music rights in 2005

Jay_B! · 09-21-2005, 12:12 AM

I only ask this because I know music rights are what is keeping Cold Case, a show still running, from DVD.

I am getting into the new WB series "Supernatural". However, in the two episodes thus far, there has been a number of classic rock songs from Foreigner, AC/DC and Rush played (it's established that the older brother Dean is a fan of classic rock). Considering the prevalence of TV-DVD's these days, are Warner smart enough to go ahead and clear out music rights for DVD as soon as the episode is produced nowadays, or will they make another mistake ala Cold Case by jeopardizing DVD releases by not making the assumption the show would get enough of a following that would buy the show? Since it's 2005 and it's a 1 hr WB series (since almost all of the WB shows are on DVD), are Warner taking the right measures and clearing the songs or are they setting us up for another WKRP/Wonder Years/Cold Case?

Alex Wagner · 09-21-2005, 12:14 AM

warner is usually pretty good at keeping the original music in a show.
one tree hill
the oc
smallville etc all use well known music and they always retain it on the dvds.

Gord Lacey · 09-21-2005, 12:59 AM

I believe the only musical substitution they've done was with the one song on La Femme Nikita season 2 (which caused the massive delay because they simply couldn't license it).

Gord

Adam_ME · 09-21-2005, 07:14 AM

Quote:

I believe the only musical substitution they've done was with the one song on La Femme Nikita season 2 (which caused the massive delay because they simply couldn't license it).

Which song was that?

Gord Lacey · 09-21-2005, 11:59 AM

I can't remember... I think it was a song by Garbage.

Gord

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ElijahS · 09-21-2005, 12:14 PM

Since most (successful) WB dramas produced by Warner Bros. Television seem to get at least one box set (Smallville, Gilmore Girls, One Tree Hill, Everwood), I would think that they've secured everything for a DVD release.

Jason Seaver · 09-21-2005, 12:54 PM

Quote:

or will they make another mistake ala Cold Case by jeopardizing DVD releases by not making the assumption the show would get enough of a following that would buy the show?

See, I don't know if you can really categorize not nailing down all the music for Cold Case as a "mistake" - you've got something like two months between starting a script and airing the show, and the music for Cold Case is pretty darn crucial. If all you can secure within the production budget is the broadcast rights in that time period, you take it, and let the home video department worry about getting the rights for the DVD.

The music on Supernatural is familiar, but relatively generic; during production, the producers probably have a little more leverage with the rights-holders in terms of "we'll get a different song if you want to be a pain".

Jay_B! · 09-21-2005, 01:24 PM

Quote:

See, I don't know if you can really categorize not nailing down all the music for Cold Case as a "mistake" - you've got something like two months between starting a script and airing the show, and the music for Cold Case is pretty darn crucial. If all you can secure within the production budget is the broadcast rights in that time period, you take it, and let the home video department worry about getting the rights for the DVD.

well, it seemed kinda odd that Cold Case went into production in the fall of 2003, after TV-DVD's started becoming established, yet Warner Bros. didn't go ahead and nail the music rights down for further releases. Remember during the Warner chat, they said music rights were holding the show back from DVD. The show came out at a time when shows like Smallville, CSI, etc... were already coming out on DVD. You'd think as soon as Warner realized it was a ratings hit, they would've started securing music rights for each successive episodes because they would've figured out that the potential of the show selling well on DVD would be a reality.

ElijahS · 09-21-2005, 01:30 PM

Not necessarily. Just because something is a ratings hit doesn't mean it will necessarily translate into massive DVD sales. Just look at the number of cult-following shows with massive DVD sales for proof. Ratings and sales aren't codependent factors. Also, the music rights for the songs might just be that the sheer number of songs amounts to what would end up being a higher price per set than they think would sell.

Jay_B! · 09-21-2005, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Not necessarily. Just because something is a ratings hit doesn't mean it will necessarily translate into massive DVD sales. Just look at the number of cult-following shows with massive DVD sales for proof. Ratings and sales aren't codependent factors. Also, the music rights for the songs might just be that the sheer number of songs amounts to what would end up being a higher price per set than they think would sell.

true, but what I don't get is why WB didn't secure music rights for Cold Case, while they laid down with every song played on One Tree Hill, which premiered the same season.

I am just hoping Warner realizes Supernatural is already building up the type of cult following that hopes to see it on DVD in September 2006, whether or not it survives the season.