How much does John Williams make?

Per film? Does anyone know? And what about royalties?

 

No idea, Bib. But I'd guess that it's no small sum.

 

Thanks Reese. I guess nobody else likes my thread....

 

A lot of money I'd guess.

 

I've wondered what kinds of money film composers make too, as well as the difference between high-profile names like Williams and relative unknowns.

 

Base sum ~ $5-10 million I believe. Somewhere around $7 million.

 

$7,000,000 to arrange lines and dots in a specific order. Cool.

~Sithman~

 

If you didn't know, he is the highest payed of all film scorers.

 

Didn't know that, but I'd believe it if someone told me that.

 

A lot.

 

Cool. I want his job.

 

Highest paid of all film scorers?

I would believe it. No wonder most of his films are big budgeted films. Most budgets can't afford him!

 

Greedy composers these days.

 

Yeah, never about the art.

 

He may be the highest paid composer, but it is very unlikely he'd get 5 to 10 million.

 

Here's a great article that outlines a lot of your questions:

http://www.filmtracks.com/special/industry1/


Interestingly, this is what they say:
---
Overall, in summary, the fees of the composer often look like this:

Student or apprentice assignments
(solo performance or band): $5,000 to $10,000

Low-budget films
(small ensemble/electronic score): $20,000 to $30,000

Small or medium-sized films, independent or major studios
(small orchestra/complex electronics with solo artists): $60,000 to $100,000

Large, international films
(regular orchestra, perhaps with small choir or solo artist): $120,000 to $250,000

Blockbusters by major studios
(full orchestra, full choir, and solo artists): $300,000 to $400,000
---

 

Well this is an old one but im gonnna post a reply anyways just too say that its very informattive for those people who want to become film composers like me!

 

I heard a small composer say that in the beginning they do it vertually for free.
They need to work to get some money later.

 

The link Silmarillion gives, above is a great one. Thanks for finding it

Unfortunately, the portion posted gives a misleading picture of things. That speaks of only standard rates for the composition and initial conduction of the work. It in no way represents the total amount of money a composer might make off the work. What's forgotten is risiduals. These are typically greater--sometimes exponentially so--than the figures given. Luckily, the article referenced spells out these royalties and additonal fees towards the end. Based on these, it's clear that Williams easily made at least the $7-10 million figure speculated earlier in this thread. Whether he's the highest-paid composer working is, however, more debatable because of the film that seems to always spoil SW's party, Titanic. Horner's soundtrack was an extremely popular CD, and the movie itself has sold well in the post-theatrical video market. Horner has continued to make royalties with each sale, so the site speculates he might have made as much as $50 million off that one film. That's a record for a single score, and, given Horner's many other films, may put Horner slightly ahead of Williams. Either way, it would seem that Horner and Williams are far and away the best earners in the business, and would continue to generate millions of dollars for years to come--on residuals alone--even if they never composed another note.