US figure skater Amber Glenn resolves copyright issue at Milan Cortina Olympics | AP News
MILAN (AP) — U.S. figure skater Amber Glenn has successfully addressed copyright concerns with the artist behind one of the pieces of her free skate music, potentially forging a new friendship with him. This resolution comes after Canadian artist Seb McKinnon, known as CLANN, expressed surprise on social media that his song, "The Return," was used in Glenn's performance during the team event on Sunday. McKinnon's initial post on X (formerly Twitter) highlighted the issue, questioning the usual practice of using copyrighted music in the Olympics.
Figure skaters are required to obtain copyright permission for the music they use, but the process can be confusing and prone to mistakes. Several skaters at the Milan Cortina Games had to change their programs at the last minute due to these issues. Glenn acknowledged the complexity of music rights and expressed relief that the matter was resolved with McKinnon. She emphasized the importance of clear communication in such situations, noting that she had been performing to "The Return" for the past two years without any problems.
Despite the initial hiccup, Glenn's performance at the Olympic Games was a dream come true. She appreciated Seb's acknowledgment and congratulations, which made the moment even more special. Glenn hopes that her performance will introduce new fans to both figure skating and Seb's music. She plans to continue supporting both artists and the skating community moving forward.
McKinnon, whose debut feature film is set for release soon, clarified that his social media post was not intended to cause controversy. He emphasized his respect for artist rights and the importance of ensuring that they are properly compensated. The issue of copyright in figure skating has become more prominent as athletes seek to incorporate modern music that reflects their personalities. The International Skating Union has been working to help skaters navigate these challenges, but copyright problems have still arisen during the Winter Games.
Another example of this issue occurred with Spanish skater Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabate, who had to work feverishly to obtain approval for the music in his short program, set to a medley from the animated film "Minions." Similarly, Russian skater Petr Gumennik had to change his short program two days before the competition due to a lack of proper permission for music from the psychological thriller "Perfume: The Story of a Murderer." As for Glenn, her outspoken support for LGBTQ+ rights has also made her a lightning rod during the Olympics, with some receiving threats following a pre-Olympics press conference.
