Why Gary Glitter won’t get any royalties from The Joker

From critical glory to a Sesame Street-themed SNL spoof in a matter of weeks, The Joker has been one of the most controversial films of 2019. The film’s most questionable aspect, however, is its use of Rock and Roll Part 2, a song by convicted child rapist Gary Glitter.

The song is used in The Joker to accompany a pivotal scene, when the titular character (Joaquin Phoenix) transforms into the Clown Prince of Crime and dances down a staircase in celebration.

Glitter, who is 75, is currently serving a 16-year prison service for sexual crimes against minors. However, some have been unwilling to see The Joker for fear that the paedophile would financially benefit from royalties from the film – which has so far grossed nearly $550 million worldwide.

But Glitter sold the rights more than 20 years ago, so won’t be receiving a cut. Glitter’s catalogue was bought by Snapper Music, a record label from London, in 1997, a few months before child pornography was discovered on his laptop and at home. Now they own the imprisoned musician’s masters and benefit from whatever royalties they accrue, although Snapper does not sell physical copies of Glitter’s music.

“Gary Glitter does not get paid,” an anonymous Snapper spokesperson told the LA Times. “We’ve had no contact with him.”

They added that the filmmakers came to Snapper to get the rights, adding: “We don’t promote it at all.” Alongside The Joker, the song also appears in Meet the Fockers, Boyhood, South Park and The Office.

In the US, Glitter is represented by Universal Music Publishing Group, who own the songwriting rights to Rock and Roll Part 2. A representative confirmed that “Gary Glitter’s publishing interest in the copyright of his songs is owned by UMPG and other parties, therefore UMPG does not pay him any royalties or other considerations.”

Glitter, though, is one of the exceptions to this rule. There are plenty of other disgraced artists who do benefit from royalties when their music is used or played: Phil Spector, who is in prison for the murder of Lana Clarkson, has earned money from when his songs have appeared on The Voice and Glow.

So no, Glitter will not be finding his commissary topped up thanks to the success of The Joker. But that still doesn’t mean it was a wise move by director Todd Phillips to include it.