The Hockey Theme

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For the for the Stompin' Tom Connors song, see The Hockey Song.

The Hockey Theme is an iconic Canadian theme song written in 1968 by Dolores Claman. It has been referred to as Canada's second national anthem.[1]

The theme was associated with CBC Television's Hockey Night in Canada, and Television de Radio-Canada's La Soirée du hockey from 1968 until 2008, when the CBC failed to negotiate a renewal of its licence to the song from Claman and her publisher. The rights were then purchased by rival broadcaster CTV in perpetuity; beginning in the fall of 2008 the theme will be heard on hockey broadcasts on the CTV-owned TSN and RDS sports channels, and will also be heard on the CTV network's coverage of ice hockey at the 2010 Winter Olympics.

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[edit] Origins

In 1968, the CBC commissioned McLaren Advertising to create a new promotional tune for Hockey Night in Canada.[2] McLaren contracted Dolores Claman, a classically-trained composer who had produced a number of successful jingles, promotional songs and television theme music,[3] to write the tune. Claman had never seen a hockey in person and wrote the tune imagining Roman gladiators wearing skates. "It just arrived in my head," she recalled several decades later. Claman said she wrote her song to reflect the narrative arc of a hockey game from the arrival on the rink, to the battle of the game, to the trip home, "plus a cold beer."[4] Since the song was originally classified as an advertising jingle Claman did not originally get residuals but only a one time creative fee of $800. The piece was originally performed by a 20 member orchestra.[4]

In the 1970s, CBC began using the tune as the standard introduction for the show and Claman was entitled to music-use licence payments of between $2,000 and $10,000 each year. After she was advised by her agent in 1993 to licence the song, she earned approximately $500 per broadcast.[4]

[edit] Arrangements

The theme has been updated a number of times over the year. A list of major updates used on HNIC broadcasts follows:

  • Mid-1980s - A big-band version of the theme was used. [5]
  • 1988 - An updated "rock" version of the theme, the version most closely associated with the era when the program was titled Molson Hockey Night in Canada on CBC.[6]
    • This version was edited in the early 1990s to remove the big-band interlude from the main-title theme. This version was used by the CBC for a few seasons, and by Radio-Canada until La Soirée du hockey was discontinued in 2004.[7]
    • In the mid-1990s, another edited version of the main theme was introduced, which replaced the sponsor beds with other music previously played over introductory highlights.[8] This version, along with other musical cues introduced in 1988, were used by the CBC until the end of the Molson era in 1998. This cut of the main theme (but not the other cues) was reintroduced at the start of the 2004 playoffs and used until 2008.
  • 1998 - After Labatt took over as title sponsor, a new, mostly synthesized version of the theme was introduced. This was used for two seasons.[9]
  • 2000 - Another "big-band"-style version, with a significantly different sound compared to previous versions, was introduced.[10] It is believed that this version was dropped quickly due to complaints by Ms. Claman.[11]
  • 2001 - A new synthesized version was introduced. This version was used in the opening until spring 2004 (when the 1988 version was reintroduced), and used in most HNIC advertising until 2008.[12]

In addition, in the spring of 2007, the CBC introduced a new set of musical cues for commercial-break stings and other transitions based on the Claman theme.

It is believed that the CBC continues to own most or all of the above-noted recordings even though it no longer has rights to use the theme itself. CTV's Rick Brace said that a new arrangement of the song will be prepared for TSN / RDS broadcasts. According to Brace, the network "will have to re-orchestrate it... It will still be the same music but it will be a different arrangement. It will be exactly the same tune."[13]

[edit] Legal action

In November 2004, Dolores Claman and her publisher initiated legal action against CBC for breach of copyright, alleging, among other things, that theme was used on other CBC programs, and on HNIC rebroadcasts outside Canada, without consent. As of late 2006, the case remains ongoing. [14]

[edit] 2008 licence renewal negotiations with CBC

The CBC's most recent licence to use The Hockey Theme expired at the conclusion of the 2007-08 NHL season. Claman's publisher issued a statement on June 4, 2008 claiming that the CBC had informed them it would not be renewing its rights to the composition. [15] CBC Sports head Scott Moore denied the reports, saying that the CBC wants to keep the song and that negotiations on a new licence agreement for the song were still ongoing.[16] However, Moore also suggested that the window to reach an agreement was closing, as the broadcaster would need time to find a replacement if negotiations fell though. Under the CBC's backup plan, a nationwide contest for Canadian composers would be held to submit a new theme.[17]

