<![CDATA[$250,000 to use a Beatles track]]>Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — The Beatles

dundonian — 13 years ago(May 09, 2012 07:20 AM)

http://www.contactmusic.com/news/mad-men-producers-shell-out-250000-fo r-beatles-track_1325993
Not a cover but the actual track of Tomorrow Never Knows. Which, when I manage to get my top 20 list together, will be on there probably at 2 or 3 but definitely in the top 5. It says it's also the first time that an original Beatles recording has been used. I know you never see them in those compilation albums but I am hard press5b4ed to think if ever there was a Beatles track used in film or TV. I doubt it because I know EMI just never allow it to happen. It's too expensive for a start (not many can afford to pay that sort of cash out of a budget) and hey, they don't need the publicity. Still, it's mighty impressive that quarter of a million is paid to play less than 3 minutes of Beatles magic.
EDIT: Ferris Beuller's Day Off! Albeit not a Lennon/McCartney but it was still a piece of film magic. So can Beatles tracks be used if it's not an L&McC?
If music were a religion John Lennon would be GOD

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/topic/151677/250-000-to-use-a-beatles-trackRSS for NodeThu, 14 May 2026 22:39:57 GMTMon, 20 Apr 2026 21:39:45 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to $250,000 to use a Beatles track on Mon, 20 Apr 2026 21:39:53 GMT]]>revolver95 — 9 years ago(October 08, 2016 09:52 AM)

I heard the original cut of I am Sam used the Beatles recordings, but the Fab Four requested they be removed. they allowed the covers that appeared in the final version.

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1289638https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1289638Mon, 20 Apr 2026 21:39:53 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to $250,000 to use a Beatles track on Mon, 20 Apr 2026 21:39:52 GMT]]>Picnic10 — 9 years ago(August 12, 2016 07:22 AM)

There was a cover of Tomorrow Never Knows in Sucker Punch.

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1289637https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1289637Mon, 20 Apr 2026 21:39:52 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to $250,000 to use a Beatles track on Mon, 20 Apr 2026 21:39:50 GMT]]>Weird_Al_Is_Awesome — 11 years ago(October 21, 2014 06:04 PM)

There was a movie called "Can't Buy Me Love" that used the actual Beatles song in it.
http://www.imdb.com/board/10092718/

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1289636https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1289636Mon, 20 Apr 2026 21:39:50 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to $250,000 to use a Beatles track on Mon, 20 Apr 2026 21:39:49 GMT]]>Shaolin_Apu — 13 years ago(May 10, 2012 11:37 PM)

It's only good it costs a lot because it is generally annoying to see Beatles music used to sell some junk.
"Hello I'm Frank, give her a donut"

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1289635https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1289635Mon, 20 Apr 2026 21:39:49 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to $250,000 to use a Beatles track on Mon, 20 Apr 2026 21:39:47 GMT]]>dundonian — 13 years ago(May 10, 2012 10:43 AM)

In the instance of The Beatles and ATV-Sony/Estate, this is how it works.
EMI and Apple Corps (The Beatles business venture/record lable) own The Beatles Recordings. No-one can use them without their permission and have nothing to do with ATV-Sony/Estate. If someone wants to record or perform a Beatles composition EMI/The Beatles or ATV-Sony/Estate have to give permission depending who holds the copyright (ATV-Sony/Estate do not hold all Beatles compositions).
So. If someone wants to use The Beatles and their recordings they approach The Beatles and EMI for permission. The Beatles Rock Band needed the permission of the living Beatles, their Estates and EMI before being created and sold. Sony/Estate have no claim or power over this as it's original recordings used and not cover versions. Same goes when Cirque du Soleil wanted to create LOVE. They needed permission of The Beatles and EMI to use their music.
I'm not sure how it works with Twist and Shout because it's not a Lennon/McCartney composition. It does seem to be used often but I'm not sure what permissions were needed.
As for the use of Revolution. Apple Corps sued EMI for allowing its use as Apple were not approached. An out of court settlement was agreed and Nike ceased using the track. Normally, when you hear The Beatles in ads or films etc, it's likely to be covers and not them. If it's actually their recordings, then you get this sort of publicity because it's
extremely
rare and very expensive.
I understand also that the ATV/Estate share of The Beatles compositions will revert to Lennon & McCartney in about 3-5 years. I don't know what the exact details are.

]]>https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1289634https://filmglance.com/discuss/post/1289634Mon, 20 Apr 2026 21:39:47 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to $250,000 to use a Beatles track on Mon, 20 Apr 2026 21:39:46 GMT]]>kapnkirk — 13 years ago(May 10, 2012 05:37 AM)

They also used Twist & Shout in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and wasn't Revolution used in an old Nike commercial (probably late 80s)? I thought Michael Jackson owned a large part of their tracks at the time but I don't know if his estate still owns them. I don't know why Ringo and George's estate would be involved if it was a Lennon/McCartney composition.
"No! Thats not true at all. Elvis takes fifty percent of everything I earn."
Col. Parker

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