Paul Thomas Anderson, Jonny Greenwood Demand Removal Of 'Phantom Thread' Music From 'Melania'
They said Universal failed to consult Greenwood, calling the use a breach of his composer agreement.
Overview
Paul Thomas Anderson and Jonny Greenwood said in a joint statement they have asked for a piece of music from their 2017 film Phantom Thread to be removed from Brett Ratner's documentary Melania, alleging Universal failed to consult Greenwood.
Amazon MGM Studios paid $40 million for Melania's distribution rights and the film has grossed about $13 million domestically, according to Box Office Mojo, raising scrutiny of licensing and clearance practices.
Greenwood's representatives said Greenwood does not own the copyright in the Phantom Thread score and that Universal's failure to consult him constitutes a breach of his composer agreement.
Industry reports say Melania cost a reported $75 million to make and market, with Amazon MGM spending $35 million on marketing in addition to the $40 million acquisition fee.
No lawsuit had been filed as of publication, leaving unresolved whether Amazon MGM or Universal will remove the Phantom Thread cue from future theatrical screenings or streaming on Prime.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources present this coverage as neutral. They relay direct statements from Anderson and Greenwood (source content), note requests for comment from Amazon MGM and Universal, and supply contextual facts—Ratner’s past allegations (noting his denials) and Rotten Tomatoes/box-office figures—without loaded language or selective emphasis.
Sources (5)
FAQ
An extended excerpt of 'Barbara Rose', composed by Jonny Greenwood for the film.
Universal failed to consult Greenwood on the third-party use, breaching his composer agreement, despite him not owning the copyright.
It cost $75 million to make and market, Amazon MGM paid $40 million for distribution rights, and it has grossed about $13 million domestically.
No lawsuit has been filed as of publication; Anderson and Greenwood have only asked for the music to be removed.
It has been critically panned, receiving a one-star review from The Independent, and faces controversy including suspected review manipulation.
History
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