Miami Vice Is Dead

[Griggi]

Like all had feared earlier, the music rights issue officially killed this show for DVD. DiddlyDingDongCrap.

How long for copyright expiration?

[Unicorn]

Originally posted by Griggi
How long for copyright expiration?

Theoretically, the answer is "never" under the newest laws. The studios have the right to keep renewing indefinately, and there's even supposed to be a clause that allows them to reclaim rights lost "due to an accidently lapse" (i.e., they forgot to get the paperwork in on time).

Take that with a grain of salt, I had heard that this was a law that was THIS close to passing, but I never heard if it actually passed or not. But it supposedly had overwhelming support. It was just earlier this year, so surely someone around here knows if it passed.


In case you're wondering what Miami Vice news he's talking about, click on this link

[Griggi]

Universal just released news that they will be putting out the show on DVD!! Go to tvshowsondvd for more info.

This is one case where I'm happier than a pig in $hit to be wrong.

[Hardcore Legend]

I really can't see how they did this. That's alot of music rights to secure, and to do so the DVDs would almost have to be $200 a season.

I mean, I'll maybe buy them...depends on the transfers and such.

[MooglePorn]

I might buy season 1 on a lark... why not... It is the original music though?

And why, might I ask, when you get the rights to put a song in your TV show, does it not last for every release of said TV show?

[videoworx]

And why, might I ask, when you get the rights to put a song in your TV show, does it not last for every release of said TV show?

when contracts were signed for said tv show, they didn't include royalty payments for eventual dvd releases (or perhaps any video release, for that matter - was miami vice EVER released on video, other than the 2 "movies"?).

The reasoning: if you wrote a song for a tv show and were paid $50,000 to do so, plus a royalty every time the episode aired on tv, you'd be pretty happy. Now what if the distribution company releases the show on dvd? The show won't be in syndication much longer, as people that WANT to see the show will buy it on dvd, and no longer watch the reruns on tv. Less royalty checks for you, but the disribution company is making a ton of money on the dvd's, which include your song.

Song writers use the argument that the reason people are watching the show is to listen to the song - hence they deserve a piece of the pie. This is where the distribution company runs into problems, and the reason some dvd releases don't include the original soundtrack (Real World season 1 comes to mind). The problem with Miami Vice is that the whole show revolved around music and fashion. Using different music would make the show unwatchable to most, and so the distrubution company has their hands tied. The one viable solution is to pay the musicians what they want, and then pass the expense on to the customer (ie. VERY expensive season box sets, or worse - entire episodes missing due to negotiation breakdowns).

Sucks, yes, but there is nothing you can do but wait and see...

[SeanL]

Originally Posted by videoworx

was miami vice EVER released on video, other than the 2 "movies"?).

Columbia House released episodes of Miami Vice on VHS.


If this pans out, I'll be very happy. I'll be anxious to hear more news on this!

[Sword of Whedon]

It's a little diffferent than that

The Music Industry is hurting, DVD is booming, and tons and tons of movies and shows do not have home video, or specify only specific formats for release. Cash Cow!!.

Nowadays most TV shows are pre-clearing their music for DVD.

[Hardcore Legend]

Yeah, this is the same problem that ED could run into. The first season, the writers used music for everywhere (and I mean everywhere). I went to an auction of the shows stuff and they had a giant bin of all the CDs. Anyways, Paramount told them that they could only use music inhouse, so that they wouldn't have liscensing problems. So, for the second season, the theme song was no longer by the Foo Fighters. Anyways.....to make a long story short (too late), the first season could have trouble getting to DVD.

[Meloosh]

I think in this case, "music" is a relative term.