Rock
Producer defends use of Phantom Thread score in Melania Trump documentary amid dispute with Jonny Greenwood
A producer on the Melania film has said Jonny Greenwood's Phantom Thread is here to stay.
The producer behind the Melania Trump documentary has doubled down on his decision to use music from Phantom Thread, despite director Paul Thomas Anderson and composer Jonny Greenwood requesting its removal.
Marc Beckman, a producer on Melania, the film about America's First Lady, dismissed claims that the score had been improperly licensed, calling the accusations “ridiculous” and “a blatant lie” in comments originally made to Breitbart News.
Speaking later to Variety, he reiterated that the music will remain in the film.
Beckman said the team set out to tell “a story that has certainly never been told before,” and argued that both his side and Greenwood’s share a similar understanding of the situation, suggesting the composer’s frustration is directed more at the studio for not informing him of the reuse.
He added that he was surprised by Radiohead’s public distancing from the project, noting that the band is one of his personal favourites.
He said: “We went out and created a nice film that doesn’t get into any kind of political policy."
Beckman added that the music “was so perfect” for the moment in which it appears.
The producer, who has a legal background, insisted the team followed the correct process.
He said: “We work with the best lawyers; this is Melania Trump. We spent top dollars for all that music."
Asked whether he would consider removing the track as a goodwill gesture, he replied that the song “is in the film forever.”
The disagreement erupted after Anderson and Greenwood learned that a portion of the Oscar‑nominated Phantom Thread score had been licensed for Brett Ratner’s documentary without Greenwood’s consultation.
In a joint statement to Variety, they said Universal — which owns the soundtrack rights — failed to honour a contractual clause requiring the studio to notify the composer of any third‑party use.
They have formally requested that the music be removed.
The documentary, released on January 30, has already sparked political debate online and now faces an additional layer of controversy over artistic rights.
Universal has not yet commented publicly on the matter. The film has so far grossed $9.5 million against a reported $40 million budget.
