Olympic Skater Faces Nightmare with Minions Music, Highlighting Ongoing Issue

The upcoming Milano Cortina Olympics has drawn attention due to an ongoing issue faced by figure skaters regarding music licensing. Spanish skater Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabate recently revealed that he can no longer use his routine’s music, a medley from the film “Minions,” due to copyright clearance problems.

Copyright Challenges for Olympic Figure Skaters

Sabate, who is 26 years old, expressed his disappointment just four days before the opening ceremony. He stated, “I was informed that I am no longer permitted to use this program due to copyright clearance issues.” While he is not favored to win a medal, his performance in a yellow T-shirt and blue overalls, embodying the Minions, had captivated audiences.

Switching Programs Amidst Tight Timeline

Due to these restrictions, Sabate is forced to revert to an old program for his men’s short skate at the Milano Ice Skating Arena next Tuesday. Ironically, he faces the challenge of skating to the same music again. His previous short program featured music by the Bee Gees, which he also used for this season’s free skate.

Evolving Music Regulations in Figure Skating

The figure skating community has grappled with music licensing issues for years. Traditionally, music with lyrics was not allowed, and classical pieces were considered public domain. However, this changed in 2014 when the International Skating Union (ISU) relaxed its rules to modernize the sport. Unfortunately, most contemporary music remains under copyright, leading to complications.

The 2022 Beijing Games highlighted such challenges when U.S. pairs skaters Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier faced legal issues over their music choice. The indie band involved alleged that permission was not granted for a cover of “House of the Rising Sun,” resulting in lawsuits against the skaters and other parties.

Seeking Solutions for Music Clearance

The ISU has been working to simplify the music clearance process, collaborating with stakeholders for skater music permissions. Despite these efforts, confusion persists among athletes. Sabate mentioned using ClicknClear for music approval as part of his preparation for the skating season. An ISU spokesperson acknowledged Sabate’s struggles and assured that more details would follow.

Support from Organizations

• U.S. Figure Skating collaborates with the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) and Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI) to guide skaters in their music selections.
• Relying on databases like Songview, athletes must ensure their music is legally cleared.

World champion Alysa Liu has successfully navigated this landscape by establishing a relationship with her favorite artist, Laufey Lín Bing Jónsdóttir, allowing her to use the artist’s music without issues.

Athletes Voice Their Concerns

Teammate Amber Glenn shared her frustrations regarding the music approval process, describing it as “pure chaos.” She emphasized that athletes should focus on their performance, not legal issues, stating, “This is not something that we should be worrying about.”

As the Olympic Games approach, the spotlight on the Minions-inspired program underscores a larger dilemma in the sport: the impact of copyright laws on artistic expression in figure skating. As these athletes prepare to perform at the highest level, the hope is for a smoother path ahead concerning music licensing.