Music rights clearance issues (policy being implemented by the ISU starting in 2024)

[overedge]

According to the Twitter/X, Seb Mackinnon actually controls his own rights and licensing. Which may be why he was so surprised to hear his music used without him (allegedly) knowing.

 

[Barbara Manatee]

If musicians and other creatives got a nickel for every time they were told they should give their work away because the exposure would be worth it, they might actually have enough money to make a living. Most artists have to fight every day to prove that their work has value - not just to the world but to themselves. The ones that succeed are the ones who know their worth and stand up for it.

Skaters pay their coaches, costume makers, choreographers, and everyone else who helps them create a program. Why are the people who make the music at the heart of it the only ones expected to work for free?

 

[Sylvia]

Mel C's message to Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson who are performing to Spice Girls in today's RD:

https://twitter.com/x/status/2020820454022291616

 

[Capt. DeSoto]

According to the Twitter/X, Seb Mackinnon actually controls his own rights and licensing. Which may be why he was so surprised to hear his music used without him (allegedly) knowing.

It sounds like he might have simply forgotten that this particular piece was a commissioned "work for hire" where he retained no copyright.

 

[GarrAargHrumph]

If musicians and other creatives got a nickel for every time they were told they should give their work away because the exposure would be worth it, they might actually have enough money to make a living. Most artists have to fight every day to prove that their work has value - not just to the world but to themselves. The ones that succeed are the ones who know their worth and stand up for it.

Skaters pay their coaches, costume makers, choreographers, and everyone else who helps them create a program. Why are the people who make the music at the heart of it the only ones expected to work for free?

I was going to bring up this exact point. Artists are constantly asked, and expected, to work for free "for the exposure". It happens to musicians, writers, illustrators, actors, etc. Their work has value. If you want to use it, it therefore has value to you, you should pay for it.

People should be paid for their work. Exceptions shouldn't be made because it's art. Especially in situations where the system is designed to pay the artist (even if only a little), they shouldn't be asked to make an exception; they should be paid.

 

[Vagabond]

According to the Twitter/X, Seb Mackinnon actually controls his own rights and licensing. Which may be why he was so surprised to hear his music used without him (allegedly) knowing.

Whatever do you mean? Is "X," the company, making an official statement? How could it possibly know?

BTW, don't believe everything you read.

 

[Theatregirl1122]

What I find most funny about that stuff is that people like Madonna or Elton John get excited when skaters use their music and some random nobodies that 95% of the world havn't ever heard of don't want their music to be played somewhere where new people might actually hear it (I checked out the singer that Guinnard & Fabri use the first time yesterday for example, cause they linked her in their story, which is a great way to get some people interested outside your usual market)

I mean, I don't think that's weird at all. Madonna and Elton John are rolling in it and don't really need the small amount they'd get from this situation. They can afford to be generous. Small artists likely are struggling and need all the money they can get and can't afford to be generous. Not weird at all.

As far as the artist for Amber's music, I'm glad everything seems to have worked out. This does seem like an example where he would have been better to get his facts straight before he accused someone on the internet. It wouldn't have been that hard to check with his label first and THEN tweet if he really wanted to.

 

[Jay42]

Whatever do you mean? Is "X," the company, making an official statement? How could it possibly know?

BTW, don't believe everything you read.

I can't find it anymore but it looks like someone explained to him that the way the licensing works for skating broadcasts is similar to how it works for radio not synching (his words I don't know what the difference is). He then congratulated Amber. So I think this was more a case of the artist not understanding how licensing works in these kinds of scenarios.

 

[Former Lurve Goddess]

I can't find it anymore but it looks like someone explained to him that the way the licensing works for skating broadcasts is similar to how it works for radio not synching (his words I don't know what the difference is). He then congratulated Amber. So I think this was more a case of the artist not understanding how licensing works in these kinds of scenarios.

Syncing is basically when a piece of music/song is used for part of a TV show, movie, video game, etc.

 

[tangerine dream]

Glad the issue was worked out quickly. I just can't imagine any way USFS would have allowed any of their skaters to go to the Olympics without full music rights given what happened with K/F four years ago.

 

[Jay42]

Syncing is basically when a piece of music/song is used for part of a TV show, movie, video game, etc.

Ah that makes sense, thank you.

 

[Sylvia]

Whatever do you mean? Is "X," the company, making an official statement? How could it possibly know?

https://twitter.com/x/status/2020778746966638813

 

[Miezekatze]

Is Contratz a really en vogue new spelling that I’m too old to know or is he just bad at typing?

 

[peibeck]

that this guy relied on X's Community Notes rather than calling his agent or record label. Mess.

 

[Miezekatze]

If musicians and other creatives got a nickel for every time they were told they should give their work away because the exposure would be worth it, they might actually have enough money to make a living. Most artists have to fight every day to prove that their work has value - not just to the world but to themselves. The ones that succeed are the ones who know their worth and stand up for it.

Skaters pay their coaches, costume makers, choreographers, and everyone else who helps them create a program. Why are the people who make the music at the heart of it the only ones expected to work for free?

But it's not as if skaters are not willing to "pay" for the existing music, AFAIK every skater affected has tried in best conscience to obtain the necessary rights through whatever means the ISU offered or they worked with their federation or both , ...

It shouldn't be necessary for each skater to study international copyright law and contact every rights owner personally to get the necessary clearance.

And sorry, but the idea that many skaters are going to pay some indie artist to compose music for them is quite a bit unrealistic.

Many skaters can a) barely finance their training/costumes/ice time ... and b) I think it's very out of touch to think that 99% of skaters would be able to come up with a concept for a Free Dance or Long Program without any existing music, formulate what sort of program they need, what the technical and artistic requirements are, find an indie artist who is supposed to compose it for them and what if the result is not what they expected or doesn't work, would they pay over and over again or would the artist get a fixed pay and have to provide changes over and over again?
I think if anything, in such a scenario 90% of the skaters would end up using AI to generate something and then there would be that one artsy top skater/couple who'd actually manage to make something like that work..