Anderson & Greenwood Demand Music Removal from 'Melania' Documentary
Director Paul Thomas Anderson and composer Jonny Greenwood have formally requested the removal of music from their 2017 film Phantom Thread from the documentary "Melania." Their request is based on the assertion that Universal, the copyright holder of the score, did not consult Greenwood regarding its third-party use, which they state breaches his composer agreement.
Director Paul Thomas Anderson and composer Jonny Greenwood have formally requested the removal of music from their 2017 film Phantom Thread from the documentary "Melania," asserting that its use breaches Greenwood's composer agreement.
Alleged Breach of Composer Agreement
Paul Thomas Anderson and Jonny Greenwood issued a statement concerning the use of the Phantom Thread score in the "Melania" documentary. While Greenwood does not hold the copyright for the score—Universal does—Anderson and Greenwood stated that Universal did not consult Greenwood regarding this specific third-party use. They describe this omission as a breach of Greenwood's composer agreement, leading to their request for the music's removal from the documentary.
Tony Neiman, the composer credited with the original score for the "Melania" documentary, has not yet commented on the situation.
'Melania' Documentary: Financials and Critical Reception
The "Melania" documentary was directed by Brett Ratner and focuses on the activities of the first lady in the 20 days leading up to January 20, 2025. It includes original music by Tony Neiman.
The film has generated approximately $13.35 million in North American box office revenue. Amazon MGM Studios, which acquired distribution rights for "Melania" and an accompanying streaming docu-series, reportedly invested $40 million for the acquisition and an additional $35 million for theatrical marketing.
Amazon MGM Studios reportedly invested $40 million for the acquisition of distribution rights and an additional $35 million for theatrical marketing, resulting in total expenditures of $75 million.
Amazon MGM has issued a statement addressing the film's second-weekend box office results, but has not provided a comment specifically on the music dispute. In comparison, Phantom Thread, released by Focus Features (a division of NBCUniversal), generated $52.2 million at the box office. The "Melania" documentary holds a low 8% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes.