Pump up the Volume

[Samus Aran]

In a recent interview, Christian Slater said this movie is nowhere to be found on streaming because of the music rights. Could that be the same issue with the Blu-ray, where whatever DVD rights were involved didn't carry over to the next format?

[hpmoon]

Originally Posted by Samus Aran

In a recent interview, Christian Slater said this movie is nowhere to be found on streaming because of the music rights. Could that be the same issue with the Blu-ray, where whatever DVD rights were involved didn't carry over to the next format?

That's so interesting (and would explain so much). Leonard Cohen's estate/publisher, perhaps? That stupid "Hallelujah" song starting raking in tons of money last election for rights clearances, being an anthem for distracted grieving, so that's an example of rights holders that won't get any easier over time.

[craigbarr2003]

Originally Posted by hpmoon

That's so interesting (and would explain so much). Leonard Cohen's estate/publisher, perhaps? That stupid "Hallelujah" song starting raking in tons of money last election for rights clearances, being an anthem for distracted grieving, so that's an example of rights holders that won't get any easier over time.

Doubtful the lack of a blu ray has anything to do with licensing issues. At the time of the license, it probably specified physical home video usage or sell through purchase rights, which is how/why there were VHS and multiple DVD releases. It probably said something along the lines of "including, but not limited to, VHS" and any firm of invented physical media. Streaming rights are another thing entirely. It, of course, didn't exist at the time the music was initially licensed, so the license doesn't cover it at all and the licenses would have to be renegotiated and paid. If WB doesn't think they'll make the money back (a couple of the songs they used are expensive), they probably won't make that investment for streaming. People need to remember (or know, if they don't), a song isn't a license. It's multiple licenses. The master recording license and the synchronization/publishing license. Each needing to be renegotiated.

WB actually had to come back to me a couple of years ago because they wanted to put a TV series on streaming that was not in the original license. And since they low balled us on the original TV license, the streaming rights cost them triple. They would've had to remove the song from that series if they didn't agree (which was used in multiple episodes), so they agreed. PUMP UP THE VOLUME isn't really generating much money for any of those music rights holders currently, so they have no incentive to accept pennies on the dollar for those streaming rights, which is what WB would probably want to pay.

[hpmoon]

Originally Posted by craigbarr2003

Doubtful the lack of a blu ray has anything to do with licensing issues. At the time of the license, it probably specified physical home video usage or sell through purchase rights, which is how/why there were VHS and multiple DVD releases. It probably said something along the lines of "including, but not limited to, VHS" and any firm of invented physical media. Streaming rights are another thing entirely. It, of course, didn't exist at the time the music was initially licensed, so the license doesn't cover it at all and the licenses would have to be renegotiated and paid. If WB doesn't think they'll make the money back (a couple of the songs they used are expensive), they probably won't make that investment for streaming. People need to remember (or know, if they don't), a song isn't a license. It's multiple licenses. The master recording license and the synchronization/publishing license. Each needing to be renegotiated.

WB actually had to come back to me a couple of years ago because they wanted to put a TV series on streaming that was not in the original license. And since they low balled us on the original TV license, the streaming rights cost them triple. They would've had to remove the song from that series if they didn't agree (which was used in multiple episodes), so they agreed. PUMP UP THE VOLUME isn't really generating much money for any of those music rights holders currently, so they have no incentive to accept pennies on the dollar for those streaming rights, which is what WB would probably want to pay.

Really insightful analysis, agreeing with everything. I still think a Blu-ray release would be profitable if it didn't require lots of remastering (though it probably does from SD transfers, and then they could only financially justify investment if it had a future in streaming) -- this is a cult film with an afterlife, much like Moyle's next sleeper "Empire Records" that took a really long time to hold its own.

A parallel example of this was David E. Kelley's "Ally McBeal" that was a very song-heavy episodic television series. It was unavailable for many years post-broadcast syndication, because of music rights, but they finally got them back. It's always a balancing test.

I'd be in favor of creative decisions being willfully compromised just to save the whole. If one licensor holds out, even after MFN negotiations, and it's possible to go back to the masters and cut out a song, I say it's for the greater good of survival. You can't have everything (and greed is as old as homemade sin).

[Vict]

Originally Posted by hpmoon

That stupid "Hallelujah" song starting raking in tons of money last election for rights clearances, being an anthem for distracted grieving,

Heh-heh i always thought that song was annoying & cringeworthy, the same for everybody knows too

[DasRetroKid]

Originally Posted by Vict

Heh-heh i always thought that song was annoying & cringeworthy, the same for everybody knows too

Leonard Cohen is a legend

[beamish13]

Originally Posted by DasRetroKid

Leonard Cohen is a legend

He certainly deserved the Nobel far more than Bob Dylan. Brilliant novelist, too

[heineken]

Originally Posted by Vict

Heh-heh i always thought that song was annoying & cringeworthy, the same for everybody knows too

Everybody Knows is even more relevant now. And Halleluiah is great. But my favorite Cohen is The Future. That guy was prophetic.

Anyway, instant pre-order. Been waiting for this forever.