Chantal Epp, founder and chief executive of ClicknClear, told Sportico the company signed “a multiyear agreement with the ISU in 2024” and co-produced the ISU’s online training module for skaters. She declined to answer questions about Guarino’s case, saying she was unable to comment on individual athletes’ music, but added that “record labels and publishers … have the sole discretion to approve or deny uses of their music and set license fees.”
Broadly, Epp said, if a skater were to perform at the Olympics to music without proper licensing, it could lead to litigation, or broadcasters may choose not to air the program on television or streaming, therefore denying the skater their Olympic exposure. If a legal claim is brought by a third party, such as a musician or record label, the athlete and their national Olympic committee “would be responsible for handling and settling any disputes with the music rights holder (at the NOC’s cost).”
Neither Spain’s national Olympic committee nor its governing body for figure skating immediately responded to a request for comment regarding Guarino’s licensing debacle. Two spokesmen for NBC, the U.S. broadcast rights holder for the Olympic games and whose parent company, Comcast, distributes the Minions movie franchise, did not respond to requests for comment. The International Olympic Committee deferred questions to the ISU.
But also, there isn't money to be made most of the time as most local club comps and local modern dance performances don't make a lot of money. It's probably more work to chase it than it's worth. There should be something for modern dance like there is for rinks so they get some money regardless.
