Consulting
Rates and Terms of Service
Role and Responsibilities
I (Needle and Groove Consulting) act as a liaison between music artists, their management, or labels and various manufacturing vendors, including but not limited to mastering studios, pressing plants, and printing services. My role is to facilitate the production process by coordinating between these parties; however, I do not personally manufacture, print, or press any physical products.
Rates and Description of Services
Coordination and Facilitation services for manufacturing standard physical Product
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Initial set up and coordination for an artist/band project with a single configuration (UPC/title)
(i.e.: CD, Vinyl OR other physical media)
$450.00
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Additional configurations or variants of same artist project (title & track listing)
+ $75.00 per config.
Additional configurations of different titles/track listings within the same artist project
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+ $150.00 per config.
Services include:
• Pre-Submission Guidance: Provide manufacturer’s artwork guidelines, templates, and technical specifications, Advise on required elements and file format requirements, answer questions regarding print production and file setup
• File Submission & Soft Proofing: Receive files and perform a basic preflight check before submission, request and review proofs before delivering for approval, Coordinate any necessary revisions and resubmit updated files, if needed
• Manufacturing Oversight: Securing final approval before production begins, Maintaining communication with manufacturers and printers to ensure production stays on schedule, Confirm completion timelines and arrange for shipment/delivery of the final product
Requests that entail multiple projects for different artists/tracklistings
or
Requests for special, unique or elaborate packaging
will be quoted after specifications and quantities are confirmed
Design Layout Services
Rate calculation - Time spent for this service is recorded in increments of 20 mins and encompasses the following
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Graphic layout and file submission services for print packaging and labels only (CD, Vinyl, cassette, Blue ray, etc..)
This service is separate from the above and are calculated on an hourly rate of
$75.00 per hour.
Services include:
• Pre-Production & asset gathering: Collect all necessary design assets (album artwork, logos, text, barcodes, legal info), ensure all images and graphics meet resolution and color mode requirements, verify font licensing and embedding requirements for print production
• Layout & Design Preparation: Place all elements into manufacturer-approved templates, ensuring proper bleed, trim, and safe zone margins are followed, adjust spine text, tracklists, and other key elements for readability and alignment.
• Approval & Submission: Submit final proofs to the client for approval, make any requested revisions and finalize the artwork, submit production-ready files to the manufacturer.
• Proofing & Quality Control: Provide digital proofs (PDF, mockups) for client review and approval, Cross-check all text for typos, spelling errors, and incorrect formatting, verify track listing order, catalog numbers, and legal disclaimers
• Manufacturing Coordination & Tracking: Confirming receipt of files with the printer/pressing plant, Monitoring the production timeline to ensure deadlines are met, address any issues that arise during printing, cutting, or assembly.
• Final Production & Delivery: Confirm final packaging specs before mass production begins, arrange for shipment/delivery of
finished product to final destinations.
Other services (Flat rates)
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Standalone Design and layout of merch components up to 5”x5”
(i.e.: stickers, Inserts, bumper stickers, download cards, etc…)
$50.00 per component
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Standalone Design and layout of merch components over 5”x5”
(i.e.: stickers, Inserts, posters, one sheets, T-shirts, etc…)
$85.00 per component
TAKE NOTE: merch components that are part of a coordination and facilitation project or existing design layout services are not billed separately, or in addition to, the cost quoted for that project. For example, a sticker or insert that is part of an album, CD or other project are not billed in addition to the cost of that project.
Proofreading
$20.00 per hour.
Proofreading is not included in any of the above services and is the responsibility of the client before copy or files are submitted. You may add proofreading services at the rate of an additional fee of
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Client Responsibilities
Clients are responsible for providing all necessary materials required for manufacturing, including but not limited to audio masters, artwork, and label copy. Unless the client has explicitly chosen to include design layout services, I am not responsible for full proofreading or verifying the accuracy of any provided materials. Additionally, any submitted assets, such as photographs, music, or design elements, must be the intellectual property of the client or accompanied by proper licensing documentation.
Deadlines and Timelines
Timely completion of manufacturing projects is dependent on the client’s ability to provide necessary materials and approvals in a prompt manner. Needle and Groove Consulting is not responsible for missed deadlines or target street dates due to delays in receiving required assets, approvals, or other essential information from the client.
All manufacturing vendor services must be paid in full and upfront, based on a quote that Needle and Groove Consulting will obtain your approval of before production begins. This quote covers only the manufacturing services and does not include shipping costs or any costs associated with changes made after production has commenced.
Any additional charges incurred, such as shipping or modifications, will be invoiced separately upon project completion.
Important to note: My services are billed independently from manufacturing costs. A deposit of $150 is required to secure services that total $450 or more, which will be applied to the final invoice. This deposit becomes non-refundable once the client has accepted and approved a manufacturing quote. The final invoice for consulting services will be issued upon project completion, with payment due within 30 days (Net 30 terms).