Italian city Milan is currently the backdrop for the forthcoming Winter Olympics, where Spanish figure skater Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabate is preparing to showcase a short program inspired by the Minions franchise. Early Thursday, Sabate confirmed to several reporters that he has received official approval for three of the four different musical selections incorporated in his routine. The remaining piece pending clearance is "Freedom" by Pharrell Williams, with its rights managed tightly by the artist's record label.
Sabate indicated ongoing negotiations around the Pharrell Williams selection, stating, "They are discussing it. He seems to be OK, but there are problems because he's restricted by his label. A lot of technical stuff. But they are working to make it happen." Despite the uncertainty, Sabate exhibited optimism by conducting practice on the Minions-themed routine shortly after 7 a.m. local time at the Milano Ice Skating Arena, a venue largely devoid of spectators at that hour. The program commences with characteristic laughter from the animated characters before transitioning to music from the film series.
Throughout the season, Sabate proceeded with the Minions routine, confident he had followed required protocols using the ClicknClear system to acquire music rights. However, Universal Studios introduced a halt by requesting further specifics not only concerning the musical content but also regarding Sabate's proposed blue-and-yellow Minions costume. This intervention threatened his ability to present the intended program and necessitated rehearsing his previous year’s routine set to Bee Gees music, though that plan presented difficulties since he was already using that music for his free skate this season.
The situation shifted when Sabate garnered widespread social media support and messages encouraging him. Remarkably, communication emerged from sources relaying that Universal Studios had permitted use of the first two music selections. Sources noted that one of these was a composition by a Spanish artist, whom Sabate contacted via social platforms, culminating in direct discussion and subsequent authorization.
The only unresolved licensing involves the Pharrell Williams track. This dispute illustrates a relatively recent challenge in figure skating, a sport that historically avoided vocal music due to copyright constraints, favoring public domain classical repertoire available for uninhibited use. The International Skating Union (ISU) altered guidelines in 2014 to permit lyrics, intensifying rights management complexities. Legal disputes such as the 2022 lawsuit involving American skaters Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier over "House of the Rising Sun" amplified these issues and ushered formalized clearance processes like ClicknClear.
This licensing uncertainty extends beyond Sabate. For example, Belgian two-time world medalist Loena Hendrickx previously skated to Celine Dion's "Ashes" from "Deadpool 2" but faced concerns regarding Olympic approval, compelling a switch to "I Surrender," a thematically similar Dion song covered under existing licenses. Other athletes have adjusted routines recently due to similar complications.
ISU President Jae Youl Kim acknowledged the intricacy of securing music rights, citing scenarios where one song may be owned by numerous entities. The organization is engaging with major labels to seek solutions accommodating the young athletes. "We don’t want athletes to be worried about the music," Kim emphasized, noting ongoing dialogue intended to streamline approvals and lessen athlete anxieties.
As the sport integrates contemporary music selections more frequently, these licensing challenges present an evolving hurdle for skaters, event organizers, and rights holders alike heading into prominent competitions such as the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.