Artists and labels ask this question constantly, and the honest answer is: it depends on what you’re actually buying. A cinematic music video isn’t priced like a social clip — it’s priced like a short film, because that’s what it is.
What drives the number
A premium music video runs $25,000–$50,000 at Exertion Films, and that range is driven by a handful of concrete variables:
- Crew size and department heads — a director of photography, gaffer, production designer, and colorist are different line items than a one-person run-and-gun shoot.
- Locations and permits — a single controlled soundstage day costs less than three locations across a city.
- Post-production depth — color grading, VFX, and sound design at a broadcast/streaming standard take days, not hours.
- Creative development — treatment writing, storyboarding, and pre-visualization happen before a single frame is shot.
What that budget actually buys
At the low end of the market, “cheap” video often means a single shooter with a consumer camera and minimal lighting. At the premium end, you’re paying for a team that has actually shipped work at scale — including Emmy-nominated, network-licensed content.
The real comparison isn’t video vs. video
The more useful comparison is: what does this video cost relative to what it needs to do for the artist or brand? A video meant to anchor a release, get licensed, or represent a brand at scale carries different stakes than a disposable social post — and the production value has to match those stakes.
Bottom line: if the video is meant to last, get licensed, or represent your brand at its highest level, budget for a team that builds for that outcome from day one. Get in touch to talk through your project and budget.