
APM Music To Serve as Unified Music Resource for Major League Baseball Under the deal, the production-music supplier will also manage copyright clearance By Dan Daley, Audio Editor
Wednesday, June 7, 2023 - 7:00 am
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story Highlights
Major League Baseball and APM Music have reached an agreement under which the Los Angeles-based production-music supplier will provide all the prerecorded music from its catalogs used by the league and its 30 teams, collectively and individually, for broadcast, in-venue, commercial, promotional, and social-media applications. It will also manage copyright-clearance services for music from other sources.
The term of the agreement, which was signed in December but not announced at the time, is four years. The dollar value was not disclosed but is based on a flat annual fee.
The exclusive, league-wide deal builds on previous arrangements with individual MLB teams, including the New York Mets, for which APM created custom music and scoring as well as providing other audio resources and related services for multiple in-stadium and broadcast applications.
APM Music's Matthew Gutknecht: The goal is to create a unifying, creative resource across teams, the league, cable properties, and digital, while also managing liability.
Potential audio services under consideration include sound design, such as creation of sonic-branding elements that teams can use for marketing purposes.
According to Matthew Gutknecht, director, sports entertainment, APM Music, the arrangement can be scaled according to individual teams' financial resources and creative needs. For instance, original music scores for team and league productions will be available as a separate option.
The 40-year-old company, owned jointly by Sony Music Publishing and Universal Music Publishing, has an extensive history in developing production music for broadcast sports. Among its clients are the NFL Tampa Bay Buccaneers, MLB L.A. Dodgers, MLS Philadelphia Union, and NBA L.A. Lakers; production entities NASCAR, NFL Films, and PGA TOUR Productions; and collegiate athletics programs at Alabama, Auburn, South Carolina, Georgia, and Clemson. Its sports-music roster includes some iconic tracks, such as Heavy Action, familiar as the Monday Night Football theme, and catalogs like the NFL Films Music Library and MLB Music Library.
It was very challenging to get the league to agree to a league-wide deal, where some teams have more [media] resources [and] others had little or no budget for that, Gutknecht says. We were able to equitably create a solution right down the middle to make everyone as happy as possible. The goal is to create a unifying, creative resource - a level playing field, no pun intended - across teams, the league, cable properties, and digital, while also managing liability as broadly as possible at reasonable cost.
Legal Land Mines The reference to liability underscores a music-media legal land mine increasingly encountered by broadcast sports: copyright-infringement litigation between leagues, broadcasters, and music publishers. For instance, if music properly licensed, through a performing-rights organization such as BMI or ASCAP, for in-venue use over the PA system in a venue leaks into a game broadcast, that could constitute unintended but nonetheless very real copyright infringement. Such litigation has become more frequent in recent years as the range of outlets and number of sports media on the air and online have mushroomed, as has the number of open microphones in sports venues - including a growing array worn by the athletes themselves - creating more potential for unintended copyright infringements.
The rules of the game have changed, say Gutknecht, referring to rightsholders' more forcefully asserting such infringements. We interface with legal departments far more now than in the past.
Having a legal framework in place around music usage could encourage the use of more music and in more ways, he contends: People are thinking about music differently now that they don't have to be concerned about liability. Now they can get above that and think of their overall content strategy. What's their opening video, what's their special anniversary? Is there a uniform reveal? All of that needs music.
Major Leagues, Big Deals The MLB deal is similar to one that APM Music secured with the National Hockey League in October 2021. Under the terms of the MLB arrangement, teams will be able to use APM's music resources - current inventory and archives - and copyright-clearance services for music from such other sources as the vast catalogs of Universal Music and Sony Music.
We're not like music supervisors, says Gutknecht, referring to those who manage the music choices for film and television projects. But we're starting to lean in that direction. We're not there just to provide a resource but also to advise our clients.
