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BBC’sDoctor Whohas always maintained a tight budget,and this is mainly the reasonwhy they could not get permission to use at least one The Beatles song.The band’s price is way too beyond the budget of the show, something that producer Matthew Weiner was willing to pay for theMad Menseries.
Fans would wonder about whatever happened to their collaboration with Disney. The truth is, even with the financial support and fame of the studio, they still couldn’t get a license to use The Beatles’ songs.
Doctor WhoCould Not Afford To Use The Beatles’ Music
ShowrunnerRussell T. Daviesshared viaFilm Storiesthat he intentionally wanted to bring The Beatles’ music inDoctor Who, but it came with a price that would break BBC’s bank account. It’s a shame as well that their partnership with Disney did not help.
“I thought, that’s a lovely idea, but at the same time, I knew that The Beatles music is so expensive. Even on a Disney budget, we couldn’t afford that, and so I thought imagine you’re visiting The Beatles, and you couldn’t have The Beatles music. What would you do? And that’s the story. It kind of created itself.”
While most bands charge around $25,000 to $50,000 for television shows to use their songs,The Beatleshas a premium price of six figures. Fans would remember Matthew Weiner’sMad Menseries, starring Jon Hamm, used one song from the band, specifically ‘Tomorrow Never Knows’, it cost them $250,000 for one scene alone.
“That was like a full stop”: Paul McCartney Reveals John Lennon Made His Jaw Drop With One Line That Started History’s Greatest Songwriting Couple
Davies said that the deal betweenDoctor Whoand Disney was to ensure the long-running series continues to run. He said viaBleeding Cool, “You’ve got to look in the long term at the end of the BBC, which is undoubtedly on its way in some shape or form.”
He noted the importance of preparing for situations like this, though it probably did not include the financial capability of affording a song from The Beatles.
Mad MenPaid The Beatles A Fortune For One Song
IfDoctor Whoand Disney’s joint power was not able to get permission to use the music of The Beatles, Matthew Weiner was too generous to pay the band for the sake of one scene fromMad Men. He said in an oldNew York Timesinterview:
“It was always my feeling that the show lacked a certain authenticity because we never could have an actual master recording of The Beatles performing. Not just someone singing their song or a version of their song, but them, doing a song in the show.”
The producer said that it seemed like a flaw in the system. “They are the band, probably, of the 20th century. Whatever people think, this is not about money. It never is.” He said that the band was only concerned about their legacy and artistic influence.
“Your terms are acceptable”: Ncuti Gatwa Asking Haters to Touch Some Grass Backfires as His Doctor Who Role Upsets Vocal Fanbase
The band’s recordings were rarely heard in movies and television shows, and it is also a known fact that the surviving members of the group, including their descendants, are very picky with licensing.
Doctor Whois available to stream via Disney+.
Ariane Cruz
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3533
Ariane Cruz is a Senior Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on TV shows with over 3,000 articles published. Her love for pop culture and the creative arts fuels her passion to deliver engaging and informative stories. Her daily consumption of films, shows, and books keeps her energized for the day, along with her mission to serve as the bridge between fans and their favorite franchises.
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