Stand-up comedian Marc Maron discloses the amount he spent to incorporate Taylor Swift's track in his live performance act
In a unique turn of events, comedian Marc Maron reached out to Taylor Swift's longtime collaborator, Jack Antonoff, for assistance in licensing the song "Bigger Than the Whole Sky" from Swift's latest album, "Midnights."
Maron, known for his candid conversations on his podcast "WTF," confirmed that Swift charges a significant fee for using her music in projects. The usage fee for a minute of Swift's track is no exception, and it became a significant portion of the budget for Maron's project.
Antonoff advised Maron to go through the proper channels to license the 2022 song. After careful negotiations, Swift's team signed off on Maron's request.
Maron, who admitted to tearing up when he first heard "Bigger Than the Whole Sky" due to its poignant message about grief and loss, performed a rendition of the song during his comedy shows. However, it's not confirmed that Swift herself heard Maron's performance.
To ensure the performance was under a minute, Maron wrote additional music for the opening and closing of the track. The flat fee paid for the use of the song was reported to be $25,000, with Maron spending an additional approximately $50,000 to use it in his comedy shows.
Maron's admiration for Swift's music is evident. He praises it as emotional, full of longing, and dealing with overwhelming feelings of melancholy. Interestingly, Maron mentioned that he listens to "Midnights" during his hikes.
On a May 2023 episode of his "WTF" podcast, Maron shared his history with Swift's discography, expressing his desire to understand the fascination with Swift and her music. He even manifested that he thought Swift would like his bit involving her song.
In a close call, Maron had to secure enough money through ticket sales for the televised version of the special to get approval for using "Bigger Than the Whole Sky." Despite the challenges, Maron successfully incorporated Taylor Swift's music into his comedy shows, adding another layer of emotion to his performances.
