Why Is Led Zeppelin So Crazy Reluctant To Allow Their Songs To Be Featured In Movies Or TV Shows?

August 07, 2024

Highlights

Led Zeppelin, one of the greatest rock bands in history, has been reluctant to license their music for films and TV shows.
However, the band has become more receptive over time.
Led Zeppelin's licensing fee is in the seven-figure range.

Led Zeppelin is one of the biggest names in rock n' roll history. During their heyday in the late 1960s and 1970s, Led Zeppelin took the music industry by storm and became the favorite band of millions of teenagers around the world.

Rock staples such as the "Immigrant Song", "Stairway to Heaven", and "Rock and Roll" cemented their legacy as a prolific act that has stood the test of time. Considering the popularity of their music, it is not surprising that many film and television producers have desired to use their songs in projects.

Members of Led Zeppelin have had a history of being reluctant to approve these requests for a few key reasons.

What Are Led Zeppelin's Most Famous Songs?

Led Zeppelin, who was inducted into the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame in 1995, is remembered as one of the most important acts to contribute to the rock sound. Robert Plant, the band's lead singer, and Jimmy Page, the band's guitarist, have both been recognized as two of the most influential individuals in 20th-century music.

Led Zeppelin Was The Victim Of A $200,000 Rock 'N' Roll Heist Just Before One Of The Most Important Gigs Of Their Lives

Led Zeppelin was known for their over-the-top lifestyle but one of the craziest things that happened to them is when they were the victim of a heist.

Plant's charisma and vocal ability with Page's innovative and exciting guitar techniques not only allowed the band to sell millions of records but also made them a high-grossing concert act. Plant's charisma enchanted thousands who watched them perform at sold-out concerts. Led Zeppelin was beyond a household name in its active years, it was the quintessential rock band.

The band even had their own private plane named The Starship!

Zeppelin's debut album, which was self-titled, came out in January 1969. The album, which received commercial acclaim, introduced Zeppelin's sound to a global audience. It climbed the rock charts both in the U.S. and U.K. and helped grow the band's popularity.

It was followed by "Led Zeppelin II", which was released in October later that year. "Whole Lotta Love" and "Living Loving Maid (She's Just A Woman)" were featured on the band's second effort. The album was more successful than the band's debut and reached a No. 1 position in the U.S. and U.K.

"Led Zeppelin III", which introduced the iconic track "Immigrant Song", came out in October 1970. Like its predecessors, the album did very well on the charts and has become regarded as one of Led Zeppelin's greatest albums. In November 1971, the band released an untitled album, which as become known as "Led Zeppelin IV."

Featuring classics such as "Stairway to Heaven", "Rock and Roll", and "Black Dog", the album became the band's best-selling project. "Stairway to Heaven" has become Led Zeppelin's signature song, even though Robert Plant himself cannot describe what the song is exactly about. Music critics have called "Led Zeppelin III" one of the greatest albums in 20th-century music. Rolling Stone even did a reader's poll and "Led Zeppelin IV" was ranked the best Led Zeppelin album by a far margin.

These Led Zeppelin's Best Songs Are Still Courting Controversy Today

The band has recently gone to court and faced criticism for some of the songs they made fifty years ago

"House of the Holy", came in March 1973, and brought songs such as "The Song Remains the Same" and "The Rain Song." It sold over 10 million copies and was even ranked as one of top 500 albums ever by Rolling Stone.

"Physical Graffiti" followed in February 1975. The album debuted at No. 1 in both the U.S. and U.K. and sold more than 8 million records. Led Zeppelin's seventh album, "Presence", came out in March 1976. The album received lukewarm reviews and was not as popular as its predecessors, even though it had commercial success.

"In Through the Out Door", which came out in August 1979, was the band's final album. It was a massive success and went to No.1 on multiple international charts. Featuring songs such as "Fool in the Rain" and "In the Evening", the album was a strong finale for the band before they broke up in 1980.

Why Is Led Zeppelin Reluctant To License Their Music?

Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, and John Paul Jones, the band's remaining members, have often been reluctant about licensing their music for films and TV shows.

While their exact reasoning is not publicly known, it can be expected that their reluctance came from a desire to protect their work and its legacy. Plant and Page, both perfectionists, poured their hearts and souls into Led Zeppelin's music during the band's active years and understood how important their work was to millions of fans around the world.

As time has gone on, Led Zeppelin has been more receptive to licensing their music. During the pre-production of the classic 2003 comedy School of Rock, Jack Black sent a plea video to Led Zeppelin asking for permission to use "Immigrant Song" in the movie. Knowing how the movie could introduce their work to a new generation, Plant, Page, and Jones gave their blessing.

Plant was glad they made the decision to let "Immigrant Song" be in School of Rock. "So give it to the kids, it's great. I mean, Jack Black's got it down right," Plant explained. School of Rock was among the first blockbusters to sample Led Zeppelin's music in the 21st century. 1980s classic Fast Times at Ridgemont High featured "Kashmir", according to Screen Rant.

Robert Plant Has A Specific Reason For Being Skeptical About Playing Led Zeppelin's Stairway To Heaven Despite Its Massive Appeal

Robert Plant feels "overwhelmed" listening to the song, and is not a fan of performing it live.

Films such as Thor: Ragnarok, Argo, Arthur: Legend of the Sword, The Big Short, American Hustle, Shrek the Third, and Silver Linings Playbook have all featured a Led Zeppelin song.

While the band has been more willing to license their music, it has come with a price. Not only do film and television producers have to pay a significant sum of money to use a Led Zeppelin song, but also the band has been known to express some creative control on how their songs are used in projects.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Led Zeppelin's licensing fee is approximately in the seven-figure range. This is quite expensive in perspective to film budgets.

Film and television producers have been known to build rapport with the band during the asking process and then demonstrate how a Led Zeppelin song could impact their project. Fortunately for producers, while Led Zeppelin is still very protective of their work, Plant, Page, and Jones have been more open to having conversations.

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