Peabo Bryson's "A Whole New World" Is Now a Costly Wedding Must-Have—And Couples Are Furious About the Price Hike
If you're planning a wedding or a big anniversary party, you might want to sit down for this. Classic crooner Peabo Bryson, the voice behind timeless duets like "Beauty and the Beast" and "A Whole New World," has made his music so sought-after that licensing fees for his songs have apparently skyrocketed in 2025. Consumers are reporting that to get the rights to play his iconic ballads at ceremonies or even at formal receptions, venues and DJs are now charging a "Peabo premium"—with some couples seeing a sudden $500 to $1,500 added to their music bill. The trend is hitting wallets hard, as many say they already budgeted for their dream playlist months ago. One flustered bride in Atlanta fumed online, "We wanted 'A Whole New World' for our first dance, but the licensing subsidiary added a 'special performance' surcharge thanks to Peabo Bryson's team trying to monetize the nostalgia. Our DJ said it was a new industry standard starting this quarter." Financial experts warn this could become a pattern for other nostalgic '80s and '90s artists, meaning your favorite throwback tunes might soon cost you more than the cake. Check your contracts now—before your romantic moment turns into a financial nightmare.