The studio offers four shapes of commission. Each one is fixed in scope and price so that a client can see exactly what a project costs before writing a brief, and each one can be extended where a song needs it. Prices below are starting points in US dollars; a specific project is quoted once we have read the brief, because scope, length and vocal requirements all move the number.
Instrumental bed — from $450
A finished instrumental written to your brief: melody and arrangement, recorded and mixed, delivered with a clean edit for cutting to picture or looping under a voice. This is the right option for video makers, podcasters and venues that need original music without lyrics. It includes a map of the song's structure and two rounds of revision at the arrangement stage. Typical turnaround is one to two weeks.
Melody and arrangement — from $900
The tune and the full arrangement, recorded and mixed, delivered as a complete instrumental with a separate top-line guide so a singer can follow the intended melody. This suits clients who will write their own words or sing it themselves. It includes the topline as a notated lead sheet as well as an audio guide. Turnaround is around two weeks.
Vocal and lyric package — from $1,600
The melody and arrangement plus original lyrics and a session vocalist. The vocal is recorded at the studio against the finished bed, comped from the best takes and set in the final mix. You receive the full mix, an instrumental version, and the lyric sheet. This is the option most personal commissions take. Turnaround is two to four weeks depending on the singer's schedule.
Full custom song with buyout — from $3,200
Everything in the vocal package plus a full transfer of the composition and the master to you, and a widened licence covering broadcast and paid use. This is the option for brands and organisations that need to own the song outright and use it without further reference to the studio. It includes priority scheduling and a named point of contact through the project.
What every price includes
Whichever option you choose, the price covers the direction note, the agreed rounds of revision, the recording and the final mix, the delivery bundle with an instrumental version where relevant, and the written rights summary. There are no separate charges for file preparation, and there is no charge for the first conversation. Where a project needs something outside these shapes — a longer piece, a full band session, a live recording — we quote it separately and in writing before any work begins.
What costs extra
Two things can move a quote. The first is length: a piece substantially longer than a standard song takes more writing and arranging. The second is scope: extra revision rounds beyond those included, additional language versions, or a second arrangement from the same melody are quoted per item rather than bundled. We never add a charge after the fact without your agreement in writing; if a project turns out larger than we estimated, we tell you before continuing.
Payment and scheduling
Commissions are reserved with a deposit and settled on delivery. The deposit holds your slot in the schedule and is set out in the written quote. The refund policy explains how that deposit is handled if a project changes shape or stops. To receive a quote for your project, describe it on the commission request form; the reply will name the option we recommend, the price and the earliest start date. Practical questions about the process are answered on the questions page.