Cost of music for a commercial
Cost of music for a commercial at Dutch Sound Works starts at €1,250, excluding VAT, for original music that fits your edit. A famous song costs far more, and a stock track also plays in other brands' ads.
- From
- €1,250, excluding VAT
- Made for
- TV spots, online ads, cinema, and more
- Agencies we work with
- DEPT, Lava, and others
A few reasons brands pay for original music
A famous song costs a fortune
A well-known song in a national TV campaign often costs tens of thousands, and the biggest hits far more. Viewers also know it from other places, so it doesn't make your ad stand out.
A stock track is shared
Stock libraries sell each track to many buyers, so the one you pick can also turn up in other ads.
Original music for your cut
From €1,250 excluding VAT, our composers write a track around your picture, with space for the voice-over. Sound design and effects can come on top. For the Vodafone Germany commercial at the top, we made the music, the sound design, and the effects.
Less than a full track
For some ads, a jingle or a sonic logo at the end is enough. We also make sound design and more.
Some things that can affect the price
Cutdowns and online versions
A TV spot often comes with shorter cutdowns and online edits, and each needs the music cut to fit. Put the versions you need in your brief, so they're part of the price from the start.
Music edits by the hour
Fitting existing music to a new video edit is a job we can also do at an hourly rate.
Anything else in the audio
If the spot also needs voice recordings, sound design for the product shots, or a mix for cinema, tell us and we'll include it in the proposal.
Original music in campaigns
Work for and contributions to projects involving these brands.
How it works
Step 1
Send us your brief
Send the edit, or the script if there's no picture yet, with the deadline and where the ad runs. Someone from our team replies with a proposal and the price.
Step 2
Demos under your picture
We lay short demos under your edit, so you choose a direction while watching the spot.
Step 3
Finished and mixed
We complete the track and mix it with the voice-over, including the cutdowns. You get final files in every format you need.
Questions about music prices for ads
How much does it cost to put a song in a commercial?
For a famous song in a national campaign, often tens of thousands, and your viewers may already link it to something else. Original music from our studio costs from €1,250 excluding VAT. Send us the edit for a proposal.
Is there a calculator for the cost of music for a commercial?
A calculator would need to see your edit: how long the spot is, how many versions you need, and how much sound design it takes. Send the edit and where it will run, and you get a real number in the proposal.
Do I need different music for TV and online?
Usually the same track in different versions: a full mix for TV and shorter cuts for social. We plan those versions at the start, together with the edit. Request a proposal with your channels.
How much does music for a YouTube ad cost?
Original music for a YouTube ad costs from €1,250 excluding VAT as well. Online spots are often short, so the opening matters most. For Puma's online campaign, the track starts at full strength from the first beat.
Can I negotiate the price of music for an ad?
Yes, by changing the scope: music only, or fewer cutdowns, can bring the price down. Share your budget in the brief and we'll suggest where to trim.
Is original music worth it for a commercial?
Yes, because music timed to the picture lands on the cuts and makes the ad easier to remember. Play the Vodafone spot, then send us yours.