Marc Maron Shares the Price to Use a Taylor Swift Song and the Celebrity Friend Who Helped

The Cost of a Song in Stand-Up Comedy

Comedian and podcaster Marc Maron, known for his candid and often self-deprecating humor, recently revealed the surprising cost of using a Taylor Swift song in his upcoming stand-up special. The track in question, “Bigger Than the Whole Sky,” is a bonus song from the 3am Edition of Swift’s 2022 album Midnights. Maron shared this detail during an episode of Vulture’s Good One podcast on July 25.

The licensing fee for just one minute of the song was a hefty $50,000, according to Maron. He explained that the song was essential for a pivotal moment in his HBO special, Marc Maron: Panicked. To navigate the process, he reached out to Jack Antonoff, a mutual friend and co-writer of the track. Maron admitted he wasn’t sure how to proceed with getting the rights, so he asked Antonoff for guidance.

Antonoff advised him to go through official music licensing channels, which ultimately led to approval for the use of the song. Despite the high cost, Maron felt it was worth it for the specific moment in his performance. He noted that if he had used more than a minute of the track, the cost would have been even higher.

Maron also expressed uncertainty about whether Taylor Swift herself has heard the joke in the special that her team approved. However, he hopes she will like it, as it could benefit the project. “The real fear [was], like, [if] she doesn’t let you use it, and then what do you do? You can’t do the bit on the special,” he said.

A Journey to Becoming a Swiftie

Maron has spoken before about his appreciation for Taylor Swift’s music and his journey to becoming a fan. On a May 2023 episode of his long-running podcast, WTF with Marc Maron, he discussed how he wanted to understand what makes Swift’s music so popular. He ended up listening to Midnights while on a hike and was impressed by the emotional depth of the album.

“I’m like, ‘Alright. I get it.’ It’s pop music, but it’s not dance music [and] it’s, sort of, emotional. There’s a lot of longing and sadness and isolation and processing these overwhelming feelings of melancholy,” he recalled.

This connection to Swift’s work seems to have influenced his decision to include the song in his special. Maron described Panicked as his best work yet, saying, “Everything came together.” The special premiered on HBO on August 1, 2024, at 8:00 p.m. EST, and it was also available for streaming on HBO Max.

The Impact of Music Licensing

Maron’s experience highlights the often-overlooked costs involved in using copyrighted music in creative projects. While many fans might assume that a song is easily accessible for use in comedy or other performances, the reality is that licensing fees can be substantial. This is especially true for well-known artists like Taylor Swift, whose music is in high demand.

For comedians and performers, the decision to use a particular song often comes down to its relevance to the material. In Maron’s case, the song played a critical role in delivering a specific punchline or moment in his act. Without it, the entire segment might have fallen flat.

Final Thoughts

Marc Maron’s story serves as a reminder of the complexities behind the scenes of live performances and television specials. From securing the right to use a song to navigating the financial implications, there are countless factors that contribute to the final product. As audiences enjoy the humor and insights of comedians like Maron, they may not always consider the behind-the-scenes efforts required to bring their acts to life.

With Panicked now available to stream, fans of Maron and Taylor Swift alike can experience the unique blend of comedy and music that made this special possible. Whether or not Swift has heard the joke remains a mystery, but for Maron, the effort was definitely worth it.