Behind the Scenes: The Music Director of DWTS on Live TV Challenges
Music director Ray Chew, who has led the band on 'Dancing With the Stars' for 17 seasons, explains the intense weekly process of arranging songs for live performances. His team starts at 3:30 AM on show days and races to create arrangements for choreographers' picks, often dealing with complex music clearance issues. Chew describes the show as a 'unicorn' for live TV music, blending real-time trends with classic ballroom styles.
Chew's extensive résumé includes music directing for the Grammy Awards, Emmys, and American Idol, though he identifies DWTS as uniquely challenging. His 14-piece ensemble is recognized as one of the largest live bands currently featured on television.
The weekly schedule begins with Tuesday broadcasts, while song assignments arrive the following day. Chew deconstructs popular tracks to isolate their signature elements, while music supervisor Nancy Severinsen navigates complex licensing involving multiple publishers, sometimes securing rights just before airtime, as occurred during the show's *Wicked* tribute.
This story could heighten audience appreciation for the unseen logistical and legal labor behind live television music. It may also spark broader industry conversations about the value of maintaining live musicianship amid a trend toward pre-recorded tracks, potentially influencing how networks allocate resources for entertainment programming.