Robert Urbanek
Platinum Member
For the first time in several years, I watched the Rose Parade on TV. I remember when it was a longer parade, preceded by several minutes of pre-parade coverage showing how floats were made and other background information.
But now the coverage on ABC was preceded by a 15-minute music show because, in the eyes of our media masters, floats and bands aren’t enough to entertain us. The Budweiser Clydesdale horses came near the start of the parade but where were the rest of the equestrian units?
I remember when the parade grand marshal was a famous person like John Glenn or Shirley Temple Black. This year it was Audra McDonald, renowned on Broadway but hardly a household name in the rest of the country. If she had been available, I would have picked Alanis Morissette for the music themed parade. After all, she had a parade in one of her music videos.
Speaking of music, I’ve always wondered, who pays the royalties for the pop music played by marching bands or broadcast from floats? The high schools, colleges, and float sponsors? Or ABC, who profits from the march? Or do the music rights owners turn a blind eye to this use of their material?
But now the coverage on ABC was preceded by a 15-minute music show because, in the eyes of our media masters, floats and bands aren’t enough to entertain us. The Budweiser Clydesdale horses came near the start of the parade but where were the rest of the equestrian units?
I remember when the parade grand marshal was a famous person like John Glenn or Shirley Temple Black. This year it was Audra McDonald, renowned on Broadway but hardly a household name in the rest of the country. If she had been available, I would have picked Alanis Morissette for the music themed parade. After all, she had a parade in one of her music videos.
Speaking of music, I’ve always wondered, who pays the royalties for the pop music played by marching bands or broadcast from floats? The high schools, colleges, and float sponsors? Or ABC, who profits from the march? Or do the music rights owners turn a blind eye to this use of their material?
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