My apologies for "yelling" the title of this blog at everyone, but this is very exciting news! Apparently EMI is working a deal w/ Martin Luther King Jr.'s estate to get his speeches released for use in songs and other media. The Estate has been notorious for keeping MLK content under lock and key over the years, so joining the digital revolution is a big deal for the both family and the world at large.
I have to admit I'm a bit concerned about the use in "songs," and I'm imagining the Estate will be very careful when it comes to negotiating the master use rights (which is the copyright that must be licensed in order for the actual "sound recording" of MLK to be used - this is a separate right from the copyright on the speech itself). There's a nice article about the deal here. I did find it a bit strange that entertainment attorney Monica Ewing "couldn't imagine" who would use MLK's speeches in songs; I'm not sure if she meant that 1) no one will want to use them; or 2) the possibilities are endless. The latter is really where my thoughts are coming from; I think artists will be scrambling to snag such a significant piece of history for their works. MLK wasn't just about civil rights - he was about unity, world peace, happiness...all these things the world is STILL struggling with today, and perhaps more than ever. With our new president's message of
"hope," I think a lot of people, in art and in other ways, are interested in exploring that idea right now.
Outside the use in songs, I'm hoping the entire speeches themselves will soon be available. From an educational standpoint, the idea that MLK's speeches will be available to students across the world with the click of a button is a PRICELESS addition to learning.
Personally, I'm over the moon that this content is being released. Thoughts are welcome!
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