Jonny Greenwood Seeks Removal of His Music from Melania Movie
Jonny Greenwood, the acclaimed Radiohead guitarist, has taken significant steps regarding the use of his music in the documentary “Melania.” This film, directed by Brett Ratner, focuses on Melania Trump, the former first lady of the United States. Greenwood, along with filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson, alleges that Universal Pictures breached their composer agreement.
Details of the Dispute
At the heart of the issue is a piece of music from Greenwood’s score for the film “Phantom Thread.” The specific composition in question is “Barbara Rose.” Universal reportedly licensed this excerpt for use in the “Melania” documentary without proper consultation with Greenwood.
Allegations of Breach
- Composer Agreement Violation: Greenwood claims Universal failed to consult him regarding third-party use of his music.
- Copyright Status: While Greenwood holds no copyright to the score, the agreement’s terms were allegedly disregarded.
- Request for Removal: Both Greenwood and Anderson have formally requested the removal of the music portion from the documentary.
In a statement issued on their behalf, Greenwood and Anderson highlighted their concerns. They maintain that the unauthorized use of “Barbara Rose” not only violates their agreement but also expected standards of professional consultation.
Next Steps
The controversy has prompted Pitchfork to reach out to Universal Pictures for a response regarding these allegations. The outcome of this dispute remains to be seen as both parties navigate the complexities of music rights and documentary production.
As this story develops, the film community watches closely, especially amid ongoing discussions about music rights in the film industry.
