U.S. Figure Skater Amber Glenn Resolves Olympic Music Copyright Dispute
Key Facts
- Amber Glenn resolved a music copyright dispute with artist Seb McKinnon on Tuesday.
- McKinnon (CLANN) questioned the unauthorized use of his song 'The Return' on social media following Glenn's Sunday performance.
- Glenn is a member of the U.S. team that won the gold medal in the team event.
- International Skating Union rules require athletes to obtain copyright permission for all music used in competition.
- Petr Gumennik (Russia) changed his program 48 hours before competition due to music rights issues.
- Jutta Leerdam set an Olympic record of 1:12.31 in the women's 1000m speed skate.
- Lindsey Vonn suffered a complex tibia fracture after missing her line by 5 inches during the downhill event.
- The IOC barred Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych from wearing a memorial helmet for fallen athletes, citing Rule 50.2 of the Olympic Charter.
U.S. figure skater Amber Glenn announced Tuesday she has resolved a copyright dispute with Canadian artist Seb McKinnon after her gold-medal-winning team performance featured his music without prior authorization. McKinnon, who records under the name CLANN, had expressed surprise on social media after Glenn used his song "The Return" during the team event on Sunday. Glenn described the incident as a "hiccup" in the complex music rights process and stated she looks forward to future collaboration with the artist.
The resolution comes amid a series of music-related challenges at the Milan Cortina Games. Spanish skater Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabate recently worked to secure last-minute approval from Universal Studios for a "Minions" medley, while Russian skater Petr Gumennik was forced to change his short program two days before competition because he lacked permission for his original music. The International Skating Union (ISU) has been attempting to assist athletes with these requirements, which have become more frequent since regulations were relaxed to allow modern music.
Glenn, a three-time U.S. champion and outspoken LGBTQ+ activist, also disclosed that she has received threats following her recent comments regarding the political climate for the queer community. Despite these challenges, Glenn participated in team celebrations on Monday before departing for a training camp to prepare for the women’s individual competition, which begins February 17. In other Olympic developments, Dutch speed skater Jutta Leerdam won the 1000m gold medal with a record time of 1:12.31, while American skier Lindsey Vonn remains hospitalized with a complex tibia fracture following a downhill crash.
Historical Context
The issue of copyright in figure skating emerged as a significant challenge after the International Skating Union relaxed its regulations in 2014. Previously, athletes primarily used public domain music, but the shift toward modern tracks has required skaters to navigate complex licensing agreements. While the ISU provides some guidance, the responsibility for securing global broadcast rights remains with the individual athletes and their teams.
Perspective Analysis
Sources: Associated Press · New York Times · MSNBC · Al Jazeera · Deutsche Welle · BBC · CNN | Aggregators: Global Conflict Monitor
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