Behind the scenes of DWTS weekly music creation
The Unicorn of Live TV: How One Music Director Turns Dancing With the Stars into a Pop Culture Phenomenon
While Dancing With the Stars brings dazzling choreography and celebrity romance to millions of viewers, the true magic behind the show lies in the soundtrack. For 17 seasons, the rhythm that has defined the competition hasn’t just kept pace with the dancers; it has actively pushed pop culture forward. At the heart of this musical revolution is the steady hand of music director Ray Chew.
Chew and his 14-piece band have done more than just provide background tunes; they have transformed the ballroom aesthetic into a vibrant, real-time reflection of current trends. He took the show from a classic ballroom feel and injected it with the energy of pop culture, creating arrangements that react instantly to viral hits, Broadway scores, and every genre imaginable.
Pulling off this feat in live television is an extraordinary logistical challenge. DWTS is shot in real time, demanding speed and precision. Chew and his team operate on a relentless timeline, often starting their show day at 3:30 AM and working through the night to manage the complex symphony of live music. Their process, which Chew affectionately calls “unbaking the cake,” involves deconstructing popular songs to find their core emotional ingredients—the signature sounds, synthesizers, and vocal nuances—before arranging them for the dancers.
The complexity deepens when dealing with intellectual property. As the music supervisor works to clear the rights for these dynamic arrangements, the challenges are immense. Chew notes that clearing rights for a single song can be a headache involving multiple writers and publishers, forcing the team to constantly rework plans to satisfy the original rights holders.
Despite these hurdles, Chew thrives under the pressure of live TV. His journey began in the band for Saturday Night Live in the 1980s, and he has since graced countless major television events, including the Grammy Awards, American Idol, and the Emmys. For Chew, Dancing With the Stars has become a unique fixture—a true “unicorn” in the world of live television.
As the audience and the show itself have evolved, so has the music. When Chew started, the show favored a traditional, ballroom presentation. But over the years, there was a clear need to modernize the sound. Chew successfully steered the show into its current form, embracing bouncier, contemporary tracks that resonate with a younger, more engaged demographic.
This evolution is perhaps the greatest testament to the value of live music on screen. In an era where cost-cutting often defaults to using master recordings, the commitment to having 14 live musicians performing weekly is rare. It is a blessing, Chew says, because it brings a unique life to the song. It allows the music to breathe and react organically to the performance.
The resulting artistry is highly valued by the community. Musicians who have appeared on the show have frequently expressed gratitude for the unique attention paid to their work, recognizing that the live arrangement does more than just accompany the dance—it gives the music a fresh, unforgettable voice.
The story of Dancing With the Stars is not just about a dance competition; it is a masterclass in real-time creative production, proving that when you combine meticulous logistics with a genuine appreciation for musical innovation, you can create something truly exceptional.
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