The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's iconic Hockey Night in Canada theme song, known for decades as Canada's "second national anthem," will no longer be used in hockey broadcasts, according to the song's composer.
At the turn of the last century, there were people who really hated to see that buggy whips were no longer being made. Brace yourselves - even Don Cherry and Ron McLean won't be around forever. Maybe a new composer will come up with a theme that, over time, becomes as popular as the current one. Not liking change is part of the human condition. But, like it or not, eventually everything does.
Deal still possible for Hockey Night theme song CBC Sports.ca Last Updated: Thursday, June 5, 2008 | 4:39 PM ET
Contrary to published reports, CBC Sports hasn't yet pulled the plug on the Hockey Night in Canada theme song.
Scott Moore, the executive director of CBC Sports, told Newsworld on Thursday that negotiations for a new licence fee are ongoing with the representatives of composer Dolores Claman.
"We've been reaching out to [Claman] and her representative, and haven't heard back," Moore said. "We're prepared to do a deal, we're prepared to talk, but we're not prepared to do a deal at all costs.
"And as much as I'm particularly passionate about the theme, and I know a lot of Canadians are, if we can't do a deal that's responsible, we won't do a deal."
Earlier Monday, Copyright Music & Visuals — the Toronto agency representing Claman — said the CBC had declined to enter into a new licensing agreement for next season.
Copyright Music & Visuals said it had offered the CBC a chance to renew its licence to use her song on terms that were "virtually identical to those that have existed for the past decade."
Previously, each use of the song has cost the broadcaster about $500, the company said
I get things needs ot change one day. But I htink there could and should still be a home for the song... as a sample in the new song, or used occasionally.
The song that needs to go... Nickelback's "Saturday Night (Is Alright for Fighting)"
WTF? what kind of message is that for hockey in 2008? Nickelback is an acceptable band to be put on the TV... that is NOT the sorta thing I want my young daughter to grow up seeing on the Ceeb (oh, and fighting is wong).
no the song that NEEDS to go is Stompin' Tom's "The Hockey Song." If I watch one more Leafs game and hear it playing during a whistle stop, I'll hurl!!!
no the song that NEEDS to go is Stompin' Tom's "The Hockey Song." If I watch one more Leafs game and hear it playing during a whistle stop, I'll hurl!!!
Maybe you should just stop watching leafs games period
The CBC is set to launch a song-writing contest open to all Canadians in hopes of finding a new theme song for Hockey Night In Canada, the head of CBC Sports said last night.
With negotiations faltering between the public broadcaster and the agency that represents the famed theme song's composer, the CBC will next week kick off the contest with Vancouver-based Nett werk Music Group -- if the two sides can't hammer out a new licensing agreement in the next few days, CBC Sports executive director Scott Moore said.
"It would be the ultimate Canadian Idol, really," Moore said. "Because whoever wins it would have their song played on Hockey Night in Canada for the next six years at least."
Moore said there's still the possibility the iconic theme song, composed by Dolores Claman in 1968, will be back for next year's broadcast, but he sounded a skeptical note.
Negotiations haven't been going well, Moore indicated, adding that pending litigation against the CBC by Claman could very likely bring about an end to the song's usage.
"We value the piece of music. We think it's a great piece of music. But we can't do business if there's litigation and basically a gun to our head," Moore said.
Last night Moore added that the lawsuit has put CBC in a situation in which the broadcaster wouldn't want to increase the theme song's value by playing it next year.
The CBC has put an offer forward that expires today at 5 p.m., he said, declining to outline the specifics.
"As far as I'm concerned we're still negotiating," Moore said. "We think those negotiations should be held in private and we will continue to do that. We're hopeful that we'll come to an agreement, but if we don't, we have an exciting plan to launch a new theme."
The controversy over the song arose after John Ciccone, the president of Claman's agency, Copyright Music and Visuals, announced online earlier this week that the CBC did not renew the song's licence after Wednesday, when the licensing agreement expired.
"The CBC was offered a new licence on terms that are virtually identical to those that have existed for the past decade.
The cost of CBC to use the theme song is approximately $500 for each game broadcast of Hockey Night in Canada.
However the CBC has chosen to move in a new direction," Ciccone said.
Ciccone said he's still open to negotiate and has offered CBC the same contract for two years, with the rates then increasing by about 15%.
"I am saddened by the decision of the CBC to drop the Hockey Night in Canada theme after our lengthy history together.
"I nevertheless respect its right to move in a new direction," said Claman in a statement on hockeytheme.com.
If the song is indeed replaced, the right one will be chosen, Wayne Gretzky e-mailed.
"It's a great song, so many wonderful memories associated with it and while I'm sure it won't disappear altogether, I'm sure the good people at CBC have some great ideas for the future," Gretzky said.
Seems like the friction over the theme did not start yesterday. This is from the web's "Free Dictionary."
Dolores Claman (born July 6, 1927 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada) is a Canadian composer and pianist. She is by far best known for the theme song to Hockey Night in Canada, a song often regarded as Canada's second national anthem, which she composed in 1968, and for "A Place to Stand", the popular tune that accompanied the groundbreaking film of the same name at the Ontario pavilion of Expo 67 in Montreal. In 2004, she commenced legal action against the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation related to their use of the Hockey Night in Canada Theme.
And this is by Jaime Vernon posted on the Southern Ontario radio site.
....The song's owner is holding the corporation hostage for MORE money...and then runs to the media when the CBC begins to waffle at the new price tag. Not defending CBC (their track record of idiocy is unprecedented), but Dolores Clayman makes nearly $500 each time the song is played. That would be intro and outtro of each game and again during double headers. A spokesman for CBC says that the corporation needs to assess the cost vs. usage aspect because, in the end, the PUBLIC pays these fees.
With that said...CBC was using the song, without permission, overseas and for licensing purposes. This is not a situation like radio where it's broadcast and the mechanicals are paid. Molstar, who originally created the song (and there's been THREE re-recordings since 1968 ) sold it to Hockey Night In Canada -- but Clayman's publishing deal was attached to the sale. If she balks on granting perpetual rights, CBC will no longer be ABLE to use the song.
Ok I have the answer.....You need to get Hank Williwams JR to write the song.It worked for ABC/ESPN when he wrote a new opening. Wait did I say that out loud.
I like it when they run "Saturday Night's Alright for Fightin'" between games of a double header.
It's funny to hear the composer use the patriotic plea while still trying to fleece the CBC. I'm all for being compensated but it's a two way street ladies and gentleman and something is better than nothing. Afterall, when are you ever going to hear that song, or get paid for it, again? Doesn't the CBC own the rights to the name "Hockey Night in Canada"? If it's played anywhere else, they might have a claim to the association?
Hmmm... Y'know, Nickelback didn't do that song originally. (You're all radio people, you know that.) So get Elton John and Bernie Taupin to re-do the lyrics... like Elton did for "Candle In The Wind"... and adopt "Saturday Night" as a new theme. Or just use an instrumental version of it. It rocks hard, it's well known, and you can edit video over it all day. You'd have to change the lyric anyway, since it relates to the mods/rockers in 60's London.
As a second choice, perhaps Tom Cochrane's "Big League"... now there's an inspirational hockey song. And they know him down south too, "Life Is A Highway" certainly did some business for Disney.
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