The alteration of the soundtrack for the television series Supernatural on the Netflix streaming platform stems primarily from licensing agreements. Original music choices in television programs often involve significant costs associated with securing the rights to use those songs. When a show is licensed for streaming, those agreements do not always transfer. As a result, streaming services sometimes opt for more cost-effective alternatives.
Securing music rights can be a complex and expensive endeavor. Composers, publishers, and record labels each hold portions of the rights, and each party requires compensation. Replacing original scores with royalty-free or pre-cleared music offers considerable financial benefits to a streaming service. This substitution, while sometimes perceived negatively by viewers, allows the streaming service to offer the program at a sustainable price point.
