While the high cost of music licensing has kept certain TV shows from getting the DVD treatment, Mad Men producer Lionsgate took a somewhat bold step to obtain RJD2’s “A Beautiful Mine” for the AMC hit’s title sequence and avoid licensing issues in the process.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Esq., the studio wanted to forgo the mere licensing of the DJ/producer’s string-laced track and instead buy the publishing rights to it outright. “They knew they had a great show on their hands and for whatever reason, a license just wasn’t sufficient,” RJD2, aka Ramble John “RJ” Krohn (above), tells Spinner.
After declining the offer several times before relenting, the artist says he has no regrets about his decision, adding that Lionsgate made an “extraordinarily shrewd” business move. He tells the site, “Even just from a creative standpoint, I’m thrilled that it’s the theme to one of my favorite shows on television.”
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