The committee discussed a change by the Tournament of Roses requiring music licensing for streaming that could raise the cost of using popular songs during the parade’s TV turn from about $500 to roughly $2,500. The committee did not make a final decision and agreed to revisit the issue in August with a planned submission to Tournament in September.

Why it matters: The extra cost affects the committee’s choice of music for the 45-second segment when the float turns for television and streaming; committee members said the rest of the parade and in-person judging are covered by a blanket license and are not affected the same way.

At the June 3 meeting, the committee chair said, “Our average cost is about $500… If we want to use a popular song now, the cost will be 2,500 through Tournament,” and described alternatives: use Tournament’s generic music library, commission original music, or play no music around TV Corner and resume music after the turn. The chair added that the licensing concern is primarily for streaming: “Even on TV, we would be okay. But it’s the streaming.”

Committee members noted practical trade-offs. The chair said the Tournament’s database includes generic tracks “not as exciting as something that people recognize, but viable.” Another member noted that in past years viewers often heard nearby marching bands rather than the committee’s recorded track, lessening the impact of the TV spot. James (referenced by the chair) had reviewed past recordings and observed the same.

The committee agreed not to decide immediately. The chair said the group does not need to act until September and proposed reviewing options in August and then taking a vote. The committee also noted a modest benefit: under the Tournament’s blanket licensing, the committee will no longer need to request specific permissions for judging and most parade music, leaving only the streaming/TV-turn segment subject to the higher fee.

Next steps: The committee will revisit the topic in August, assemble proposed songs or plan B selections, review the Tournament database for acceptable tracks, and vote before the Tournament’s September deadline for music submissions.