Pricing question

Can anyone suggest a ballpark $ number for use of an image for a

musical CD cover. This will be a first recording for the artiste and

it is planned initially to produce 2000 CDs and 500 cassettes. No

mention of posters but that might follow.

 

The book which I usually use as a price guide doesn't really help very

much but my gut-feel is to quote somewhere in the $300-500 region for

the initial usage (with some reasonable caps on quantities) and then a

higher number (or royalties?) if it takes off and goes into a larger run.

 

Can anyone here give me a steer? The approach was from the artiste

herself and not an agency or image-buyer.

 

Thanks in advance for any input.

I forgot to mention that the initial quantity is intended to be for sale at some concerts but also for free distribution to radio stations, studios & agents for promotional purposes. This probably doesn't make a huge difference except maybe to cause me to back off the usage fee for the initial quantity and load up the "if it does well" scenario.

<p>According my my pricing sources (Fotoquote), you're in the right ballpark, though for an unsigned band and a small pressing of CDs, you might have a hard time getting such a price. I've seen more than one stock photographer's web site list fees for such a use at something more like $50, for instance. In your negotiations you may have to take a lower fee, but definitely limit usage (with a good contract) to the initial pressing numbers mentioned and make it clear that use beyond that will incur additional licensing fees. Good luck!</p>

<a href="http://www.slrobertson.com">Scott L. Robertson Stock Photography / slrobertson.com</a>