The Wonder Years Unavailable On DVD Due To Music Licensing Rights
from the another-one-bites-the-dust dept
One of the tragedies of ridiculous music licensing practices has been that TV shows that involved great music can no longer be seen -- because when they were first aired, there was no aftermarket, and so no rights were cleared with the music owners. The famous case is the TV show WKRP in Cincinnati, which tried to get around the issue by replacing all the great classic rock in the original, with crappy new music -- really harming the quality of the show. Tom sent in a note pointing out that the classic 80s TV show The Wonder Years is actually facing a similar issue, and because of it, the show is not available on DVD. The show was famous for integrating great music into the overall show -- clearing all that music for a DVD release is apparently too difficult, leading to an overall loss to society and culture.Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
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Filed Under: copyright, music rights, the wonder years, tv shows, wkrp
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Not Officially Available...
Fans would rather pay to have the real thing, but instead either do without or buy crappy copies that earn absolutely zero for the original cast and the greedy folks that control all of that great music.
Rather than make money they earn nothing because of their unbeatable combination of greed and stupidity. What a shoddy way to represent the artists that made such a tremendous soundtrack. Given the chance to make money they rathole their goods instead and cry "Piracy!".
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Re: Re: Not Officially Available...
Also, they asked me the same questions about how old the dvd players were.
What a waste of money!
They should just officially release it.
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Music licensing issues have also affected many other shows, including "The Fugitive", "Roseanne", "Married with Children", and "My Three Sons" (and it's one of the factors, but not the main factor, that's keeping the '60s "Batman" series off of DVD).
Screw the RIAA, screw the music licensing contracts, and screw everyone who keeps TV shows from being preserved on DVD as they were originally aired.
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This is pants
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Re: This is pants
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Klimbim
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Paying someone to advertise their product.
However the prohibitive costs of licensing the music is completely backward in my opinion. The key to selling any product is exposure. Isn't this why anyone trying to sell anything spends time and money thinking of ways to advertise their product.
Personally hearing a new song or old favorite in a movie, tv show, hell even teasers and commercials is what sparks my many itunes impulse buys. Really old catalog stuff in particular. Honestly think about all the music you loved but never knew the performer and one day you hear it and thanks to google can find who the artist was by typing in a few lyrics. Then thanks to the beauty of a la carte song buying can buy it and enjoy it forever.
I consider it product placement to have your song played to a captive audience. Didn't the music industry used to bribe people just to get exposure? Remember payola?
I wouldn't go so far as to say they should pay for the privilege of having their music used. Since the producers benefit from the song as well it is a symbiotic relationship both sides benefit.
Licensing should be a token amount just to say we have a deal. But should never for one second should the fee be so high that the use of music places a financial burden on the show or translate to ridiculous dvd set prices. However an artist should be able to refuse to allow their songs to be used for any personal reasons. I wouldn't want my work to show up in some hate groups recruitment dvd for an extreme example.
Wake up music industry! You used to bribe, cajole, and strong arm the radio stations just to get some airplay. And for some reason you forgot that exposure sells your product.
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Re: Paying someone to advertise their product.
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Sigh.........
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WKRP in Cincinnati,
I never knew what happened.
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Another Music Victim
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Re: Another Music Victim
Of note here is that the US DVD release from Universal is affected but their R2 DVD release (UK, western Europe) has the original music.
This is a mid-80's TV action series. Amusingly the US release had a dance club scene dubbed with music from the 90's.
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Re: Another Music Victim
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Re: Another Music Victim
http://www.happinet-p.com/jp3/releases/bbxn-1151
http://www.happinet-p.com/jp3/releases/bbxn-1152
http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-Greatest-American-Hero-Blu-ray/97776/
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overall loss to society and culture?
But come on, it's a little over the top to describe the lack of this show on DVD as "an overall loss to society and culture".
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Re: overall loss to society and culture?