He notes that, since the NHL deal, sports leagues have significantly increased their use of music in venues, on-air, and, particularly, on social media, where he adds, copyright issues increasingly occur. Furthermore, baseball has developed additional applications for music, notably the increased use of walk-up music, songs individually chosen by hitters and played as they approach the batter's box. In some cases, to avoid unintentional infringements, small PA systems have been built in some stadiums to keep that music focused on the home-plate area and out of the effects microphones surrounding it.
People are beginning to realize that you can't just take a clip from a game and post it to social media; there is no implied sync,' Gutknecht says, referring to synchronization licenses that allow film and television to secure rights to use music. We're trying to cover
Most recent headlines
06/10/2025
France T l visions, France's leading broadcaster, has received the 2025 EBU ...
04/09/2025
Monumental Sports & Entertainment (MSE), in collaboration with Dalet, has been a...
03/07/2025
For our Vario-Jib, as well as for a repertoire of weights, we now have carts that make transport easier...
03/07/2025
One of our latest innovations: Slider Drive Unit!
Our Vario Slider not only comes with improvements and new features, but also with its own drive unit!
Our i...
03/07/2025
The 360 EVO lives up to its name: 360-degree rotation not only on the pan axis, but also on the roll axis, enables filmmakers to take their creative visions eve...
03/07/2025
What a buzzing few days at BSCExpo in London!
We were thrilled to connect with so many talented professionals from the world of cinematography.
A huge thank ...
03/07/2025
ADOLESCENCE - Shot with Panther Tower"The whole rig had to be detachable mid-episode
Netflix limited drama series Adolescence has been gaining attentio...
03/07/2025
To achieve a true level of decisive overmatch, communication systems must be as ...
03/07/2025
The Broadcasters Foundation of America has named Ray Hopkins, president of U.S. distribution at Paramount Global, to its board of directors....
03/07/2025
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. In his first major policy speech, Federal Communications Commissions Chair Brendan Carr outlined his Build America Agenda for the agency'...
03/07/2025
As the industry is making a major push to transition to NextGen TV broadcasting and develop new businesses that will fund the next generation of broadcasting, T...
03/07/2025
Despite enabling its subscribers to watch films and TV shows in the highest possible resolution, Netflix has revealed it is taking things old school with the in...
03/07/2025
WASHINGTON In response to news that Paramount Global has agreed to pay $16 million to settle a lawsuit by President Donald Trump, Democrats and other administra...
03/07/2025
WUPPERTAL, Germany Riedel Communications today launched RefSuite for professional sports workflows....
03/07/2025
WEITERSTADT, Germany LYNX Technik, a provider of modular signal processing solutions, has announced that founder and longtime CEO Winfried Deckelmann is steppin...
03/07/2025
WASHINGTON Representatives from six trade groups representing tech, pay TV, broadband, LPTV and other sectors recently met with Federal Communications Commissio...
03/07/2025
PLYMOUTH, Wis. Dan Whealy has acquired Heartland Video Systems and will be its new owner and president, the systems integrator said....
03/07/2025
Acclaimed filmmaker, educator, and industry veteran Jay Holben has released his most ambitious work to date: The Director's Guide to Everything a sweeping...
03/07/2025
For Los Angeles-based photographer Scout Pruski, documenting the annual Dyke Day LA is a way to honor and give back to the city's legacy queer community and...
03/07/2025
Modular, Travel-Ready Solution Matthews Studio Equipment launches the new Chimera V-Flat Panel Frame Kit, the lightweight and modular, ultra-durable alternativ...
03/07/2025
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, today announced the release of Dalet Flex 2025.6 LTS (long-term support), introdu...
03/07/2025
Lightware's LARA Wizard makes it quicker and easier than ever to set up audio-visual (AV) room automation and control configurations, ensuring anyone, from ...
03/07/2025
Alfalite, the only European manufacturer of LED screens, has obtained both the NCAGE Code (NATO Commercial and Government Entity) and TAA (Trade Agreements Act)...
03/07/2025
nxtedition is implementing a new solution for WIN Network, based in its headquarters in Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia. The nxtedition integrated platfo...
