Canadian Rate Card Survey

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We're working towards creating a rate card for audio producers in Canada.

We're curious about what sort of work you do, how long you've been doing it and what your experiences and expectations are around pay.

Thank you to Eleanor McDowall and Heidi Pett for sharing the UK edition of this with us.

Aliya Pabani, Michelle Macklem, Jess Shane, Kalli Anderson

How long have you been working in audio?

<6 months, just getting started!

<1 year

<2 years

<3 years

<4 years

<5 years

<10 years

<15 years

<20 years

20 years +

Clear selection

What best describes your work arrangement *

I'm a freelancer and most or all of my income is from audio work

I have a full time job with a private audio company

I have a full time job with a broadcaster

I am a temporary or casual employee with a broadcaster

I have a part time job in audio and this is my only work

I have a part time job in audio and freelance the rest of the week

I'm a freelancer and require other non-audio work to supplement my income

I make my own non-monetised podcast or sound art and don't earn other income from audio

I have a full or part time non-audio job that I supplement with freelance audio work

Other:

What is your most frequent job title as a freelance audio producer?

Executive Producer

Senior Producer

Producer

Showrunner

Associate producer

Researcher

Consulting producer

Editor

Sound designer

Engineer

Other:

Clear selection

Which roles best describe the type of work you do?

Researching

Recording interviews

Cutting assembly or rough edits

Scripting

Voiceover coaching

Music mixing (scoring with supplied music)

Original scoring (scoring with music you make)

Sound design

Engineer/ mastering

Writing web + social media copy

Other:

What is your hourly rate to produce non-branded audio?

< $25

$25 - $30

$30 - $35

$35 - $40

$40 - $45

$45 - $50

$50 - $55

$55 - $60

$60 - $65

$65 - $70

$70 - $75

$75 - $80

$80 - $85

$85 - $90

$90 - $95

$95 - $100

$100+

Clear selection

What is your hourly rate to produce branded audio?

< $25

$25 - $30

$30 - $35

$35 - $40

$40 - $45

$45 - $50

$50 - $55

$55 - $60

$60 - $65

$65 - $70

$70 - $75

$75 - $80

$80 - $85

$85 - $90

$90 - $95

$95 - $100

$100-$125

$125+

Clear selection

What platform do you tend to make most of your work for?

National broadcaster

Local broadcaster

Independent podcast

U.S. Market

Newspaper/ Magazine podcast

Artistic / Cultural Institutions

Non-profits

Other branded content (private company)

International broadcasters or podcasts

Other:

Clear selection

What is the lowest hourly rate you've been paid?

What is the highest hourly rate you've been paid?

What is the highest per-minute of final audio rate you've been paid?

What is the lowest per-minute of final audio rate you've been paid?

What type of rate do you usually quote and negotiate with clients/employers?

Hourly rate

Day rate

Per-minute rate

Per-episode or per-documentary rate

Per-project rate

Annual salary

Fixed term contract

Other:

Clear selection

Do you hire subcontractors when working on a project for a client or employer?

Never

Rarely

Sometimes

Often

Always

Not applicable

Clear selection

What types of rights do you most often sell (or assign/waive) when you sign a contract as a freelance producer?

Retain copyright and moral rights and sell non-exclusive worldwide rights in perpetuity

Retain copyright and moral rights and sell exclusive worldwide rights for a set period of time

Retain copyright and moral rights and sell exclusive national broadcast rights for a set period of time

Don't know, I just sign whatever they send me.

Not applicable

Other:

Clear selection

Did you ever charge for the time you spend developing an idea or securing a project? e.g. research, attending meetings, securing talent or access, writing a budget etc.

Yes

No, but I feel like I should

Not applicable

Other:

Clear selection

Which of the below do you tend to make?

Conversational (panels, chat-based discussion)

Scripted (audio fiction, drama, comedy)

Music (dj or host led music programming)

News/ Current Affairs

Documentary

Sound Art

Recordings of live events

Other:

When taking on work, how does your conversation about pay tend to go?

I name a rate and stick to it

My employer or client names a rate which is non-negotiable

I independently negotiate a rate with my employer or client

I negotiate a rate with my employer or client with the assistance of my union and/or a lawyer

Other:

Clear selection

On average how long do you find it takes to have an invoice paid for audio work?

Same day

< a week

< 2 weeks

< a month

1 - 2 months

2 - 3 months

6 months or more

Regular paycheck

Clear selection

What percentage approximately of your overall work is for US media outlets?

100%

90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

None

Clear selection

How do your rates in the US compare with your rates in Canada?

Significantly higher

Higher

Equal

Lower

Significantly lower

Not applicable

Other:

Clear selection

Have you ever charged a fee for the late payment of an invoice? (https://canadabusiness.ca/managing-your-business/day-to-day-operations/protecting-your-business/risk-management/getting-paid-by-your-customers/)

Yes

Not applicable

Clear selection

Are you a member of a union? (Y/N, and if yes, please state which one)

If you are a member of a union, what services do you access that are provided by your union (help with contract negotiation, legal services, insurance discount, etc.)?

Anything else you'd like to share about your experiences getting paid for audio work in Canada? Is there something we missed that you'd like to see added to this data collection process?

Submit

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