While Ellen DeGeneres is making news in the music industry with her new Idol gig, her daytime talk show may be in trouble with multiple record companies. The AP reports that several labels, including Warner Bros., Sony Music, and Motown Records, have sued the producers of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, claiming they violated the copyrights of over 1,000 songs that are routinely used when DeGeneres and her audience dances at the beginning of each episode. Wrote the AP report: “According to the suit filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Nashville, when representatives of the recording companies asked defendants why they hadn’t obtained licenses to use the songs, defendants said they didn’t ‘roll that way.’” A spokesman for the show’s production company told the AP that the suit did not involve DeGeneres herself, and that they are working to come to “amicable and reasonable terms.”
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OH LAWD!!!
“Does the defendant wish to make a plea?”
“Yes, your honor, we would like to plea we don’t roll with that.”
I’m sure they’ll reach a de-generous settlement.
It’s free promotion of their songs! This whole “you need permission/have to pay to play our songs” is soo azz backwards!
If I were a musician I would want people to ask permission first so that I could prevent my work from being used in ways I don’t want it to be used (like in ads) so I can see why they’d want everyone to ask first.
But I agree with you that asking someone to pay for the privilege of promoting your music is just stupid. If they were making money off of the music, like in an ad, this would make sense. But they’re basically complaining that Ellen is telling people that these songs are good. What?
I hope the producers of the show say fine, no more free promotion of your artists. Then, play undiscovered/indie label artists. I’m sure they would love the free publicity. All Ellen would have to do would be to set up a place on her website to have artists download the music she can use, and I’m sure there would be no shortage of volunteers.
And, the show could even have an annual contest where viewers vote for their favorite artist who would then get a recording contract (obviously not with the companies who filed the lawsuit). This contest could run during the opposite season of American Idol, because I’m sure there will be no shortage of music when Ellen starts judging on AI.
In an industry where people have to work to really promote themselves and their music for anyone to hear it … record companies should be grateful to this show for providing a place where music can be heard.
Are these companies for real it is free promotion. It isn’t like she is making money using these songs in her intro.