Schedule of Minimum Commissioning Fees
The fees indicated are the CLC’s suggested minimum rates, effective January 1, 2024 (3.8% inflation – Sept. 2023)
Click here to view the rates for years prior to 2023
*The CLC minimum recommend fees will be adjusted to inflation based on the September end of month CPI provided by Statistics Canada. Fee increases will be posted after the announcement of the September CPI. This announcement usually happens mid to late October. The dollar amounts will be rounded up to the next whole number. The increased fees will be made effective January 1st of each year.
If you are trying to determine rates for a project several years in the future, consider integrating inflation adjustments to the best of your abilities. You can use tools like the OECD Inflation Forecasts or the Bank of Canada Inflation Calculator as benchmarks.
I Chamber Ensembles Fee per minute
One or two parts $505
Three or four $564
Five to Eight $636
Nine to Fifteen $730
II Orchestra Fee per minute
Chamber orchestra up to 15 parts $730
Orchestra over 15 parts $938
III Chorus Fee per minute
A cappella up to seven vocal parts $564
A cappella eight vocal parts or more $636
With piano or other solo instrument, up to seven vocal parts $664
With piano or other solo instrument, eight vocal parts or more, $737
With instrumental ensemble (up to eight instrumental performers) $818
With chamber orchestra (nine to fifteen instrumental performers) $907
With full orchestra (over 15 parts) $1009
IV Electroacoustic Music per minute
$664, plus studio rental unless provided
For the addition of electronics, including but not limited to live electronics, fixed media, or multimedia to a solo or ensemble work, add $173 to the appropriate rate
V Stage works
Opera, ballet, multi-media, functional music: to be negotiated
VI Suggested music copying rate
See our Schedule of Music Engraving and Preparation Rates.
Commission fees do not include expenses for copying and reproduction, which should be assumed by the commissioner. The composer is responsible for providing a legible score which can be reproduced.
The fee for any composition over 20 minutes in duration, in all categories, is to be negotiated.
—Not sure where to finance your commission taking these rates into consideration? Many commissions are supported through arts council grants. Check out the grants available though federal, provincial, and municipal arts councils like the Canada Council for the Arts, BC Arts Council, Ontario Arts Council, Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec, Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Arts NL, the Toronto Arts Council, and more.