Key takeaways
- Custom jingle prices range from free (AI) to over $250,000 (sonic identity systems for global brands).
- For most small and mid-size brands, the right band is $1,000 to $3,000 — anything cheaper compromises rights or originality; anything more usually buys broadcast clearance.
- Hartman Brothers prices one social-first package at $2,500 flat, with all cutdowns and rights included.
- The biggest hidden costs are extra revisions, extra cutdowns, and broadcast-rights uplifts. Get them itemized before signing.
- The right question is not "what does a custom jingle cost?" but "what does this jingle need to do?" Match price to placement.
The 2026 market in one chart
Here is roughly what custom jingle pricing looks like across the market, based on public pricing from leading studios and reported buyer experiences.
| Tier | Price | Best for | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI jingle generators | $0 to $40 | Prototyping, internal demos | Generic vocals, non-exclusive, low brand distinctiveness |
| Fiverr / freelance marketplaces | $50 to $500 | Hobby projects, one-off content | Variable rights, no revision guarantee, mixed quality |
| Boutique studios (flat price) | $1,000 to $1,500 | Social-first brands, podcasts, SMBs | Usually no terrestrial broadcast clearance included |
| Mid-market jingle agencies | $1,500 to $5,000 | Local TV/radio, regional ads | Quote-based, longer cycles, market-size variable |
| National jingle houses | $5,000 to $25,000 | National broadcast, large retailers | Higher production, but slower turnaround |
| Sonic branding agencies | $25,000 to $250,000+ | Global brands, full sonic identity systems | Months-long engagement; overkill for a single jingle |
Why most legacy jingle companies refuse to publish prices
If you tour the websites of established jingle studios, almost none publish a number on the homepage. The reason is simple: traditional jingle pricing is broadcast-scoped. A small-market radio jingle and a national TV jingle for the same brand can differ by an order of magnitude, because the price includes implicit licensing for the territory.
That model made sense when most jingles ran on terrestrial radio or TV. In 2026, most jingles run on Reels, TikTok, YouTube, and podcasts — where the brand owns the channel and licensing is straightforward. The quote-based model is a relic for that use case, and it costs buyers weeks of back-and-forth for projects that should ship in two weeks.
What you actually pay for in a $2,500 custom jingle
At Hartman Brothers, $2,500 buys all of the following:
- Original lyric and melody, written for your brand
- Professional vocal recording
- Full instrumental production and mastering
- 60-second master, 30-second cut, 15-second cut, 5-second stinger
- Instrumental and acapella versions
- WAV and MP3 files
- Master copyright and perpetual sync rights for owned channels
- Unlimited revisions until the jingle is right
See the full package and add-on list on the pricing page.
Where the hidden costs hide
Most jingle buyer regrets come from costs that were not in the initial quote. Ask any vendor up front about:
- Revisions. How many are included? What counts as a revision vs a new direction?
- Cutdowns. Is the 15s cut included, or does each version cost extra?
- Stems and instrumental. Are these included or sold separately?
- Broadcast clearance. Most flat-fee jingles cover owned and paid social but not terrestrial radio or TV. Confirm in writing.
- Rights duration. Some shops license for a year; you want perpetual.
- Rush delivery. Expect a 15 to 25% uplift for under-7-day turnaround.
$2,500 includes the song, every standard cutdown, and full master rights. Add-ons are published.
Start your jingle - $2,500Match the price to the placement
The wrong question is "how much should I spend on a jingle?" The right question is "where does this jingle need to live?" Use the placement to set the budget.
| Primary placement | Budget guidance |
|---|---|
| Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts | $2,500 — owned-channel package is enough |
| Paid social | $2,500 — same package; the same rights cover paid social |
| Podcast intro and outro | $2,500 — owned-channel rights cover this |
| Local terrestrial radio | $1,500 — add the extended broadcast license |
| Regional TV | $2,000 to $5,000 — broadcast clearance + extra cutdowns |
| National broadcast / sports | $10,000+ — talent residuals and clearance dominate the cost |
Why $2,500 works
The reason a flat $2,500 price holds together is that the modern jingle process is heavily front-loaded into songwriting and production, and the deliverables are templatized. The song is fully original — the process around it is not. By running every project through the same brief, demo, revise, master cycle, the studio cost stays predictable while the creative output stays custom.
For comparison, a $50 Fiverr jingle saves $950 but gives you a non-exclusive vocal pack with limited rights. A $5,000 jingle agency project includes broadcast clearance you do not need if your brand lives on social. The mid-market $1,000 to $1,500 band is where most modern brands should sit.
FAQ
What is the average cost of a custom jingle?
Across the market in 2026, custom jingles for small businesses typically fall between $1,000 and $3,000. Hartman Brothers prices a complete custom jingle at $2,500 flat.
Why is there such a wide price range?
Most agencies price by market size, intended use, and broadcast scope. National broadcast jingles can run into five and six figures, while social-only jingles cost much less. Hartman Brothers bypasses the variable model by pricing one social-first package flat.
Are there hidden costs in custom jingle production?
Common hidden costs are extra cutdowns, revisions, stem deliveries, terrestrial broadcast licensing, and rush fees. Hartman Brothers publishes its add-ons up front: extra vocal language is $300, extended broadcast license is $500, rush is $250, and additional 30-second remix is $200.
Is $2,500 enough to get a high-quality jingle?
Yes. At Hartman Brothers the $2,500 covers original songwriting, professional vocals, full production, all cutdowns, stems, and master ownership.