Yahoo Lifestyle "Oh...Dont Even Think About Using My Music" — These 30 Musicians Are Tired Of Trump Playing Their Songs At Rallies
Going all the way back to Donald Trump's first presidential campaign, the music he played at his rallies consistently made news headlines, but rarely for good reasons.
On a number of occasions, after learning their songs were played at Trump rallies, artists made it very publicly known that they did not support Trump or his use of their music. A lot of them took legal action to make sure he stopped, though countless cease-and-desists were ignored.
A recent example is Isaac Hayes's estate. A federal judge recently ruled the Trump campaign and other entities tied to it must stop playing the late singer's song “Hold On, I’m Comin'," while his family sues the campaign for their use of the song.
The estate filed a cease-and-desist earlier this year asking for $3 million. That's after Trump's campaign played the song at rallies, and during an onstage appearance at the NRA Convention.
The singer's son, Isaac Hayes III, announced his lawsuit on X, writing, "Donald Trump, @realdonaldtrump, the RNC, Trump, Trump for President Inc. 2024, Turning Point and The NRA are required to appear in court September 3rd, 2024 at the Northern U.S. District Federal Court in Atlanta. See you in court."
🚨Breaking 🚨The Federal Court has granted our request for an Emergency Hearing to secure injunctive relief.Donald Trump, @realdonaldtrump, the RNC, Trump, Trump for President Inc. 2024, Turning Point and The NRA are required to appear in court September 3rd, 2024 at the…
— Isaac Hayes III (@IsaacHayes3) August 23, 2024
Twitter: IsaacHayes3 / Via Twitter: @IsaacHayes3
In response to the judge's ruling, Trump's attorney said in a statement, "The campaign has no interest in annoying or hurting anyone, and if the Hayes family feels that it hurts or annoys them, that’s fine, we’re not going to force the issue." The judge is not forcing the campaign to remove any videos that have already been published by the campaign and feature the song.
Legal expert Danny Cevallos explained to NBC that the venues that host these campaign rallies typically have licensing agreements with music licensing companies like ASCAP or BMI, allowing them to legally play a large catalog of songs. "But now, those companies are allowing an out. If you're an artist and you say, 'Hey, I know I've given my music over to this license, but if it's a campaign, if it's political, I want it out.' And the companies are allowing that," he said.
"Trump's team is saying, 'Hey, we bought the license, we have the license, there is a license at the venue, we're going to use it anyway.' That's where the conflict starts," Cevallos continued.
Needless to say, this battle has spanned many years, campaigns, artists, and genres. Here are 30 artists who have condemned Trump's use of their music at campaign rallies, events, or in campaign content over the years:
1.Abba
Trump played the Swedish pop group's song "The Winner Takes it All" and their videos for "Money, Money, Money" and "Dancing Queen" at rallies. Their label said Trump's campaign had no permission or license to use the group's music. In a statement, the record label said, "Together with the members of Abba, we have discovered that videos have been released where Abba's music has been used at Trump events, and we have therefore requested that such use be immediately removed and taken down."
2.Céline Dion
The singer criticized Trump's "unauthorized use" of her song "My Heart Will Go On" at his rallies over the last year.
Her team released a statement on X and Instagram with a cheeky question for the former president. "In no way is this use authorized and Celine Dion does not endorse this or any similar use... and really, that song?"
Today, Celine Dion’s management team and her record label, Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc., became aware of the unauthorized usage of the video, recording, musical performance, and likeness of Celine Dion singing “My Heart Will Go On” at a Donald Trump / JD Vance campaign… pic.twitter.com/28CYLFvgER
— Celine Dion (@celinedion) August 10, 2024
Twitter: @celinedion / Via Twitter: @celinedion
3.Beyoncé
The singer's label and music publisher sent a cease-and-desist to Trump's campaign after it used her song "Freedom" in a video on X, formerly Twitter. The post was no longer on the social media site later that day, but it apparently showed the former president walking off of a plane.
The singer did, however, give his opponent permission to use the song. It played at Kamala Harris's campaign headquarters in Delaware when she formally announced she was running for president.
