How much does a music video cost?
For an independent artist, a music video usually costs anywhere from under $500 for one you shoot yourself, to roughly $1,000 to $5,000 for a small crew, to roughly $5,000 to $25,000 for a one-day shoot with a full crew. These are rough ranges; the biggest factors are crew size, shoot days, locations and editing.
Rough budgets by type
- 1
Visualizer or lyric video
Often a few hundred dollars or less, and done in days. A good fit when there's no time or budget for a shoot.
- 2
Self-shot video
Under about $500: you and a friend, a camera or phone, one location, and your own edit.
- 3
Small-crew video
Roughly $1,000 to $5,000: a director or producer, a camera operator, simple lighting and one or two locations.
- 4
Full-crew video
Roughly $5,000 to $25,000 and up: a full camera, lighting and art crew, rentals, locations and professional color and editing.
What you're paying for
- Crew: a director or producer, camera operator, lighting, hair and makeup, and assistants, usually by the day.
- Gear rentals: camera, lenses, lights and grip.
- Locations and permits.
- Cast, extras and wardrobe.
- Food and transport for everyone on set.
- Editing, color and any effects.
- A cushion of about 10 percent for what goes wrong.
How to read a quote
Most quotes are built the same way: each person's day rate, times how many people, times how many days, split into planning, the shoot and editing. Many add a production fee on top. Ask for it line by line, so you can see what to cut.
How to spend less
- Shoot in one location, in one day.
- Use daylight instead of renting lights.
- Film vertical versions for short-form at the same shoot.
- Make a visualizer for the next single and save the big video for the focus track.
- Bring in friends to help, and still pay them or at least feed them.
Put it in writing
Before you pay a deposit, agree on these with your director or producer, in a signed agreement.
- The fee and when it's paid, like a deposit up front and the rest on delivery.
- The shoot dates, the first-cut date and how many rounds of changes.
- Exactly what you get: lengths, file formats and vertical cuts.
- Who owns the video and where you can use it.
- How everyone is credited.
When to shoot
Shoot about 6 weeks before release day. That leaves about 4 weeks to edit and color, with time to fix anything before release.
Plan the video in Artistboard
On the Artist plan, the Content tab holds each video's idea, budget, dates and files. What you mark paid flows into Financials, and you can download a Music Video Agreement filled in from your deal. Directing it yourself? Add a shoot day plan, shot list and crew call sheet link.
Plan your videoQuick answers
How much should an independent artist spend on a music video?
Only what the release can support. Many independent artists spend between $1,000 and $5,000 on a small-crew video for their focus track, and use visualizers for the other songs.
Is a visualizer cheaper than a music video?
Yes, usually by a lot. A visualizer or lyric video can be made in days for a few hundred dollars or less, with no shoot.
How long does it take to make a music video?
Plan for about 2 weeks to plan and book, one shoot day, and about 4 weeks to edit and color. Shoot about 6 weeks before release day.
Do I need a director?
No. Many independent artists direct their own videos. A director or producer is worth it when the idea needs a crew, locations or effects you can't run yourself.
Should I pay the full amount up front?
Usually not. A deposit up front with the rest on delivery is common, written into a signed agreement with the dates and what you'll receive.