Director Paul Thomas Anderson and composer Jonny Greenwood have publicly demanded the removal of their Phantom Thread score from the documentary Melania. This action arises amid ongoing tension regarding the film’s content, as the creators claim their music was used without proper authorization. The Phantom Thread piece in question, titled “Barbara Rose,” was included despite the artists not granting permission for its use in the Melania documentary.
Details Surrounding the Dispute Over Music Rights
According to a joint statement issued by Anderson and Greenwood and reported by The Hollywood Reporter, the music from Phantom Thread was incorporated into the Melania documentary without consulting Jonny Greenwood, which breaches the composer’s agreement. Even though Universal holds the copyright, the lack of proper consultation has prompted Anderson and Greenwood to insist on the immediate withdrawal of their music from the film.
It has come to our attention that a piece of music from Phantom Thread has been used in the Melania documentary,
Paul Thomas Anderson and Jonny Greenwood said.
While Jonny Greenwood does not own the copyright in the score, Universal failed to consult Jonny on this third-party use, which is a breach of his composer agreement. As a result, Jonny and Paul Thomas Anderson have asked for it to be removed from the documentary.
Background on the Melania Documentary and Its Production Context
The documentary Melania, centered on the former First Lady Melania Trump and directed by Brett Ratner, is a lavish project reportedly financed in part by Melania Trump herself. The film received a significant budget of $75 million, encompassing production, licensing fees, and distribution under a deal with Amazon. This documentary’s soundtrack features well-known tracks such as Michael Jackson’s “Billie Jean” and The Rolling Stones’ “Gimme Shelter,” which are known for their costly licensing demands.
Despite its high budget and promotional efforts amounting to $25 million, Melania has earned only $13.5 million globally, making financial success difficult. Amazon, however, may view these losses as an investment into maintaining favorable relations with the United States administration rather than purely as a commercial failure.
Implications of the Music Licensing Controversy
Although the producers behind Melania secured a license from Universal to use the Phantom Thread music, the argument from Anderson and Greenwood concerns the lack of direct consent from the composer. This issue raises questions about music rights management and artist control in large-scale projects. Removing the music from the documentary may require extended legal proceedings, highlighting possible tensions between creative contributors and licensing entities.
The controversy not only casts a shadow over the Melania documentary’s production ethics but also underscores broader challenges in the entertainment industry regarding proper rights usage, especially when high-profile works are involved. The resolution of this dispute will likely be a point of interest for industry observers and those concerned with intellectual property rights going forward.
