I dont think they have because I remember a lot of professionals used to say they chose the music.

At best in the past they were give a list of three songs to choose from. That has long gone. And the pros are not going to rock the boat and will go along with the sham that they have influence over the music.

Oh the band don't choose the music either.

I like the BIB very much too, but I also realise that certain songs are either impossible to get the performing rights for, or they are extremely expensive. But that still doesn't excuse the infantile and/or ignorant choices that end up on our screens.

I did go along with the performing rights rationale. But celebrities don't seem to have a problem with coming up and playing songs on Dessert Island Disks.

And exposure on SCD and youtube afterwards will boost sales.

So given BIB maybe music producers are paying the BBC (or somebody with influence) for exposure?

Unfortunately, although I'd agree the show would be better for you and many of us, if the pros chose their own music, the BBC would disagree, because it would become too much "ballroom orientated."
That won't attract some of the younger viewers for whom it's a toss up between this and X-Factor. It's ratings again.

"Better" to the BBC, is higher ratings.


As for whoever it was who mentioned PRS.

The BBC have a blanket agreement with the PRS. So they can play pretty much anything they like.

Given the amount of music they play each day, it would be a nightmare negotiating for even a small percentage of it.

I got the distinct impression Scott did not like the idea of being the comedy turn.


BIB Not exactly. Before the start of each series each pro would supply a list of songs they would like to use for all the dances in the competition. This would include several choices for each dance. If possible the producers agreed to the pro's choice and it would normally only be refused if there was a problem e.g. getting permission to use it.

I remember one of the female pros saying saying that when they were listening to the radio, it became a habit to think about what dance a song could be used for. That's why we got to see routines to new songs as well as old stuff. Now I think themes dictate the song choice, although I think the pros do get to choose from two or three options.

You may well be right, but I would take anything anyone who was hoping for a renewed contract says, with a pinch of salt.
I'd put money on there being a clause in their contract (if not then certainly now) which prohibits them from saying anything to the media, of which the BBC would disapprove. On sufferance "of pain of not being invited back."
"Ooo that's ringing some bells."
This is too big a show for the BBC to risk any unnecessary embarrassment.

I certainly think that's true now, but not so much in the early series when pros didn't change so often, or in such numbers. I do think it's telling that the question has never been raised on ITT, even in the days when viewers' questions were asked and answered. The information we do have comes from some of the fans who have met their favourite pro so often that the pro knows them by name (not in stalkerish manner!) and they been able to ask questions. I doubt many pros dare rock the boat these days unless they don't care about being asked back.

I used to think that as well, but then I kept reading about songs that were either refused or priced themselves out of the market to film makers that wanted to include them in their films. Big films.

Desert Is Disks only plays short clips- I think that gets round the performing rights bit.

OK, I've got a legit question.

If it's true that the producers choose the music, how come Brendan doesn't stray far from his beloved 80's hit list? A large number of the routines he's done with all his celebrities are danced to his 80's collection. Either he's favoured by the producers or they are fans of the 80's themselves.

About the same as the SCD 90 second clip.

The producers should get hold of the celebrities' music collections when they are contracted.in the summer. There is then plenty of time for them to work with the celeb to select a score or so songs for all the dances and get music rights for all the dances - that is if they need to which I doubt is the case.

Oh I don't believe in the sham that the professionals and celebrities do not know who they are paired up with until the opening show. This is show-business and nothing is left to chance.

The whole thing is a soap opera and pretty much scripted from start to finish - including the judges' comments and scores.

Oh I'm going to the opera this evening. The whole thing is scripted and I know the ending. I'll enjoy it immensely.

My guess is from series 10 it is much more the producers choosing music and themes. Jason Gilkison is the Director of Choreography.

