Article in TV Guide - March 20-26 issue

[Ryebeach]

There is a brief article on Page 13 of this week's TV Guide which talks a bit about the music of Cold Case.

Here's the article:

R.O.C.K. in the Case

Cold Case has become prime time's biggest jukebox, thanks to vintage songs used in the CBS drama's many flashback scenes. Johnny Cash's legendary "At Folsom Prison" album was mined for a recent episode about the 1968 murder of an escaped convict. An upcoming story set in a Philly neighborhood hit by textile mill closings in the Mid-1980's will have an all-John Mellancamp soundtrack. "It's essential," says executive producer Meredith Stiehm of the music. But it doesn't come cheap. Cold Case has the highest music budget of any series produced by Warner Brothers Television. A track by an original artist can cost up to $20,000.( ) Sometimes money is not enough: Last year, Stiehm wrote a letter to Bruce Springsteen to plead for the use of his 1987 tune "Walk Like a Man." It made our day when he agreed to it.

As reported by Stephen Battaglio in the March 20-26, 2005 edition of TV Guide.

[TVFan]

I saw that article yesterday in my TV Guide as well, and I couldn't get over the astronomical cost of the songs. It's amazing how much the rights cost. I guess they have to pay for the use on the show (that reaches every CBS affiliate in the country - usually the cost is determined by how many outlets are airing the song), future syndication airings, future cable airings, and the inevitable DVD. Still, if they use five songs a show, that's $100,000/per an episode in music alone. Amazing that they're allowed to do this, and I'm really glad we get to hear all the awesome music (so thanks to whomever is footing the bill ).

Also, I'm curious to see the John Mellancamp episode. From the description of the episode provided in the above article, it sounds like his music will be perfect.

[Naj]

Wow that's alot of money. I wonder what the budget range is for the episodes too and which ones have cost the most from both seasons!


~Naj

[Ryebeach]

Naj said:

Wow that's alot of money. I wonder what the budget range is for the episodes too and which ones have cost the most from both seasons!


~Naj

Great question Naj. I wonder if that's an OK question to ask InsideR. I'll give it a shot.

[irishkale]

I wonder if they have to re-buy the rights for DVD? I was just reading an article about the astronomical expense of DVD rights, and how alot of shows are replacing songs from the original airings in order to cope with the financial burden.

It could happen that the episodes of the CC DVDs have different music than what we are watching on CBS!

[Ryebeach]

irishkale said:

I wonder if they have to re-buy the rights for DVD? I was just reading an article about the astronomical expense of DVD rights, and how alot of shows are replacing songs from the original airings in order to cope with the financial burden.

It could happen that the episodes of the CC DVDs have different music than what we are watching on CBS!

I often wonder about that myself but I'm pretty sure most current shows buy both the television broadcast, cable and DVD rights upfront so they can negotiate on a price in the beginning and not have to go back a year or more later and try and get the clearances when the copyright holders may ask for a lot more money.

An older show like Dawson's Creak: At the time the series was being made, DVD's weren't being actively thought about so when the studio went back years later to the right's holders, they asked for a tremendous amount of money for song clearances so the DVD's ended up getting released with substituted music.

I hope Cold Case is able to retain all the music as the songs they choose almost always fit into the storyline.

[irishkale]

That's a good point about buying both rights at the same time. It makes sense for a song-heavy show like CC.

[Naj]

So now we know the ep Bruce's song played in as it ran on March 20 - Schadenfreude.


~Naj