Music License Upgrade - Warner DVD Release

**Vanilla** · 08-08-2012, 09:38 AM

According to twitter, Warner need to apply for a music upgrade license in order to release Knots Landing DVDs beyond season 3. They say Knot Landing is one of their most requested shows and someone is currently looking into the cost of the license upgrade. Here is the place to tell them to release the show

http://www.facebook.com/warnerarchive

**valkaren** · 08-08-2012, 12:10 PM

I have only just been aware that this has been Warner Archive's latest update on Knots for a couple of weeks. I did some research and there was a similar post on their Facebook page at some point last year saying the same thing. This music licence upgrade has therefore been 'being looked into' for over a year now.

However, it was refreshing to hear that Knots was one of their most requested shows. They certainly don't trot out that line with every show request so that is nice to hear. However, the pessimistic side in me thinks that they are already aware of how pricey it is for the upgrade and that unless the studios budge on their price, they are not willing to pay it. I have heard other show-runners more invested in their product comment on the hold up for their DVD’s, and that is precisely what they say. The music licence is too expensive, and neither side are willing to budge on negotiations so they are effectively at a stand-still.

I am making the assumption that these music upgrades refer to Lisa Hartman's songs in Season 4 through 7. I do not believe any upgrade would be required for season 3; however I do recall one episode in which Ginger & Lilimae are involved in a storyline with Kenny, maybe this is where they have stalled? If anyone with a better memory could perhaps fill us in?

Of course, maybe there is not a problem with season 3, but they want to have the luxury of being able to tell prospective buyers that the whole series will be released, in order to maximise sales.

Maybe we should start a money-raising campaign

but seriously, does anyone have any ballpark guesses as to how much we could be talking? Just out of curiosity.

**alexis** · 08-08-2012, 12:26 PM

I had always suspected that this was the reason for the rest of the show not being released. There are a lot of songs featured in those few seasons. And all those songwriters and publishers need to be payed. There were some pretty famous songs featured and I think that could be expensive to do.

**montyc** · 08-08-2012, 12:42 PM

Do these rules apply to streaming or is that considered the same as broadcast licensing? If so there are no issues to license it to Amazon, itunes or Netflix.

**valkaren** · 08-08-2012, 12:53 PM

I thought this exact question. Maybe that is something we should ask them.

I would assume that, even if a fee was involved, it would be no where near the cost of traditional DVD release as no one would actually 'own' the episodes.

**valkaren** · 08-08-2012, 12:56 PM

Another interesting point is that another show-runner with insider knowledge said that in getting some permissions for songs, not only were the costs astronomical but they actually were not allowed to edit the song out or replace it with another song within the episode. This was fascinating for me because in my opinion, that's putting distributors between a rock and a hard place.

**alexis** · 08-08-2012, 12:56 PM

But I think if they were to release the series through say Netflix or Amazon or Itunes that they wouldn't clean up the episodes at all. I would much rather a box set. Even no extras just so long as they were nice and cleaned up.

**Greg Sumner** · 08-08-2012, 03:35 PM

That excuse is bull. If the Knots gang really wanted to be released to DVD, all they would have to do is send Kenny Ward in there. He WORKS for the music industry for crying out loud! Plus, didn't Val date that recording executive during season four?! Let her call in a favor. These guys just don't want to be released to DVD.

**alexis** · 08-08-2012, 06:41 PM

Originally Posted by Greg Sumner

That excuse is bull. If the Knots gang really wanted to be released to DVD, all they would have to do is send Kenny Ward in there. He WORKS for the music industry for crying out loud! Plus, didn't Val date that recording executive during season four?! Let her call in a favor. These guys just don't want to be released to DVD.

Or we could just go to the Cul-de-sac and look in the windows?

**Greg Sumner** · 08-08-2012, 07:51 PM

I'm leaving The Sumner Group early tonight so Paige and I can go peek in Val's window--she's the most interesting broad on the block, afterall. I heard they're resurrecting Bobby Ewing tonight.

