There is a lot of confusion between what it costs to produce a radio commercial and what it costs to air one. This guide focuses on production — the creative, the voice, the music, and the mix — so you know exactly what you are paying for.
Production vs airtime
Airtime is what you pay stations to broadcast your spot; production is the one-time cost to create it. For airtime specifics, see our detailed radio ad cost guide. This article is about production.
What drives the cost
The big three are professional voice talent, licensed or original music, and studio engineering. Scripting and revisions factor in too. Each of these is where amateur spots fall apart — and where a studio earns its fee. Explore our production services.
Typical ranges
Production is a modest, predictable investment compared to airtime — and unlike airtime, you own the creative and can reuse it across markets. Multi-spot packages lower the per-spot cost significantly.
How to spend smart
Batch your production. Recording several spots in one session spreads setup costs and gives you a rotation of fresh creative. Agencies and dealer groups especially benefit — see package pricing or read our why audio advertising works primer.
Ready to sound bigger than your budget?
We produce broadcast-ready radio and audio ads for agencies, dealerships, and casinos — with volume pricing for multi-market campaigns. Get a quote or see production packages.