than once. I don’t think so.

Michael Nicholas has an excellent pamphlet for sale, that breaks down what things pays. Also you can go to the ASCAP or BMI website and read up on how they calculate royalties.

You don’t make much money from a single broadcast.

Cheers,

Michael

 

 

 

[wilx2]

Thanks Michael L.

To be specific, the $17 credit(s) I cited above was 1) major network.  2) prime time (during shows like “Amerca’s Got Talent”), and 3) BI.

The CBS sports use you cited is impressive indeed.  I know those kinds of credits are rare, but good to know that they exist.

[MichaelL]

@wilx2, the CBS Sports placements were actually custom cues that came through an exclusive library that I was a “staff” writer for back in the 90’s.  Ah….those were the days! 😆

[Michael Nickolas]

Like Michael . I saw single uses for $800 plus, back in the day (8-10 years ago). These were on daytime soaps, ABC, NBC, CBS…

[Mark Petrie]

Themes on network shows go over a grand per use, I got lucky once and had the theme on a series that played one season. I’ve heard that songs used to go for more than that if they were featured cues.

[Mark Petrie]

Dont discount the little bits of money here and there though, I still get a stack of pages for a 4 second usage within an infomercial! It airs on what looks like every major cable channel every night of the week. The guys that write the peppy stuff that makes up most of the background music for infomercials are no doubt laughing all the way to the bank.

[Jay]

mine was $30..i’m pretty sure…I saw my ASCAP payout yesterday and it floored me..almost a thousand dollars! – I didn’t know you could make that kind of money on the backend..sorry if that sounds like bragging but i’m still in awe about it..I also finished a bunch of songs in the past year (my strongest stuff) and hope for good things in the future..

 

happy new year 🙂 Jay

[woodsdenis]

Nice one Jay !!!

I dont think I have ever seen a three figure payment for one play, Radio One plays in the UK are very good if you are a pop writer. Very high.

[TheOne]

Mine was 428$ for a 1:19 placement on The CW – 90210. I love BMI.

[Stuart Moore]

On my latest statement I got my best ever payout mainly due to a placement on Dance Moms for a little over $500. This was because it was a featured visual vocal. I also had a good one on my international statement earlier in the year for a uk show called super casino for about $250 per episode and was used in 15 episodes 🙂 Wish I got these kind of placements more often!!!

[euca]

@theone. Nice!! Was your cue an instrumental or vocal?

[Chad Hannah]

I had 46 seconds of vocal background music placed on an episode of Castle during prime time.  It aired twice and brought in $1620 through ASCAP in the Fall of 2009.  Definitely my biggest payout.

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