Top Headlines

Feeds

Universal Studios Grants Rights, Allowing Spanish Skater’s Minions Routine at 2026 Olympics

Updated (6 articles)
  • None
    Image: AP
    Source Full size
  • Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabate of Spain performs at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Tallinn, Estonia, Feb. 1, 2025.
    Image: King5 (Seattle, WA)
    Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabate of Spain performs at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Tallinn, Estonia, Feb. 1, 2025. (Credit: (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)) Source Full size
  • Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabate of Spain performs at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Tallinn, Estonia, Feb. 1, 2025.
    Image: WBNS (Columbus, OH)
    Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabate of Spain performs at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Tallinn, Estonia, Feb. 1, 2025. (Credit: (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)) Source Full size
  • Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabate of Spain performs at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Tallinn, Estonia, Feb. 1, 2025.
    Image: King5 (Seattle, WA)
    Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabate of Spain performs at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Tallinn, Estonia, Feb. 1, 2025. (Credit: (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)) Source Full size
  • Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabate of Spain performs at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Tallinn, Estonia, Feb. 1, 2025.
    Image: WBNS (Columbus, OH)
    Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabate of Spain performs at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Tallinn, Estonia, Feb. 1, 2025. (Credit: (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)) Source Full size
  • Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabate of Spain performs at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Tallinn, Estonia, Feb. 1, 2025.
    Image: WBNS (Columbus, OH)
    Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabate of Spain performs at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Tallinn, Estonia, Feb. 1, 2025. (Credit: (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)) Source Full size
  • Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabate of Spain performs at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Tallinn, Estonia, Feb. 1, 2025.
    Image: WBNS (Columbus, OH)
    Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabate of Spain performs at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Tallinn, Estonia, Feb. 1, 2025. (Credit: (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)) Source Full size
  • Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabate of Spain performs at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Tallinn, Estonia, Feb. 1, 2025.
    Image: King5 (Seattle, WA)
    Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabate of Spain performs at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Tallinn, Estonia, Feb. 1, 2025. (Credit: (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)) Source Full size
  • Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabate of Spain performs at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Tallinn, Estonia, Feb. 1, 2025.
    Image: King5 (Seattle, WA)
    Tomas-Llorenc Guarino Sabate of Spain performs at the ISU European Figure Skating Championships in Tallinn, Estonia, Feb. 1, 2025. (Credit: (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)) Source Full size

Sabaté’s Minions short program cleared for Olympic use Tomàs‑Llorenç Guarino Sabaté submitted his “Minions” medley through the ISU ClicknClear platform in August, performed it throughout the 2025‑26 season, and is slated to skate the men’s short program on Feb. 10 at the Milano Ice Skating Arena [1][2][5].

Initial copyright denial sparked a last‑minute scramble Four days before the opening ceremony, Sabaté received notice that the Minions track had not been cleared, threatening his program and forcing him to consider reverting to a Bee Gees routine used in his free skate [4][5][6].

Fan‑driven pressure prompted Universal Studios to reverse its decision After Sabaté posted on Instagram thanking supporters, Universal Studios officially granted the rights to the Minions medley, allowing the piece to remain in his Olympic short program [1][2].

Other athletes also wrestle with music‑rights hurdles U.S. skater Alysa Liu cannot secure an orchestral version of Lady Gaga’s “Bloody Mary,” and pairs champions Alexa Knierim/Brandon Frazier faced a lawsuit over “House of the Rising Sun,” illustrating the broader clearance challenges [1][3][5][6].

Reports conflict on whether the clearance was final AP, CNN, and an earlier WBNS story state Sabaté was barred and must use the Bee Gees track, while later WBNS and King5 pieces claim the rights were finally approved, highlighting ongoing uncertainty in the clearance process [1][3][4][5][6].

Sources

Videos (1)

Timeline

2014 – The ISU relaxes its ban on lyrical music, allowing songs with words in figure‑skating programs but leaving copyright clearance responsibilities to athletes and federations, a rule that later fuels disputes such as the 2022 lawsuit over unlicensed music [2].

2022 – A lawsuit at the Beijing Games targets U.S. pair Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier for using “House of the Rising Sun,” highlighting legal risks of improper rights clearance and prompting stricter ISU scrutiny [2] [4].

Aug 2025 – Sabaté uploads his Minions medley to the ISU ClicknClear platform, follows the recommended process, and performs the routine throughout the 2025‑26 season, yet the system later denies clearance [4] [6].

2025‑26 season – Sabaté showcases the Minions program at every competition, building audience enthusiasm and establishing the routine as his signature for the upcoming Olympics [4].

Feb 2, 2026 – The ISU informs Sabaté that his Minions short‑program music fails clearance, prompting him to post on Instagram, “I followed all required procedures… I am incredibly disappointed,” while he scrambles for a replacement before the Games open [4].

Feb 2, 2026 – U.S. skater Alyssa Liu tells Olympics.com that her planned Lady Gaga “Bloody Mary” free skate “is unlikely to appear because I cannot secure an orchestral version,” and she hopes to skate “MacArthur Park” instead, illustrating parallel clearance challenges [4] [6].

Feb 3, 2026 – After a wave of fan support, Universal Studios reverses its stance and grants Sabaté rights to the Minions medley; he thanks supporters on Instagram, saying “your shares made Universal change its mind and officially grant the music rights for this special occasion” [3] [5].

Feb 3, 2026 – Coach Edoardo De Bernardis confirms that Sabaté receives surprise clearance for some tracks but still awaits decisions on two remaining pieces, keeping the program’s final music list unsettled [1].

Feb 3, 2026 – Law professor Lauren Wilson explains that Sabaté must obtain separate composition and sound‑recording licenses for each song and that venues need their own licenses, underscoring the complexity of clearing a medley with covers and remixes [1].

Feb 10, 2026 – Sabaté’s men’s short program is scheduled at the Milano Ice Skating Arena, giving him under a week to finalize any pending rights or switch to his previous Bee Gees‑based program, which would duplicate music across both segments [3] [5].

Feb 10, 2026 (future) – If clearance remains incomplete, Sabaté plans to revert to his older Bee Gees program for the short program, risking identical music in both short and free skates but ensuring compliance with ISU rules [2] [3].

2026 Winter Olympics – The Milan‑Cortina Games host over 90 nations, providing the stage for Sabaté’s debut and amplifying the broader issue of music‑rights clearance for athletes worldwide [4].

2026 (ongoing) – The ISU continues to work with rights‑clearance stakeholders to refine the ClicknClear process and prevent last‑minute program changes ahead of major competitions, signaling a push for clearer solutions [2].

Social media (1 posts)

External resources (16 links)