**fadingrockstar** · 08-08-2012, 11:56 PM

It's like what happened with WKRP, music rights are a pain. Look at Married With Children they changed the opening song on the DVDs and the streaming version. I think they also did it with 90210. It would almost be worth it if they could somehow block the music out...

**OnTheMarkTexas** · 08-09-2012, 12:09 AM

I speculated on this very issue about 4 years ago. WB knows how expensive it will be to license the music for seasons 4-7. It was my opinion that they're stalling on releasing anything more to hold off having to cough up the cash for the music. Still not sure why they don't just lease the rights to Shout Factory. They did an excellent job with the FREAKS & GEEKS, ensuring all the original muisc remained in tact.

Unregistered · 08-10-2012, 10:41 AM

I think that the buyers have to stop complaining about the prices and the quality of the dvd's, if we all so love this series and we really want this on dvd, i would say just buy this series and enjoy, I find that we are all quite spoiled over the years, ten years ago we would never fought we will get this far.

Unregistered · 08-10-2012, 10:42 AM

I think that the buyers have to stop complaining about the prices and the quality of the dvd's, if we all so love this series and we really want this on dvd, i would say just buy this series and enjoy, I find that we are all quite spoiled over the years, ten years ago we would never fought we will get this far.

**Seaviewer** · 08-10-2012, 02:14 PM

Originally Posted by Unregistered

I think that the buyers have to stop complaining about the prices and the quality of the dvd's, if we all so love this series and we really want this on dvd, i would say just buy this series and enjoy, I find that we are all quite spoiled over the years, ten years ago we would never fought we will get this far.

This is what I've always said. Holding out for the whole series gets us nowhere. That just tells them it's not selling. The best way to ensure further releases is to buy what's already out.

**alexis** · 08-10-2012, 02:29 PM

I doubt any lover of Knots Landing has not bought the first two seasons. I think that Warners just hashed out that excuse that the first two seasons did not sell well enough because they knew they wern't going to put the money into sorting out the music rights. Always thought that.

Unregistered · 08-10-2012, 03:37 PM

Originally Posted by alexis

I doubt any lover of Knots Landing has not bought the first two seasons. I think that Warners just hashed out that excuse that the first two seasons did not sell well enough because they knew they wern't going to put the money into sorting out the music rights. Always thought that.

You have not quite understood my point, most fans have waited too long in the hope that the DVDs were cheaper

**fadingrockstar** · 08-11-2012, 02:30 PM

I really doubt that the cost of the DVDs were what kept people away. If you can't afford $30.00 for a season then you have bigger concerns in your life than buying DVDs. Where WB missed the boat is that the real die hard fans already have all of the seasons because they bought bootlegs. I would love to see the official releases but the fact of the matter is I got tired of waiting and now I can rewatch the entire series whenever I want to. I stream them over my Appletv and I couldn't be happier. Too bad WB you missed out on my money!

Unregistered · 08-11-2012, 02:41 PM

Originally Posted by fadingrockstar

I really doubt that the cost of the DVDs were what kept people away. If you can't afford $30.00 for a season then you have bigger concerns in your life than buying DVDs. Where WB missed the boat is that the real die hard fans already have all of the seasons because they bought bootlegs. I would love to see the official releases but the fact of the matter is I got tired of waiting and now I can rewatch the entire series whenever I want to. I stream them over my Appletv and I couldn't be happier. Too bad WB you missed out on my money!

I think your you're wrong on this on, because i'm a die-hard Knots Landing fan too, but didn't buy any bootlegs because the coast more then a official dvd release.

**edenliza** · 08-16-2012, 09:06 PM

I dont understand the music rights thing. Look at Glee!! the number of songs they use is way more than what Knots used from seasons 4-6/7!!
it should not be that expensive. Glee has all their seasons on DVD before the seasons are even over!. How can we push Warner to bite the bullet and reach in their pockets and pay up!!??