Before that, my understanding is, as has been said, that the pros provided a list of music they would like for each dance and then the producers/band would filter the list.

re the BIB- I think one reason DWTS is losing viewers might be over exposure since it's on twice a year, but there are aspects of the show that I'd love the BBC to take on: they have better camera work which shows far more of the dancers' footwork, the training vids really do show some of the technical aspects of the training and the presenters are really good- he has a nice mixture of gravitas and humour and she is relaxed and asks decent questions.
That said, there are more things I don't like about DWTS than Strictly, but wouldn't it be great if shows copied the best aspects from each other?

The professionals should choose the music not the producers!

I think it could even be series 9. It may have been a gradual thing beginning with replacing Arlene with Alesha (fine by me) and Jared joining as a new pro (out of his depth).

It may have been a gradual change-over. I cant see anyone but Aliona coming up with This Year's Love for a VW - so good, but different.

I remember in Russell and Flavia's year, they asked on Twitter if anyone had any suggestions for their Halloween week song. I suggested 'Better The Devil You Know.' which they then went on to use. When the song choices were confirmed for that week I tweeted them saying 'Good choice' thinking it was just coincidence and Russell replied with 'You chose it for us Dilly'


..... But I ain't getting the blame for all the ones used now, lol.

That song was already used in the Series 5 final for the VW group dance with Matt/Flavia and Alesha/Matthew .... It was gorgeous.

Hah! - me wrong again!

Thanks Dilly.

Utter madness to have Jennifer and Tristan dancing a foxtrot to Abba's Mama Mia . I'm a big fan of Abba's music but it's not music to dance to . The music is supposed to help the dancers not hinder them and especially so for newcomers .

Then Jake and Janette are doing a waltz to the waltz from the Godfather which is fabulous, so hope Janette's choreography doesn't ruin what should be a great dance from Jake .

What makes this competition such an uneven playing field every week is the total discrepancy between the dances given to the celebs. Some get given dance music which is perfectly suited to the dance form, while others are given appallingly unsuited music choices .

This is exactly what bugs me - it would not be so bad if all the couples were given odd music and themes in a show or preferably appropriate music for the dance each show.

Last week was a prime example were some were gifted their dance and the theme did not interfere with the dance too much and others who were given appaling music choices - both Frankie and Scott given poor music choices totalyl wrong for the dance (Mama Mia makes a good tango should have used that last week ) and 1950's charleston madness

Whilst ones like Jake given totally right music and look that fitted the dance and again gifted this week, Pixie given an appropriate waltz and right quickstep this week even Tim is fairing better in the music stakes

Whilst Frankies music is better this week - it is nowhere near a paso - Joanne is being slated for her work with Scott but would have liked for them to have been given 'straight' music and theme one week before they go - I am sure for instance had they had Tim's music and dance lasts week they would have put in a much more competant dance

Funny it was Aliona that was in my mind too. I could be wrong, but in mind mind Aliona was one of the pros to make regular use of props.

I agree with the posters who say ABBA songs from Mama Mia shouldn't be allowed because it's a jukebox film. The music should be something unique to a particular film.

***waves*** to Dilly

I have high hopes for a memorable dance from Jake & Janette to The Godfather Waltz; anything without a vocal stands a decent chance of being one to remember, and it is a haunting piece of music.

Series 7 Aliona uses no props.
Series 8, the producer tells them to use props - Aliona uses props.
Series 9, I think someone did a prop count and Aliona was well down the list of prop users?

I think she also (surprisingly maybe) does stick to the producer's rules. There doesn't seem to be a time limit on the start or end (out of hold) of a routine. She did choreograph a jump in Rav's Tango which turned into a lift because he helped her jump higher (which is her fault). But she did choreograph a jump - not a lift.
She took a section out of her pro Jive with Matthew and put it into the Jive with Harry, but whereas in the pro Jive Matthew swung her round with her feet off the ground, you can see that with Harry, Aliona is working hard to keep one foot on the ground during the spin.
I do think that she could have and should have had more in hold with Harry's Tango, but I don't think she actually broke the producer's rules.