Musician Accuses Olympic Figure Skater Amber Glenn of Unauthorized Song Usage: What You Need to Know

Musician Seb McKinnon had a surprising moment when he discovered that figure skater Amber Glenn used his song “The Return” during her routine at the 2026 Winter Olympics. In a tweet, he expressed his astonishment: “So just found out an Olympic figure skater used one of my songs without permission for their routine. Is that usual practice for the Olympics?”

Amber Glenn, 26, performed to McKinnon’s song during her free skate in Milan, Italy. Despite some mistakes, she helped Team USA secure a gold medal, thanks in part to her teammate Ilia Malinin’s strong performance.

After McKinnon shared his views, he learned more about music rights. He tweeted, “Thank you Community Notes! This is news to me. The deal I have with my label is that I alone can give the ok to license my music.” He originally thought airing on TV might grant automatic permissions, but learned it’s not that straightforward.

In a follow-up message, he congratulated Glenn, saying, “And plus she won Gold??? Huge congrats.”

According to the Associated Press, Glenn had used “The Return” in her routines for over two years. Skaters do need permission for the music they use, but the process can get complicated due to various rights owners and versions of songs.

Interestingly, Glenn isn’t the only athlete facing music rights challenges. Spanish skater Tomàs-Llorenç Guarino Sabaté encountered issues with his music just before the Olympics. He claimed to have followed all procedures but was told he couldn’t use his chosen pieces due to copyright complications.

However, Sabaté later shared positive news. He announced on Instagram that he obtained the necessary licenses for his routine. He thanked various organizations and individuals for their support, emphasizing how crucial this help was during a stressful time.

This situation shines a light on the often complex world of music rights in sports. Athletes and artists alike navigate a web of regulations and permissions, making their creative expressions not just an art form, but a legal maze as well.



Source link