BEST PRACTICES GUIDE
Please review pages 14-19 in the Show Launch Best Practices Guide for additional music rights information.
INTRODUCTION
The use of audio associated with Moulin Rouge! The Musical is complex due to the heavy use of existing songs and the style of mixing songs within a single musical number. This makes for a complicated licensing structure, and extreme care must be taken when using any music, vocal or lyric for marcomms purposes.
There are four sources of audio, including music from the show:
- The Original Broadway Cast Recording (OBCR) — available as both instrumental and with vocal. NOTE: Use of any tracks from the OBCR outside of North America will incur a cost for the musicians. Please speak with John Lanasa to determine musicians costs for your territory. Ultimately, use of music from the show that is recorded locally will be most efficient in the long term.
- Custom tracks used for live performances (e.g., media appearances)
- Voiceovers, including those done by Liisi LaFontaine (London’s Satine)
- Music and/or sound effects that were created for the show and/or marketing.
MUSIC FROM THE SHOW
Aside from the pre-show tracks (which we have no usage rights for outside of the theatre), there are four types of rights associated with music from the show:
- In-context rights, which enable the show to be performed to a live audience in theatres. These rights cover the music exactly as it appears in the show in terms of length, arrangement, lyrics, the character/s singing the song and visuals. To a lesser extent, these rights also cover excerpts of the live show for promotional use (e.g., production footage used in social media or as b-roll for media interviews) and for special appearances (e.g., award shows, media performances). In-context rights always require the song (and vocal if applicable) to be heard as per the show, i.e., no use of voice over saying “tickets on sale now”. In-context rights also cover use of the lyrics in noncommercial promotion (e.g., quoting a lyric in an organic social media post.)
- Out-of-context rights generally refer to use of songs in paid advertising, where there may be voiceovers, jump-cuts between songs, etc. Aside from the public domain songs (“Galop Infernal” [used in “Welcome to The Moulin Rouge!” and “So Exciting!”], and “Habanera” [“So Exciting!”]), any use of songs in paid advertising needs to be cleared in advance with the music publishers via a conversation with John Lanasa at Global Creatures.
- Merchandise rights refer to use of the lyrics in commercial merchandise. Any use of lyrics in merchandise needs to be cleared in advance with the music publishers via a conversation with John Lanasa at Global Creatures.
- Master recording rights refers to the ability to sell/stream the Original Broadway Cast Recording (OBCR), including on YouTube Music (which is embeddable). Please note the OBCR has fewer songs than the live show; for instance, “The Sound of Music” is not featured in the OBCR. Also, the names of tracks on the OBCR are not always as they appear in the script. Music and vocals from the OBCR are available for use out-of-context, but within the strict confines of this category. To obtain the OBCR with-vocal and/or instrumental files, contact John Lanasa.
Most licenses have geographic restrictions and licenses can be put on hold (e.g., due to COVID). Just because Broadway has utilized a track does not mean another territory can do the same without incurring extra costs.
SONGS PREFERRED FOR USE
- “Lady Marmalade” (in and out of context)
- “Come What May” (in and out of context)
- “Your Song” (in context)
- “Welcome to the Moulin Rouge” (in context)
- “Firework” (in context)
- “Elephant Love Medley” (in context with special conditions for “What’s Love Got To Do With It” )
- “Truth Beauty Freedom Love” (special conditions for “We Are Young”)
- “Backstage Romance” (special conditions on “Toxic” and “Sweet Dreams”)
SONGS TO AVOID
- Pre-Show Music – No rights granted… AVOID
- “Rolling in the Deep” – No rights granted… AVOID
- “Single Ladies” – Very limited use rights beyond press purposes… AVOID
- “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” – No rights granted… AVOID
Keep in mind:
- There is usually a duration limit on the amount of a song that can be used, even with existing in-context rights. Generally, these limits are within the 15-30 second range.
- It is possible to license a longer portion of a song for a specific use. The fee is more expensive for paid posts / advertising compared to organic social, as such you should be clear about the length of any paid campaign.
