MILAN (AP) — U.S. figure skater Amber Glenn recently faced some copyright drama after using a song without permission during her Olympic performance. The artist, Canadian musician Seb McKinnon, known as CLANN, expressed surprise on social media about his song, “The Return,” being featured in her routine.
McKinnon initially questioned if it’s usual for figure skaters to use music without permission, but later congratulated Glenn on her success. “There’s absolutely no hate on my side,” he clarified. “I just want to make sure artists’ rights are respected.”
Figuring out music rights can be tricky for skaters. Glenn remarked on the confusion surrounding these issues, saying, “There was a hiccup in that whole process. I’m glad we cleared things up.” Despite the mix-up, she performed to “The Return” without issues for two years.
Copyright concerns have become more prevalent since the International Skating Union (ISU) loosened rules in 2014, allowing skaters to choose modern music. This shift led to more artists seeking compensation. The ISU has tried to help skaters, but hurdles still exist. For instance, Spanish skater Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabate recently scrambled to get permission for a medley from the film “Minions” just days before his performance.
Further complicating matters, Russian skater Petr Gumennik had to change his program two days before competing due to music permission issues. He later switched to “Waltz 1805” by Edgar Hakobyan, in hopes of staying compliant.
Besides the copyright issue, Glenn, an activist for LGBTQ+ rights, has faced backlash following her comments about the difficulties faced by the queer community. “I was disappointed because I’ve never had so many people wish me harm before,” she said, wearing an LGBTQ+ pin during the medal ceremony.
For now, Glenn is focused on her next challenge. After celebrating her team’s gold medal—the second consecutive win for the U.S.—she’ll prepare for the individual events in the coming days. “I’m really grateful to have this opportunity ahead of the individual,” she expressed.
As the landscape of figure skating evolves, so does the relationship between athletes and artists. It’s a reminder of the growing importance of both creativity and rights in sports.
For more on the Olympics, visit AP Olympics.
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