For musicians, MinimumPay remains a recommendation, not a minimum fee

If you negotiate with Sonart's fee recommendations, you hold a recommendation, not a binding minimum fee.¹ The association makes this clear in an information letter dated 16 October 2026.¹ The reason: some funding bodies require promoters to pay MinimumPay or FairPay without adjusting their funding.¹ Sonart warns that fewer musicians could then be booked.¹

The recommendations help you calculate and negotiate, for example a concert fee or a funding application budget.¹ The recommended fee covers more than your pay, as a share of earned income:²

• Social insurance, including AHV (the state old-age pension): 12 per cent.²
• Any contributions to a pension fund or pillar 3a: 4 to 8 per cent.²
• Four weeks of holiday: 8.33 per cent.²

Travel and other expenses are not included.² According to Sonart, MinimumPay is the floor that just about covers social contributions on top of living costs.² The association asks funding bodies to back the recommendations with the money needed.¹ For employed musicians, Sonart refers to the rate recommendations of the Swiss Musicians' Association SMV.²

What you can do now: work out FairPay and MinimumPay for your gig with Sonart's calculator.² Negotiate travel and other expenses separately.² If you invoice as self-employed, register first with the AHV compensation office of your home canton.²