How Much Does Cheer Music Cost?

As a new cheer season approaches, you may be wondering about the cost of cheer music for your teams. In fact, just one mix can range anywhere from $14.99 to $5,000.00 or more. Add additional options, multiply that by several mixes, and those amounts can skyrocket! So, where does a cheer coach or gym owner even start?? Here are some factors that contribute to the cost of cheerleading music that you might want to keep in mind:

1. Trust – First things, first. How do you know you will get your cheer music…and get it when you need it? Well, you must choose a cheerleading music producer you know you can trust. Don’t waste your time or money on a cheer music company that doesn’t have a stellar reputation. It’s just not worth the risk! You and your athletes have enough details to worry about to hit a perfect routine; you don’t need to be chasing down your cheer music, too! “If you can’t trust [the cheer music producer] to give you your music on time, to communicate with you, or to give you an actual legal mix, then the [price/quality of the cheer mix] doesn’t matter,” says Mark Stanley, co-owner and senior producer at Cheer Cutz (CheerCutz.com). So, when you go to pull out your credit card, be prepared to spend whatever it takes to get a music producer who has proven to be trustworthy.

2. Communication – Next up, can you communicate with your producer about your mix or cheer music voiceovers? When you are looking at spending hundreds or possibly thousands of dollars on your cheerleading music, having a prompt response is important. You don’t need any extra stress at the start of cheer season! Being able to contact your producer by email or phone and knowing that you will receive a quick answer can help ease your mind. Just like trust (see above), it may be worth it to spend a bit more to choose a cheer music company that you can reach whenever you need them. Like the old saying goes: Communication is key!

3. Artistic Quality – Here’s a question you might be asking yourself. Will my cheer music be any good? Whether you have a premade or custom cheerleading mix, there should be an artistic quality that makes the music flow. Good cheer music will blend creative and exciting musical details to help highlight the choreography of the routine. A custom cheer mix should also be more unique and tailored to your team. Does the music for your cheerleading team bump up their performance? THAT is what you are looking for! However, there are music producers at all price points that can customize a routine to highlight your skills, so you don’t want to overspend here.

4. Sound Quality – Since your cheer and dance music will be played numerous times throughout the season, you want excellent sound quality. To help you determine if your music will make the cut, be sure to listen to a music producer’s samples. Then ask yourself: Does the sample mix sound good on speakers? Is the quality what you were expecting? If not, you won’t want to listen to your own cheer mix over and over again throughout the season. Be sure to spend enough money to make sure your music doesn’t sound quiet or fuzzy or otherwise distracting to the judges, but there’s no need to break the bank to find music that judges and athletes will both enjoy.

5. Packages – Many producers offer packages in their price list. How do you know which package to buy…or if a cheer music package is even necessary? In general, the package pricing increases as the amount of customization in your cheer mix increases. The more original or team specific content you want in your cheer music, the ability to have both male and female and how many vocalists, and the number of edits you get, the more it will cost! While premade cheer music does exist, it’s not custom or exclusive to your teams. If you’re lucky, you can add some minor customizations like sound effects and simple voiceovers, but usually there’s an additional fee. Also, be sure not to overspend on customizing premade music when you could spend that same amount on an affordable custom mix that is tailor-made to fit your routine. A good cheer music producer can help direct you to the package that will meet your budget as well as give you what you need in your cheer mix. But don’t be misled by base pricing and packages, it might just be easier to go with a cheer music producer that doesn’t do packages and gives you their best mix with unlimited edits with EVERY MIX!

6. Licensing – Okay, now…listen up! Beware of dirt-cheap mixes! Always verify the licensing of your cheer music before and after purchase! With all the changes happening in the cheer music world, licensing of your cheer mix has become a hot topic. How can you be sure that your cheer music is in legal compliance with music licensing regulations and copyright law? USA Cheer has a current list of Preferred Music Providers that will help ensure compliance. Do your homework and double-check that your cheer music producer is on this list. You’ll thank me later.

7. Length – Cheer music typically ranges in length from 30 seconds (:30) up to 2 minutes and 30 seconds (2:30). Do you know how long just the musical part of your routine will be? Also, do you need the music to stop and then start again (to make room for a cheer in the middle)? Keep in mind that shorter mixes for a game day cheerleading routine will usually be cheaper than a longer mix for an all-star competition squad. With that said, you don’t want to have too much or not enough music for your routine. If you need help determining the length of your music, remember to choose a producer who is trusted and communicates with you.

8. Edits – If your routines change throughout the season, and we know they all do for countless of reasons, be sure to account for the cost of updating your music. Wallet-friendly Tip: Choose a music producer that offers free edits!

To sum it all up…while there are many factors that contribute to the price of cheer music, choosing a trustworthy and reliable cheer music producer should be your primary focus. Having confidence in your mix producer’s reputation and ability is crucial. Focus on these factors when purchasing your cheer music, and you should receive the biggest bang-for-your-buck!

By Sydney Smith
Social Media Manager for Cheer Cutz and International Cheerleading Judge