The Remuneration of Canadian Writers for Literary Works: A Benchmarking Study PREPARED FOR SUBMITTED BY The Writers’ Union of Canada (TWUC) Marilyn Burgess and Maria De Rosa Communications MDR Union des écrivaines et des écrivains www.communicationsmdr.com québécois (UNEQ) September 27, 2017 The Remuneration of Canadian Writers for Literary Works Table of Contents TABLE OF CONTENTS ........................................................................................................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................................................... 3 1. CONTEXT .............................................................................................................................................................................. 3 2. GOALS OF THE STUDY ........................................................................................................................................................ 3 3. APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY ..................................................................................................................................... 3 3.1 Scope of Study .................................................................................................................................................................... 3 3.2 Review of Literature ....................................................................................................................................................... 4 3.3 Key Informant Interviews ............................................................................................................................................. 4 3.4 Development of Remuneration Rates and Terms .............................................................................................. 4 4. STRUCTURE OF THIS REPORT .......................................................................................................................................... 5 I. REMUNERATION OF WRITERS OF LITERARY WORKS IN SELECTED INTERNATIONAL JURISDICTIONS ....................................................................................................................................................... 6 1. REMUNERATION OF WRITERS OF LITERARY WORKS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM ................................................... 6 1.1 Print ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 6 1.2 Digital .................................................................................................................................................................................... 7 2.3 Live Appearances and Events ..................................................................................................................................... 8 2. REMUNERATION OF WRITERS OF LITERARY WORKS IN IRELAND ............................................................................ 9 2.1 Print and Digital ............................................................................................................................................................... 9 2.2 Live Appearances and Events .................................................................................................................................. 10 3. REMUNERATION OF WRITERS OF LITERARY WORKS IN FRANCE ............................................................................ 10 3.1 Print ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 11 3.2 Digital ................................................................................................................................................................................. 12 3.3 Live Appearances and Events .................................................................................................................................. 12 4. REMUNERATION OF WRITERS OF LITERARY WORKS IN AUSTRALIA ...................................................................... 13 4.1 Print ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 13 4.2 Digital ................................................................................................................................................................................. 15 4.3 Live Appearances and Events .................................................................................................................................. 15 5. THE REMUNERATION OF WRITERS OF LITERARY WORKS IN THE UNITED STATES ............................................. 16 5.1 Print ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 17 5.2 Digital ................................................................................................................................................................................. 18 5.3 Live Appearances and Events .................................................................................................................................. 19 6. SUMMARY ANALYSIS AND OBSERVATIONS ................................................................................................................... 19 6.1 Trends Show a Decline in Remuneration for Writers in Selected Jurisdictions ............................... 19 6.2 Advocating for Minimum Standards in the Remuneration of Writers ................................................. 21 6.3 Summary of Remuneration Rates for Print in Selected Jurisdictions ................................................... 22 6.4 Summary of Remuneration Rates for Digital Content in Selected Jurisdictions .............................. 23 6.5 Summary of Remuneration Rates for Live Appearances and Events in Selected Jurisdictions . 23 II. REMUNERATION OF WRITERS OF LITERARY WORKS IN CANADA .............................................. 25 1. THE REMUNERATION OF WRITERS OF LITERARY WORKS IN CANADA ................................................................... 25 1.1 Print ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 25 1.2 Digital ................................................................................................................................................................................. 27 1.3 Live Appearances and Events .................................................................................................................................. 28 2. CURRENT REMUNERATION OF WRITERS IN RELATED SECTORS.............................................................................. 30 2.1 Current Remuneration Rates for Literary Translation and Editing in Canada ............................... 30 1 The Remuneration of Canadian Writers for Literary Works 2.2 Remuneration Rates for Writers Working in Radio and Screen-Based Cultural Industries in Canada ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 31 3. SUMMARY ANALYSIS AND OBSERVATIONS ................................................................................................................... 33 3.1 Royalty Rates for Authors of Printed Books in Canada are Comparable to Rates in Selected International Jurisdictions ............................................................................................................................................... 33 3.2 Rates for Magazine Writing Varies Widely by Jurisdictions ..................................................................... 34 3.3. Canadian eBook Royalty Rates are Comparable to Rates in Selected Jurisdictions ..................... 35 3.4 Rates for Live Appearances are Higher in Other Jurisdictions ................................................................. 36 3.5 Canadian Remuneration Rates for Literary Works Are Lower Than Rates in Related Sectors in Canada ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 37 III. PROPOSED MINIMUM REMUNERATION RATES FOR WRITERS OF LITERARY WORKS IN CANADA .................................................................................................................................................................. 38 1. PROPOSED MINIMUM REMUNERATION RATES AND TERMS FOR WRITERS OF LITERARY WORKS IN PRINT .. 38 2. PROPOSED MINIMUM REMUNERATION RATES AND TERMS FOR WRITERS OF DIGITAL LITERARY WORKS.... 39 3. PROPOSED MINIMUM REMUNERATION RATES AND TERMS FOR WRITERS FOR LIVE APPEARANCES .............. 40 GLOSSARY .............................................................................................................................................................. 41 LIST OF ACRONYMS USED IN THIS REPORT .............................................................................................. 44 BIBLIOGRAPHY ...................................................................................................................................................