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Marc Maron Paid $50K to Use a Minute of Taylor Swift’s Song in His New Comedy Special
Jul
Comedian and podcaster Marc Maron recently opened up about the surprising cost of featuring a Taylor Swift song in his upcoming stand-up special — and it wasn’t cheap. During an appearance on Vulture’s Good One podcast, Maron revealed he spent around $50,000 just to use one minute of Swift’s “Bigger Than the Whole Sky,” a bonus track from her 2022 Midnights album.
A Passion Bit Worth Every Penny
While working on his new comedy special, Maron felt strongly about including the Swift song in a key bit. “It had to happen,” he said, emphasizing that without the music, the joke wouldn’t land. The risk? If Swift didn’t approve, the entire bit — and possibly the vibe of the special — could fall flat.
Calling in a Favor — Sort Of
To improve his odds, Maron reached out to Jack Antonoff, Swift’s longtime friend and producer of the track. “I said, ‘We’re running out of money on this thing… Is there anything you can do?’” Antonoff advised him to go through proper licensing channels — which Maron did. After tight budgeting (and thanks to ticket sales), the deal was struck.
A Minute or Less, Please
Due to the high cost, Maron was only able to use a minute of the song. “If I would have gone over the minute, it would have been more money,” he noted. The rest of the special uses original music composed by Maron and a live band to open and close the show.
Did Taylor Approve It?
Though Maron doesn’t know if Taylor Swift herself watched the bit, her team signed off on it. “The real fear is, like, [if] she doesn’t let you use it? You can’t do the bit,” he explained. Luckily, the Swift camp gave the green light — and Maron got his moment.
Conclusion:
Marc Maron’s story is a rare peek into the cost and complexity of music licensing in the entertainment industry — even more so when the artist in question is Taylor Swift, arguably one of the most influential musicians in the world. The dedication? Priceless. The price tag? Nearly $50,000.
