BY MARIA SHERMAN AP Music Author
NEW YORK (AP) — Pop powerhouses, American classics, British artists and the estates of deceased legends — many musicians have objected to Donald Trump utilizing their songs at marketing campaign occasions.
After a video of Celine Dion performing her hit “My Coronary heart Will Go On” was broadcast at a Trump marketing campaign rally in Bozeman, Montana final weekend, the response from her group was swift.
“Under no circumstances is that this use approved, and Celine Dion doesn’t endorse this or any comparable use,” an announcement posted on social media learn. “…And actually, THAT track?”
Dion joins a long list of performers who’ve objected to Trump utilizing their songs. Forward of the 2020 election, that included Bruce Springsteen, Rihanna, Phil Collins, Pharrell, John Fogerty, Neil Younger, Eddy Grant, Panic! on the Disco, R.E.M. and Weapons N’ Roses.
It additionally consists of the estates of deceased performers, too, like Leonard Cohen, Tom Petty and Prince, in addition to English acts from throughout the pond, just like the Rolling Stones, the Beatles and Adele.
Nonetheless, Trump has obtained the cosign from a couple of superstar musicians, together with Kid Rock and Lee Greenwood, identified for his patriotic anthem, “God Bless the USA.” Additionally heard at Trump’s rally Thursday in Asheville, North Carolina: “Y.M.C.A.” by the Village Individuals.
Who has just lately rebuked the usage of their songs by the Trump marketing campaign?
For the reason that 2020 election, a number of artists have objected to the usage of their music at Trump rallies. The Smiths’ “Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Need” performed at a couple of Trump occasions, together with a rally in Fast Metropolis, South Dakota final September and in January of this yr at a rally in Laconia, New Hampshire. On X, the Smiths’ guitarist Johnny Marr wrote, “Ahh…proper…OK. I by no means in one million years would’ve thought this might come to go. Contemplate this s—- shut proper down proper now.”
In 2022, David Porter, one of many songwriters behind Sam and Dave’s “Maintain On, I’m Coming,” tweeted “Hell to the NO!” after studying Trump used the track at an NRA rally. (In 2017, it must be identified, Sam Moore of Sam and Dave carried out “America the Lovely” at a pre-inauguration live performance for Trump.)
Quick ahead to Monday, when the son of the late soul singer Isaac Hayes, whose father co-wrote “Maintain On, I’m Coming,” announced on social media that he and his household have threatened authorized motion in opposition to Trump “for 134 counts copyright infringement for the unauthorized use of the track ‘Maintain On I’m Coming’ at marketing campaign rallies from 2022-2024.”
Can artists legally object to their songs being utilized in political campaigns?
Sure, nonetheless, artists not often have full management over the place, when, and the way their music is performed. Performing rights organizations that symbolize most recognizable recorded music — ASCAP and BMI — require political campaigns to acquire licenses that permit them to make use of giant troves of songs from their huge catalogs.
Meaning a political marketing campaign doesn’t should do particular person negotiations over each track used.
If a political license is acquired, artists can object to its use, and the track is pulled from the license.
The problem, after all, is that not each marketing campaign instantly honors these requests.
And you will need to observe that these political licenses transcend a public efficiency license, which permits venues to play copyrighted music.
What are another examples of artists objecting to the usage of their songs in campaigns?
Persevering with with “Maintain On, I’m Coming”: In 2008, Moore requested former President Barack Obama, then nonetheless a candidate, to cease utilizing the track. He didn’t need it to be thought of an endorsement. They complied.
After Obama was elected president, Moore carried out on the Artistic Coalition’s Inaugural Ball alongside Sting and Elvis Costello.
How do artists cease politicians from utilizing their songs?
They’ll ship cease-and-desist letters, like Pharrell Williams did after his track “Completely satisfied” was performed at a Trump rally in 2018. John Fogerty did the identical in October 2020 over the Trump marketing campaign’s use of “Lucky Son” by his band Creedence Clearwater Revival.
Few escalate to the purpose of suing, however it’s not unparalleled: Neil Younger filed a lawsuit in August 2020 over the Trump marketing campaign’s use of his music together with “Rockin’ within the Free World.” He later voluntarily dismissed the case “with prejudice,” which implies it can’t be introduced once more.
Eddy Grant sued Trump in September over the usage of his Nineteen Eighties hit “Electrical Avenue” in a Trump marketing campaign animated video that mocked Joe Biden.
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