The music band Heavy Young Heathens has filed a lawsuit against American television network NBC, U.S. Figure Skating and Olympians Alexa Knierim and Brandon Frazier, over the unauthorized use of their song “House of the Rising Sun.”
The song was used by the skaters for their short program during the Beijing Games. The pair won a silver medal.
Heavy Young Heathens are film and TV composers formed by the brothers Robert and Aron Marderosian. They have composed compositions for many TV shows, advertisements and video games.
In the lawsuit according to Reuters, the brothers allege they were never contacted by Knierim or Frazier, Team USA or U.S. Figure Skating about licensing the song for their performance. They also allege NBC, USA Network and Peacock never asked them either and broadcast the song on all of those platforms.
“These violations cause great harm to the value they (the Marderosians) command for such a well known piece of their recording catalog, and insults the integrity of their professional reputation,” the lawsuit states. “While Knierim/Frazier, USFS, NBC, USA, PEACOCK are all profiting from the revenue the 2022 Winter Olympics generate, the Marderosians have been and continue to be deprived of what their creating ‘House of the Rising Sun’ earns them per license.”
The group is asking for damages “they are entitled to in an amount to be proven at trial.”
U.S. Figure Skating said they don’t comment on legal matters. Mick Marderosian, the group’s attorney and father, said the figure skating pair’s agent has refused to listen to their issue.
NBC has removed posts of the performance since the lawsuit was filed, but has not commented on the lawsuit.