First of all, whether you consider it art or not, TV is a part of modern culture. The Wonder Years was an influential show that won a lot number of awards. Fred Savage was the youngest ever actor to be nominated for certain Emmy awards at the time, and it also won a Peabody award.
It was also popular internationally - check out the following quote from the show's wikipedia page:
"...the show was met by a huge exposure amongst young audiences and teenagers throughout Israel. For many adults in Israel, the show is both a personal and a collective childhood memory."
Not having the show on DVD does a couple of things. It firstly restricts access to the show. If it's not repeated on a channel you have access to, and it's not available on DVD, for many people it may as well not exist. Given the above, that's a loss to society and culture, however minor you believe it to be.
Then, there's the effect the soundtrack has on people. Even today, the show can act as advertising. People hear songs they like in a show, they find out what the song is and who it's by. They may then decide to go out and buy said music, which they probably won't do if they never hear it within the context of the show... The replacement music in WKRP has been shown to not only lessen the impact of the show, but also removes the potential exposure viewers have to the music of the period.
I'm not a fan of either show myself, but removing the original forms from history does seem to me to have a negative effect, both on the show and the musicians and artists who could benefit from the original formats being available. All so the RIAA can rape a few extra licensing dollars (while of course ignoring the benefits of having these shows available).
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Re: overall loss to society and culture?
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WKRP
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Re: WKRP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8uH76COzk8
Just a bit of Trivia. The person who sang it just belted out nonsense in a rock sound. :) The lyrics weren't even known when it was recorded. :)
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The Wonder Years unavailable...
This is not really a bad thing.
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...another victim
[m]
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Married... With Children
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If you want to blame someone, blame the lawyers who decided that the music to the shows they represented was a short-term, disposable investment.
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Another example
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Classic Cars are not required to have seat belts, or pass smog checks if they were made prior to a certain year. This affects human lives and our environment.... I guess when it comes to money matters, not a cent can be spared!
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the Wonder years television show
I just want to say that I think it's a rotten shame .
That this great show is not available on DVD.
I tried buying a bootleg.
Which I normally don't do and I got ripped off.
I guess I got what I deserved!
Thats the first and last time I'll ever do that again.How can they be so rotten?Maybe after the music rights exspire it will finally be availabe.
You'd think someone as wealthy as Joe Cocker would try and work a deal fore fans of the show .
I only bought the botleg because I wanted to be able to see the show again.
It did'nt do me any good cause none of the disks worked.
I would'nt advise any one to buy these illegal sets that are available !!
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Re: the Wonder years television show
I thought both Wonder Years and WKRP were ground breakers in TV and would love to own the REAL thing.
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Wonder Years TV Series
Such a shame, that money corrupts one more thing of beauty. I guess the only lesson my son will learn is that money, and greed, corrupts. Pity, real pity.....
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Bad Excuse
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Wonder Years
If so, please post the link.
Hopefully, I can get to see The Wonder Years again "with A Little Help From My Friends".
Thanks...
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Re: Wonder Years
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DVD
they claim to have the music...i want to know for sure
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possibly?
http://www.amazon.com/Wonder-Years-Complete-Seasons-1-6/dp/B001S3VMXW/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF 8&s=dvd&qid=1247574467&sr=1-4
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The Wonder Years
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The Wonder years in DVD
http://www.tvaddicts.tv/movie/drama/The_Wonder_Years.html
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Re: The Wonder years in DVD
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Oh yeah, there are millions of Wonder Years fans...
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The Wonder Years
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Wonder Years Non-DVD Release
So....in a 23 minute TV show, you have 4-5 songs being shown for a total of maybe 2-3 minutes. I agree the artists should get something, bit IMO if they already consented to letting the music in the show for original airing + reruns, then they should not be allowed to block distribution of the show on VHS/DVD/Blu-Ray. The FCC does not allow cable companies to withhold programming from satellite TV companies which they own. They have to share access. Why should some embittered or greedy artist block a show's release, when in fact he already gave his consent earlier (question: was there a limit to how many times WONDER YEARS could be shown in repeats before the artists got more $$$ ?).
