Editing Figure skating (section)

===Music===
For competitive programs, figure skaters were once restricted to instrumental music; vocals were allowed only if they contained no lyrics or words.<ref name=vocalsnote/> Beginning in the 1997–98 season, the [[International Skating Union|ISU]] decided to allow lyrics or words in [[ice dance]] music. Although the rules were not relaxed for singles and pairs, judges did not always penalize violations. At the [[2011 World Figure Skating Championships|2011 World Championships]], [[Florent Amodio]]'s long program music included words but an insufficient number of judges voted for a deduction.<ref name=w11mlp/> In June 2012, the ISU voted to allow skaters from all disciplines to choose music with words in their competitive programs beginning in the [[2014–15 figure skating season|2014–15 season]].<ref name=NYT140218/><ref name=IN140716/>

Skaters may use professional music editors so that their music meets requirements.<ref name=NDN140217/> Ice dancers are required to skate to music that has a definite beat or rhythm. Singles and pair skaters more often skate to the melody and phrasing of their music. For [[free skating|long program]]s, figure skaters generally search for music with different moods and tempos.<ref name=IN120423/> Music selections for exhibitions are less constrained than for competitive programs.