How Much Does a Music Video Cost in Los Angeles? An Honest 2026 Breakdown

Zubin Sahney

Oct 2

1 min read

The honest answer: anywhere from a few hundred dollars to six figures. A music video can be one location and a phone, or a three day shoot with a crew of forty. Here is where the money actually goes and how to make yours look bigger than it cost.

Where the money goes

Pre-production: concept, treatment, storyboards, locations, casting.
Production days: camera, lighting, locations, permits, talent.
Post: edit, color, VFX, titles.
Extras: wardrobe, art department, choreography, props.

The Los Angeles factor

Shooting in LA often means film permits for public locations, location fees, and insurance. Plan for them early. A great location without a permit is a shoot that gets shut down halfway through.

MindOfDerby music video pricing

Music visuals start at $2,200, $5,500, and $14,000. Where your video lands depends on the concept, the number of locations, and how much VFX it needs. Payment is 50% to lock your date and 50% on delivery.

Because I direct, shoot, edit, and handle VFX myself, you are not paying markup across a stack of departments. That is how a mid range budget ends up looking like a much bigger production.

How to stretch your budget

One strong concept beats five weak locations.
Shoot performance and story in the same location when you can.
Plan VFX in pre-production, not as a rescue in post.
Lock the song edit before the shoot.

What to send for a quote

The track (a demo is fine), your release date, two or three reference videos you love, and a rough budget range. Then check the music video production page or start your project here.