The unsung: examining how contracts affect session musicians’ remuneration in Australia

Australian session musicians are typically only remunerated for their work with one-off fixed fee payments, without entitlement to ongoing royalties that are often paid to session musicians in other countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany. Defining session work related to either (1) non-featured performances on sound recordings, or (2) soundtrack recordings, this study examines session remuneration based on a survey of Australian musicians. As a point of differentiation from previous research, respondents were asked about the specifics of recent session work they had performed. Regression analyses show that the presence of a written contract is associated with higher session fees. We also document the widespread absence of contracts and the lack of ongoing remuneration rights. Taken together, these findings highlight structural features of the Australian system and suggest that introducing equitable remuneration for session musicians may help improve income security in this sector. Related policy recommendations are also discussed.