In an earlier era, Olympic figure skaters competed to the sounds of orchestral pieces like Korngold’s movie themes, as Dorothy Hamill did in 1976. Now, the soundtrack is Beyoncé, Coldplay and “Despacito.”
The transition to pop has been happening for years. But the big news at the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea, is that for the first time skaters can use music with lyrics, a rule change by the International Skating Union meant to attract a younger audience.
The appearance of more recognizable pop — the first Olympic competition last week included Ed Sheeran, an Oasis cover and “Dust in the Wind” — has led to questions from viewers about how musicians are compensated, and how the skaters secure permission to use songs.