NBC Unwilling To Pay Music Publishing Fees For Jimmy Fallon Show

from the cheaping-out dept

Thu, Feb 19th 2009 9:44pm — Mike Masnick

NBC Universal may be concerned about the poor corn farmers who it claims are losing out due to piracy, but apparently the company isn't that concerned about music publishers. The Licensing Plate points us to the news that NBC Universal refuses to pay any music publishing fees to allow the band The Roots to play anyone else's music for the new Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. That means, the band has to write 200 new songs to play on the show. Obviously, this is NBC Universal's choice, but the whole thing seems a bit questionable, given the number of NBC Universal execs we see moralizing about the importance of paying for content. Also, considering how we've seen collections societies tell others that it doesn't matter if they promise to only play original works, will ASCAP and BMI charge NBC Universal anyway? Or does NBC Universal get special treatment from those collections societies?

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.

Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.

While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.

–The Techdirt Team

Filed Under: jimmy fallon, licensing, music publishing, roots

8 Comments

If you liked this post, you may also be interested in...

Reader Comments

Subscribe: RSS

View by: Time | Thread

Anonymous Coward, 20 Feb 2009 @ 2:15am

"Obviously, this is NBC Universal's choice, ..." and obviously you have no story only a silly blog.

".....but the whole thing seems a bit questionable, given the number of NBC Universal execs we see moralizing about the importance of paying for content." what you are talking about ? you've already acknowldged it's NBC's choice what on earth is questionable about the exercising choice ? that's part of freedom - perhaps the Masnicks would like to impose some strict religious control.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 20 Feb 2009 @ 4:06am
  
  Re:
  Dear Anonymous, it's called hypocrisy...
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
  - moe, 20 Feb 2009 @ 4:26am
    
    Re: Re:
    Actually, AC is right.
    
    NBC decided it didn't want to pay the fees to use others' music, so it decided not to use it. It would be hypocrisy if NBC used someone else's music but refused to pay the fee.
    [ link to this | view in chronology ]
john smith, 20 Feb 2009 @ 4:27am

This in itself is a great indicator of how much the general public is being bilked (cable costs) for pretty much zero content of almost entirely back to back reruns and 'have-video-camera-will-make-tv-show' content.
Fortunately, hdtv tuner/receiver willing, one can now get basic tv as well as broadcast radio all in hi-def for free.
Although I do plan on going fios when it's available sans the home phone part. If I lived alone I would only buy an internet connect period.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
- Anonymous Coward, 20 Feb 2009 @ 6:51am
  
  Re:
  Are you lonely? Need someone to talk to?
  [ link to this | view in chronology ]
inc, 20 Feb 2009 @ 7:56am

We will see if they can do it. If NBC can lead by example and actually create content then good for them. It would also be fun to see those collections societies try to collect money from NBC for those "original" songs.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Anonymous Coward, 20 Feb 2009 @ 11:43am

I guess we are finally seeing an upside to the arcane, medieval licensing requirements. It's actually encouraging innovation!!!

Right???

Right???
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
TomB, 22 Feb 2009 @ 7:43am

This is nothing new...
... Craig Ferguson has been complaining forever about the license-free canned music CBS forces him to use on-air. Of course, CBS is also too cheap to pay for a Late Late Show house band...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]