CBS reaches agreement over Stephen Colbert's use of Peanuts music on The Late Show

CBS has reached a licensing agreement with Lee Mendelson Film Productions (LMFP) over the unauthorized use of Peanuts music on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. The deal follows Colbert’s final episode, where he had the band perform "Linus and Lucy" — one of the most iconic songs from the Peanuts soundtrack — joking that he hoped it wouldn’t cost CBS any money.

The undisclosed licensing fee will be donated in full to World Central Kitchen (WCK), the disaster-relief nonprofit founded by chef José Andrés. Colbert also donated $2.5 million to WCK during the penultimate episode of his show.

Jason Mendelson, chairman of LMFP, stated that the company found the music’s use funny and entertaining and was proud to support WCK’s mission. He emphasized that a key goal of their enforcement actions is to educate individuals and businesses about the need for proper licensing when using music commercially.

LMFP has recently taken legal action against several entities for unlicensed use of Vince Guaraldi’s Peanuts music, including an apparel accessories manufacturer, a video game producer, a collectibles auction house, and the U.S. Department of the Interior.

The Bay Area-based company was founded by producer Lee Mendelson, who worked with Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz, animator Bill Melendez, and jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi on the animated Peanuts specials. Schulz, who was born in Minnesota, moved to Santa Rosa, California in 1969 and lived there until his death in 2000.