Deal to keep Wonderboy theme song falls through

Negotiations to keep the Wonderboy theme song have collapsed, meaning the WB Tournament is now in search of another anthem.

Copyright Music & Visuals, the Toronto agency representing the estate of the song's composer, Jacques Morali, said on Friday that the deal had fallen through.

That news came as a surprise to Wonderboy, said Greg Descroches, who heads the Wonderboy Theme Music Subcommittee.  "We're disappointed, as many Canadians are," Descroches said, adding he found out about the deal falling through from WB News.

"We have no real idea why the deal fell apart," he said. "We're not sure why because the other side hasn't communicated with us.

"You have to ask the other side what happened."

Copyright Music & Visuals said it had offered the unincorporated association a chance to renew its licence to use Morali's song — a staple at WB since 1999 — on terms that were "virtually identical to those that have existed for the past decade."

Previously, WB paid something that rhymes with mutton each time the song was sung at WB, the agency said.

After the first two years of a new agreement, the rates would rise about 15 per cent, an increase Copyright Music & Visuals president John Ciccone called an industry standard.

Descroches would not say what the price was, nor would he comment on what the agency claimed it to be.

"We offered to continue paying the richest licence fee at the Wonderboy Tournament, which was the price they asked for," said Descroches. "We also offered to buy it outright for an imaginary number," looking pleased to be finally using his math degree.

A call made to Ciccone by WB News was not returned Friday.

Descroches said Friday the two sides had agreed upon a price, but added an "unfortunate set of circumstances," including an outstanding lawsuit, hovered over negotiations.

A lawsuit filed against the WB in late 2004 by the composer's estate alleges that the tournament was overusing the Wonderboy theme and has not been settled. Copyright Music & Visuals said the litigation hasn't interfered with the WB's use of music, nor was settlement of the suit a condition for the proposed new licensing agreement.

"We really can't do business with a lawsuit hanging over our heads," Descroches said. "We feel that we've done everything we possibly can."

The WB Tournament will now move on and launch a new national contest in conjunction with the Wonderboy Theme Music Subcommittee to find a new theme song, he said. Wonderboy participants will be invited to write and record a cover song for Wonderboy, with fans and a jury of experts choosing the best new composition.

The winner will receive free beer at WB and proceeds from any royalties will go to the microphone fund. More details on the contest will be revealed in the next week.

"We expect a lot of terrific music, and we expect that the new theme for Wonderboy will be as iconic as the last theme has been," Desroches said.  "We have already received one entry set to the tune of American Pie."