Contact your elected officials and tell them that if the artists don't work out a deal, they should be subject to binding arbitration. Otherwise, deny all copyright protection on all their previous recordings. That will get these greedy SOB's off their asses at the RIAA and their clients as well.
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The Wonder years DVD
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The Wonder years
I love the Wonder years and think that Fox is just not trying hard enough.
Because when I call Fox they don't seemto care or even know what I'm talking about .
When I mention the Wonder years on DVD.
I'm told to go to www.foxconnect@orderassistance.com/but every time I do and I mention what the show is about .
No one responds to my emails.
I found out online that Boy meets world is being released on DVD by Lionsgate.
And that show I understand has simuler issues to the Wonder years.So maybe their's a ray of hope after all.
The Wonder years is supposed to be comming to a new TV channel called the Hub.
Deicated to children and family shows.
If I can find the Wonder years on that channel then I think I'll try and burn it onto a disk..
I agree it is tragic that this show is not available on DVD.
I guess tat just goes to show what greed can do.!!
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Re: The Wonder years
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WTF
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The Wonder Years
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I don't buy that reason
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I don't buy that reason
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wonder years dvd
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Music on DVD`
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Wonder Years DVD
It was on about 8 DVD's and it worked absolutely fine.
It was recorded episodes from TV, but it was still decent quality.
The episodes are in chronological order and are accessed via a menu system, which is exactly what I was looking for.
I figured it was worth it just so I could watch it as and when I wanted until the proper DVD's came out.
Several years later and they are still not out, so I think it was well worth the purchase.
I even redesigned the artwork to make it look more professional and started selling copies on Ebay so that other fans could enjoy it as well.
I sold quite a few copies before Ebay stopped me.
If any of you do want a copy and don't want to risk buying one from a dodgy site that rips people off, let me know and I'm sure we can arrange something.
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Re: Wonder Years DVD
I would like to buy these discs off you . My son is now 12 . I really would like him to see The wonder years.
I can pay via Paypal if ok. are you in the UK?
Jon
(ilford, 07983 952994)
I'm "sam0268" on eBay.
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the Wonder years television sho
Like all of you I have also been very depressed about the Wonder years being unavaible on DVD.
I've tried about five different bootlegs and they're all pretty much crap.
However this past year the Wonder years has been apearing on the hub.
So I've been burning them onto discs.
And the results have been very good.
I don't exspect the Wonder years to be on that channel after January of this year.
Because after a year it usually gets cancelled.
That's why I'm using the highest grade discs I can find TDKs.
Because these are better then any of the bootlegs available on the net.
And they're certainly better then nothing at all.
Also I just read on the digitalbits.com that episodes of the Wonder years has been apearing on netflix.
And the bulk of the songs are intact.
So that's encouraging news/but I won't hold My breath for official season sets/but it does sound promising.
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Re: the Wonder years television sho
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FYI ABC Doesn't Own Rights to "Wonder Years"
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Re: FYI ABC Doesn't Own Rights to "Wonder Years"
We're talking about a time when no one even thought that it would be a possibility in the future for an entire television series to be purchased and owned for home viewing, so it never crossed their minds;
But hey, now The Hub is running reruns, and apparently Netflix streaming has the whole series so you can watch it with the click of a button.
Can't wait to see what the future holds.
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RIAA is GREEDY !!!
They are effectively preventing the release of the TV shows by withholding permission. Look, if some artist doesn't want his rock video airing on MTV, that's one thing. It's HIS song and HIS music. But he already gave consent to partial use (30 - 90 seconds at most) before.
You want results ? Contact a Republican Congressman/Senator. They aren't beholden to all the liberals in Hollywood and the music industry. They'll threaten the RIAA and they'll work something out. Right now, the RIAA is a legal cartel that is blocking release of other people's materials. Imagine if a cardboard box company said they wouldn't allow their product to be used for milk cartons anymore.
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Contact a Republican Congressman/Senator? Yeah right.
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