Olympic Music Rights: A Growing Headache for Figure Skaters
The Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics have already seen a flurry of drama surrounding music rights in figure skating, highlighted by a recent dispute between U.S. Gold medalist Amber Glenn and Canadian artist Seb McKinnon, who performs under the name CLANN. McKinnon initially expressed surprise that his song, “The Return,” was used in Glenn’s Olympic free skate program without prior permission. While the issue was quickly resolved, it underscores a growing trend of licensing complications within the sport.
The Glenn-McKinnon Resolution and the Complexity of Music Rights
Glenn and McKinnon have since clarified the situation, attributing the issue to a “hiccup” in the clearance process. Glenn stated she is looking forward to collaborating with McKinnon. The incident brought to light the often-complex and confusing nature of music rights, even at the highest levels of athletic competition. Skaters typically rely on federations and event organizers to secure the necessary permissions, but breakdowns can and do occur.
Beyond Glenn: A Pattern of Last-Minute Scrambles
Glenn’s case isn’t isolated. Spanish skater Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabate faced a frantic scramble to gain approval for his short program music, a medley from “Minions,” just before the Games began. Similarly, Russian skater Petr Gumennik was forced to change his short program two days before competition due to a lack of permission for music from “Perfume: The Story of a Murderer.” These instances demonstrate that securing music rights is becoming increasingly challenging as figure skating embraces more contemporary music.
The Rise of Contemporary Music and Licensing Challenges
For years, figure skating relied heavily on classical music, where licensing was often simpler. However, the sport’s evolution towards incorporating popular and contemporary tracks has introduced a new layer of complexity. The increasing use of music from film soundtracks, popular artists, and independent musicians requires navigating a more intricate web of copyright laws and licensing agreements.
The Creator’s Perspective: Fair Compensation and Consent
Seb McKinnon’s initial reaction highlights a crucial point: creators deserve clear consent, proper credit, and fair compensation when their work is used. McKinnon emphasized this applies to all artists, regardless of fame. This sentiment reflects a broader conversation about artist rights in the digital age, where unauthorized use of creative work is rampant.
The Impact on Athletes and the Future of Music in Skating
These music rights issues add significant stress to athletes already facing immense pressure during the Olympics. The require to potentially alter routines at the last minute can disrupt training, impact performance, and create unnecessary anxiety. The situation also raises questions about the responsibility of federations and event organizers in ensuring proper clearance is obtained.
Potential Solutions and Future Trends
Several potential solutions could mitigate these issues. Standardizing the music clearance process across international federations, investing in robust licensing databases, and providing skaters with dedicated legal support are all possibilities. Increased collaboration between skating organizations and music rights organizations could also streamline the process. The future may see skaters opting for pre-cleared music libraries or commissioning original scores to avoid licensing complications altogether.
FAQ
Q: Is it common for Olympic skaters to have music rights issues?
A: It is becoming increasingly common, particularly as skaters use more contemporary music.
Q: Who is responsible for securing music rights for skaters?
A: Typically, skaters rely on their federations and event organizers to secure the necessary permissions.
Q: What happens if a skater uses music without permission?
A: They may be required to change their program, potentially impacting their performance.
Q: What is CLANN?
A: CLANN is the musical alias of Canadian artist Seb McKinnon.
Did you know? Amber Glenn is also an outspoken LGBTQ+ rights activist and has faced threats following a pre-Olympics press conference.
Pro Tip: Skaters should proactively discuss music choices and licensing with their federations well in advance of competitions to avoid last-minute issues.
Want to learn more about the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics? Visit the Associated Press Olympics hub.
Share your thoughts! Do you think the music rights process needs to be reformed for Olympic athletes? Abandon a comment below.