You couldn’t be any more right about that post being no help at all… unless someone is a good close friend of Jimmy Page, and a reader of the straight dope. Then that person can ask the Pagster about his pay back then and we can do the wonderful number crunching of finding out what was then is now…
nope… Screw that unless, your post was utterly useless.
Umm. I’m having a hard time finding hard numbers, but I can say that musicians’ wages are set according to an agreement to which Muzak, DMX, similar companies, the American Federation of Musicians (AFM), and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) are all parties. You might try checking with AFM or their local chapters for pricing.
Current wage scales for union musicians in Los Angeles (Local 47) are posted here. Another source is AFM local 47 (Los Angeles). Wages across the U.S. vary, with smaller towns and ones away from major recording centers often offering lower rates. Don’t forget that employees under these scales usually get many benefits (vacation pay, health & welfare, pension, etc.) as well.
You will notice that not only are the scales enormously complicated, but they are divided into such categories as “Phono” (that means general recording for CDs nowadays), “MPTV” (Motion Picture/TV), “Jingles” (commercials), etc. This is because the employers (the record companies, TV networks, motion pic studios, etc.) negotiate with the union at different times and under different contracts.
There is no specific “Muzak” category. Although I have played in L.A. under various union contracts, I never played for anything destined for Muzak, as far as I know. So my insider knowledge ends here. My professional guess is that a Muzak recording session is similar to a phono (record) session in conditions and wages; perhaps if Muzak wants to do a big batch of 'em at once, a special contract would be prepared, maybe at a discount for volume.
I also suspect (but have no first-hand knowledge) that many “generic” recordings are made overseas (of the U.S.) where there are many eager and excellent musicians just begging to perform for discount wages. This angers the Union no end, but they have limited recourse other than yelling about it.