Published reports indicate that the impasse was caused by the CBC's offer to buy the theme outright for significantly less than Claman's representatives believe it to be worth, as well as the complications relating to the ongoing lawsuit.[18]

While negotiations resumed late on June 5 and continued the following day, in the early evening of June 6 the CBC announced it could not reach an acceptable agreement, and would proceed with a contest for a new theme in collaboration with music label Nettwerk, with the winner receiving $100,000 (the CBC would presumably have full ownership of the theme thereafter).[19]

“ We share with all Canadians the disappointment of this news, as we feel as strongly about the theme as they do. We are proud of the association with the former theme song and are saddened that we were unable to reach a deal, especially when we presented an offer which we believe was not substantively different from what the rights holders had proposed to us. We love the song and know this is a huge disappointment for us and for millions of Canadians. As of today, CBC Sports is moving forward with our plan to have the Canadian public compose the new Hockey Night in Canada theme song.[19] ”

—Scott Moore, executive director of CBC Sports
“ This afternoon John Ciccone communicated with Scott Moore of CBC and requested a meeting on Monday to further discuss the issues surrounding the Hockey Theme. At 4:59 PM (one minute before CBC's deadline) Mr. Moore advised that CBC intended to proceed with an announcement of a National contest unless he had the basis for an agreement. Ms. Claman is saddened and disappointed that CBC is not prepared to negotiate further.[15] ”

—Statement from Copyright Music & Visuals, Dolores Claman's publisher

The CBC said it had offered nearly $1 million for perpetual rights to the piece,[20] but that Copyright Music was asking for $2.5 to $3 million for those rights. According to Claman, the CBC had offered her $850,000.[4]

[edit] Acquisition by CTV

On June 9, 2008, CBC offered to resume negotiations under mediator Gord Kirke. "We feel this song is worth one last attempt to save. Canadians are passionate about its association with Hockey Night in Canada," said Moore.[21] However, by mid-afternoon, Claman's representatives announced they had sold the broadcast rights to the song in perpetuity to CTV, to be used on TSN and RDS hockey broadcasts as well as on CTV's coverage of Olympic hockey at the 2010 Olympics.[22]

“ The song has a long and storied history in Canadian sports and has become ingrained in the hearts and minds of hockey fans across the country. It is an iconic tune, embraced by Canadians everywhere, and we felt it was imperative to save it. We know we will be in hockey forever, so there's no doubt this acquisition will create value for us. It's an honour and a privilege to own such a cherished piece of Canadiana.[22] ”

—Rick Brace, president (revenue, business planning and sports), CTV Inc.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Jones, Tom. "Country's heirloom reflects on Lightning", St. Petersburg Times, 2005-11-05. Retrieved on 2007-04-12. (English) 
  2. ^ "Swan song for Hockey Night in Canada theme?", Toronto Sun, June 5, 2008
  3. ^ Claman, Dolores, Encyclopedia of Music in Canada
  4. ^ a b c d Cheney, Peter, "Hockey theme 'wasn't hard to do,' composer says", Globe and Mail, June 12, 2008
  5. ^ YouTube video posted by Funebrae
  6. ^ YouTube video posted by retrodan5
  7. ^ YouTube
  8. ^ YouTube video posted by theSameRetroWindsor
  9. ^ YouTube video posted by sharitabata (contrary to the poster's assertion, was not used in the main titles in 2005)
  10. ^ YouTube
  11. ^ Dolores Claman statement of claim against CBC, paragraph 35
  12. ^ YouTube
  13. ^ "CTV acquires rights to hockey theme song", CTV News, June 9, 2008
  14. ^ The Hockey Night In Canada Theme Song. Retrieved on 2007-01-10.
  15. ^ a b Hockey Night In Canada Theme to End. Copyright Music & Visuals (June 5, 2008). Retrieved on 2008-06-05.
  16. ^ Deal still possible for Hockey Night theme song. cbc.ca (June 5, 2008). Retrieved on 2008-06-05.
  17. ^ Hockey Night song in limbo. Canadian Press (via sportsnet.ca) (June 5, 2008). Retrieved on 2008-06-05.
  18. ^ CBC fumbles negotiations on Hockey Night theme, Brodie Fenlon, The Globe and Mail, June 6, 2008
  19. ^ a b CBC press release, June 6, 2008
  20. ^ The National, June 6, 2008
  21. ^ Hockey Night song dispute going back to mediator, June 9, 2008
  22. ^ a b CTV Saves 'The Hockey Theme'; Acquires Exclusive Rights to 'Canada's Second National Anthem', CTV press release, June 9, 2008

[edit] See also

[edit] External links