Video Game Music!! 203- The company pays the recording costs, and the composers’ fees are
paid directly to the composers.
The recording budget is stated within the agreement. If the recording bud-
get changes, there must be an addendum made to the original agreement.
For several reasons, companies usually make allowances for the recording
budget to change. The following are some of the reasons:
- The budget for the creation of the game might exceed the projected
budget; therefore, the company reduces the recording budget. - The company might not require as much music as they originally
anticipated. - The company may decide to license songs; consequently, they
require less original scoring.
Completion period.Composers are expected to complete the assign-
ment within a specified time period that is stated in the agreement. For
example, if a composer is hired for nine months, the game publisher might
state that 30 minutes of music must be composed and recorded (with sam-
pled and synthesized mock-ups) within the first four months. If a com-
poser does not meet this obligation or the creative work is not acceptable,
the employer has the right to fire the composer. If the composer is fired,
the employer is obligated to pay for the work completed or pay the total
fee stated in the contract. (This clause can be complex, and the terms are
negotiable.)
If a game publisher is late with their development, composers are gen-
erally compensated for the extended time period. If composers are late
completing the music, they may be penalized. For instance, for each day a
composer is late, a portion of the final fee is deducted.
Payment schedule.Most complex games require the services of com-
posers for a considerable time period; it may take a composer one year to
complete the music for a game. (This does not mean that composers are
writing continuously for a year. There may be periods of time when they
work on other projects. For this to occur, the game company must grant
permission to the composer. This is usually stated in the agreement. Com-
posers are obligated to abide by the contractual agreement.)
The payment schedule is negotiable. Some composers receive one-
third of their fee when the agreement is signed; a second payment in the
middle of the contracted time period and the final payment on completion
of the music and acceptance of the score by the employer. Some composers
receive an advance before composing, and the employer pays the remain-
der of the fee on completion of the score and acceptance of the music. Pay-
ment schedules are negotiable.
Work-made-for-hire agreements.Most game companies ask compos-
ers to sign work-made-for-hire agreements. (Work-made-for-hire agree-