In a remarkable display at the 2026 Winter Olympics held in Milan, Amber Glenn played a crucial role in securing the gold medal for the United States in the figure skating team event. Despite this significant athletic milestone, the American skater found herself embroiled in a contentious situation involving music copyright and a wave of social media backlash tied to her political statements.
Shortly after the team event concluded, Seb McKinnon, a Canadian musician known for producing under the alias CLANN, publicly expressed his objection on social media regarding the use of his track "The Return" by Glenn during her free skate routine. McKinnon noted that the piece had been utilized by Glenn for two years without prior authorization and questioned if such unauthorized usage was common practice during the Olympics, emphasizing that the routine was broadcast globally.
Obtaining permission to use music in figure skating competitions is a convoluted and oftentimes opaque process. The rights to songs can rest with various entities, including record labels, producers, or the artists themselves, sometimes involving multiple parties. Skaters frequently compile segments from different songs, adding further complexity to rights management. Third-party companies, such as ClicknClear, attempt to streamline these permissions, but the multifaceted nature of copyright makes it a challenging terrain to navigate.
McKinnon clarified in his statement that the licensing agreement he maintains with his label requires his personal consent to authorize the usage of his music, implying that such consent had not been given for Glenn’s performance.
As of early Monday, Glenn was unavailable for comment concerning the music licensing issue. Plans were in place for her to rest from training and relocate from Milan to prepare for the individual women's event, which will commence with the short program on February 17.
The United States Figure Skating association's representatives did not respond immediately to inquiries regarding the copyright matter.
This development is part of a broader context of controversy surrounding Glenn at these Olympic Games. The skater, an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, received hostile messages after publicly stating prior to the Olympics that the queer community is enduring difficult times amid the current political climate under President Donald Trump.
"I was disappointed because I’ve never had so many people wish me harm before, just for being me and speaking about being decent — human rights and decency," Glenn said during the team medal ceremony, where she wore an LGBTQ+ pin as a symbol of her advocacy. "So that was really disappointing, and I do think it kind of lowered that excitement for this."
The intersection of music copyright and figure skating has historically been less contentious when the International Skating Union (ISU) prohibited the use of vocal music, limiting routines mostly to public domain classical pieces. However, after these regulations were relaxed in 2014, modern music incorporation escalated demand for artists to be compensated for their work.
At the 2022 Beijing Olympics, a lawsuit was instigated following objections from an indie artist whose rendition of "House of the Rising Sun" was used by American pairs skaters Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier without proper approval. This litigation prompted the ISU to enhance systems aimed at helping skaters avoid future infringement claims.
Speaking before the 2026 Games, Glenn expressed frustration over these issues, describing the situation as a disappointing escalation despite years of smooth experience. She remarked on what she perceived as opportunistic behavior from some groups, lamenting the lack of appreciation for the creativity inspired by the music used in skating performances.
"It’s never been an issue and then suddenly it is, and I don’t understand why," Glenn said. "I understand there was a big upset at the last Olympics because some artist — I’m sorry, they decided to be jerks. Like, they couldn’t just appreciate this Olympic team competing? It wasn’t even their song to begin with; it was a cover. It’s not like we’re a TV show and playing music in the background for an emotional scene. It just feels like a cash grab for different companies, and it’s really upsetting that they can’t just appreciate that their music has inspired something creative."
Justin Dillon, director of high performance for U.S. Figure Skating, confirmed the organization’s efforts to assist skaters in mitigating copyright infringement risks, although it remains unclear whether such measures specifically encompassed approval for Glenn’s selected music.
The American skater has garnered significant support from both fans and fellow athletes amid the copyright dispute. Retired Canadian pairs skater Meagan Duhamel, a two-time Olympian and multiple medalist, expressed admiration for being chosen to skate to a musician’s work. She shared that an artist she used in 2018 was so moved that she traveled to witness the Olympic performance live.
Other prominent figures in the sport have praised the integral role of music in figure skating. For instance, Elton John lauded Nathan Chen’s gold-winning free skate at Beijing 2022, which featured John’s song "Rocket Man." Chen later collaborated with the artist for a music video, emphasizing the symbiotic relationship between music and skating.
Alysa Liu, a member of the gold medal-winning U.S. team at these Games, succinctly described the significance of music to the sport: "Without music, we’re not really our sport." This sentiment underscores the essential nature of musical accompaniment in the artistry and performance of figure skating.
Glenn’s experience at the Milan Cortina Olympics thus encapsulates a convergence of athletic achievement, artistic expression, complex copyright considerations, and politically charged social challenges that together shape the modern landscape of the sport.