03/07/2025
ORS Group and Insys Video Technologies today announce the launch of a new joint brand identity: Big Blue Marble. The move reflects the evolution of a long-stand...
03/07/2025
Evergent, a global leader in customer lifecycle management and monetization solutions for subscription-based businesses, today announced the successful results ...
03/07/2025
LYNX Technik, provider of modular signal processing solutions today announces an executive leadership transition, effective July 1, 2025. Markus Motzko has been...
03/07/2025
Chaos Releases V-Ray for Blender
Brie Clayton July 2, 2025
0 Comments
Production-Proven Renderer V-Ray Arrives Natively in Blender for the First Time;...
03/07/2025
Calvin University Adds Blackmagic Replay to Broadcasts and Streams
Brie Clayton July 2, 2025
0 Comments
Replay workflow joins 14 Blackmagic Design cam...
03/07/2025
Berklee's Gospel Performance Program Welcomes Jonathan Nelson as the Herb Al...
03/07/2025
In today's fragmented media landscape, advertisers expect more than just reach - they want seamless cross-platform campaigns that deliver measurable results...
03/07/2025
** MEDIA ALERT ** Shonen Jump Store Hosting Los Angeles Pop-up During Anime Exp...
03/07/2025
Thursday 3 July 2025
David Harewood and Matthew Broome in Mozart: Genius for Hi...
03/07/2025
The Sky WNT Fund supports Womens National Team players with a 30,000 bursaryThursday 3 July 2025
Sky Ireland has announced the four recipients of the 2025 Sky...
03/07/2025
The forecast this month is showing a 100% chance of epic gaming. Catch the scorching lineup of 20 titles coming to the cloud, which gamers can play whether indo...
02/07/2025
Hege Wik and Odin appear in FOLKTALES by Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady, an official selection of the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. Courtesy of Sundance Institut...
02/07/2025
(Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock for Sundance Film Festival)
By Patty Consolazio
This one's for any person who's ever felt put down, left out, marginaliz...
02/07/2025
Calrec expands ecosystem at NAB 2025 giving broadcasters access to dynamic workflows and ultimate flexibility Helping broadcasters meet the shifting needs of me...
02/07/2025
NEW YORK Paramount Global has agreed to pay $16 million to settle a lawsuit by President Donald Trump, ending a long-running legal saga that could clear the way...
02/07/2025
WASHINGTON The Federal Communications Commission has approved the transfer of licenses for five TV stations from Sinclair to Rincon Broadcasting, which announce...
02/07/2025
As the media industry faces an uncertain business climate and rapidly changing consumer habits, TV Tech's most popular stories from the first six months of ...
02/07/2025
PORTSMOUTH, N.H. New data shows that U.S. homes now own an average of two smart TVs, with Samsung and LG dominating the market but Roku and FireTV continue to g...
02/07/2025
LOS ANGELES Funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management have acquired FilmRise, an independent digital streaming content distributor, and merged it with Shout! ...
02/07/2025
WASHINGTON The Advanced Television Systems Committee named Luiz Fausto vice president of standards development, succeeding ATSC vice president Jerry Whitaker, w...
02/07/2025
Boston Conservatory and the Sphinx Organization Join Forces to Make Classical Ed...
02/07/2025
NEW AMSTERDAM CREATOR DAVID SCHULNER JOINS CREATIVE TEAM OF NEW FOX DRAMA SERIE...
02/07/2025
02 Jul 2025
VEON Raises USD 200 Million in Private Bond Placement Dubai, July 1, 2025: VEON Ltd. (Nasdaq: VEON), a global digital operator ( VEON ), announces ...
02/07/2025
Brand new factual series follows mechanic and self-taught engineer Dom Chinea as he makes the move of his life to the far west of Cornwall
UKTV today announces...
02/07/2025
Progressive realism: Aurora on taking up the broadcast reins for World RX alongs...
02/07/2025
Great speed: New host broadcaster Aurora on getting the World RX 2025 season pro...