Requests for skating music

[CoyoteChris]

fumie.suguri on instagram just talked about the frustration of a skater trying to get music rights.
Quote.
fumie.suguri

I’ve been incredibly busy since December 2024—traveling back to Japan for treatment and then diving straight into preparing music and programs for my students.

Getting approval for each skater’s music has been a huge challenge. Today, one of my students was in tears after their music was rejected. I completely understand and respect artists’ copyrights, but it’s tough to see young skaters unable to perform to the music they truly love.
I hope we can find a best way for everyone…

 

[Jhar55]

Is it harder finding music due to skaters using vocals?

 

[Mathman]

Here's my solution. The ISU could hire an orchestra and record a bunch of music that is in the public domain, such as the complete works of Haydn. OK, maybe it wouldn't be an interpretation by the world's geatest orchestra led by the world's most famous conductor but good enough to play over the PA system in a skating arena. And that particular recording would be owned by the ISU, so they could give it out for skaters for free.

 

[CoyoteChris]

Is it harder finding music due to skaters using vocals?

Good question but I dont think so. The larger question is, "When someone gets permission to reboot a song/piece of music and do their own version, then do THEY now control THEIR version....?" And is THEIR version gonna cost the skater more?
The even larger question is , if one of Fumie's 9 year old students wants a piece of music for comp, what does she or someone pay for that music, how long do the rights last? Is the payment bigger depending on the class of skater and if they will use said music in many comps, some internationally? And if you see a comp on TV like the Japanese Jr. High School comp, how does that throw a monkey wrench into the works.?

 

[CoyoteChris]

Here's my solution. The ISU could hire an orchestra and record a bunch of music that is in the public domain, such as the complete works of Haydn. OK, maybe it wouldn't be an interpretation by the world's geatest orchestra led by the world's most famous conductor but good enough to play over the PA system in a skating arena. And that particular recording would be owned by the ISU, so they could give it out for skaters for free.

I wonder how much control a musician has over their music once its given to a conglomerant. ???? Can an artist or owner of the rights say, "Its OK for any skater to use my music for a dollar? For free?

 

[CaroLiza_fan]

Here's my solution. The ISU could hire an orchestra and record a bunch of music that is in the public domain, such as the complete works of Haydn. OK, maybe it wouldn't be an interpretation by the world's geatest orchestra led by the world's most famous conductor but good enough to play over the PA system in a skating arena. And that particular recording would be owned by the ISU, so they could give it out for skaters for free.

I've just had an idea based on your suggestion.

Forget about going to the expense of hiring an orchestra. How about the ISU forming their own in-house volunteer orchestra, made up of skaters, coaches, officials and ISU staff members?

We already know about some talented musicians amongst the skaters. But, I am sure there are enough musicians within the ranks who play a big enough variety of instruments to be able to put together a whole orchestra.

And then they could proceed with your plan from there.

You just need to look at how many orchestras and choirs the BBC has been able to raise from the ranks of their staff to see that organisations with a big enough pool of people can do something like this. And the ISU certainly has a big pool.

CaroLiza_fan

 

[Mathman]

I wonder how much control a musician has over their music once its given to a conglomerant. ???? Can an artist or owner of the rights say, "Its OK for any skater to use my music for a dollar? For free?

My impression is that this is an impossibly tangled field of law. Another consideration is that one country might not respect the copyright laws of another.

That is why I suggest using only music that is has aged out and is now in the public domain. Anyone can make a recording of Beethoven's fifth symphony without consulting Beethoven's heirs. But when a particular orchestra puts out their own rendition they do own some rights about that particular recording, since it contributes innovations and interpretations that themselves have artistic merit. However, for the most part if a big conglomerate puts the orchestra together, hires a conductor and pays them all a salary for their work, then the product is the property of the company and the artists have no say in the matter in most cases.

It is the same for academic research. If you are a professor at a university and you invent something in your field that turns out to be worth millions, the millions are owned by the university, not by the individual inventor. Universities and faculty unions negotiate this as part of their battening agreements. The policy of the unuvversity where I spent most of my career was something like, the inventor gets the first million and after that the university takes a progressively bigger chunk until at about 50 million the university gets it all. This is not a matter of law, however, just a contract between the principals.

Ture, skaters wouldn't get to skate to their favorite Taylor Swift song. But to me, that would be a good thing, not a bad. The thirteen-year-old skater can -- and does -- hear Taylor Swift all day long anyway. It's impossible to avoid. Has she ever listened to the second movement of Kalinnikov's first symphony?I believe that people who work with children shmpiuld always be on the lookout for teaching moments. Then the choreographer could go on to explain why an Ina Bauer on bar 28 would be the perfect complement to that is going on with the music,

 

[Mathman]

I've just had an idea based on your suggestion.

Forget about going to the expense of hiring an orchestra. How about the ISU forming their own in-house volunteer orchestra, made up of skaters, coaches, officials and ISU staff members?

That would be so much fun. (The volunteer musicians should still be paid, though). I wouldn't worry about the quality of the product. Many people involved in figure skating have day jobs -- some are musicians.