It also played at the DNC when she walked out on stage to formally accept the democratic party's nomination.
And it was the song featured in her first campaign video.
The band said the former president did not have permission to play their song "My Hero" at his rally in Arizona. However, the Trump campaign claims they did have permission, even though a spokesperson for the band insists the campaign never asked. The Foo Fighters said any royalties they earn as a result of the song playing at the rally will be donated to the Harris-Walz campaign.
5.The White Stripes
Lead singer and guitarist Jack White recently threatened legal action after Trump's campaign used their song "Seven Nation Army" in a social media video. The tweet has been removed, but Trump's Deputy Director of Communication Margo Martin shared a video of Trump getting off of a plane while the song played. The tweet read, "President @realDonaldTrump departs for Michigan and Washington!"
White shared a screenshot of the tweet to his Instagram page with a caption that said, "Oh... Don't even think about using my music you fascists. Law suit coming from my lawyers about this (to add to your 5 thousand others.)"
6.Sinéad O'Connor's estate
The singer passed away last year, but her estate asked the Trump campaign to stop playing her song "Nothing Compares 2 U" at his campaign rallies earlier this year. Her estate and her record label released a joint statement saying, "It is no exaggeration to say that Sinéad would have been disgusted, hurt and insulted to have her work misrepresented in this way by someone who she herself referred to as a ‘biblical devil.’ As the guardians of her legacy, we demand that Donald Trump and his associates desist from using her music immediately."
7.Village People
The famous group sent the former president a cease-and-desist after he played their song "Macho Man" in 2023. Their lawyer (who is also married to the lead singer) sent Trump's legal team a letter after a cover band that apparently looked like the real band performed the song at Mar-a-Lago. The letter said the performance caused confusion. "The use of the group’s image and likeness at Mar-a-Lago was unauthorized, and a trademark violation," she said. "Though my husband has tolerated your client’s use of his Village People music, we cannot allow such use by him to cause public confusion as to endorsement."
Her mention of the band tolerating Trump's use of their music in the past refers to the situation that sparked this Facebook post in 2020. Trump played their music that year also, but the tone of their response was very different. They said, "Since our music is not being used for a specific endorsement, the president's use is perfectly legal."
"He has remained respectful in his use of our songs and has not crossed the line," they wrote.
8.Johnny Marr
The guitarist for the British '80s band The Smiths made it clear he did not support Trump playing the band's song "Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want" at multiple rallies this year.
He shared a tweet of the song playing at a rally in South Dakota saying, "Consider this shit shut right down right now."
9.Nico Vega
The group took a creative approach and made a list of 31 songs Trump has used without artists' permission and created a "Cease and Desist" playlist back in 2020. At the time, Trump had used their song "Beast" in a video posted to social media. The group responded in a statement, "To be clear, we do not support the use of our song ‘Beast’ in the recent Trump video... The meaning of this song is to love thy neighbor. To stand up for the underdog and to rise together around the commonality of LOVE. Without division!"
10.Phil Collins
In 2020, Phil Collins sent Trump a cease-and-desist for playing his song "In the Air Tonight" at a rally. In a statement, Collins's spokesperson said, "Yes we are well aware of the Trump campaign’s use of this song and we have already issued a ‘cease and desist’ letter via our lawyers who continue to monitor the situation."
11.Tom Petty's estate
In 2020 the singer's estate sent Trump a cease-and-desist after his campaign played Petty's song "I Won't Back Down" at a rally.
Petty's family issued a statement on social media. "Trump was in no way authorized to use this song to further a campaign that leaves too many Americans and common sense behind," they wrote.
— Tom Petty (@tompetty) June 21, 2020
Twitter: @tompetty / Via Twitter: @tompetty
"Tom Petty would never want a song of his used for a campaign of hate. He liked to bring people together."
A former member of Petty's band also chimed in with a statement, "I in no way approve of Trump even whistling any piece of music associated with our band. I hope that's clear enough," he said.
12.John Fogerty
In 2020 he sent a cease-and-desist to Trump after he played Fogerty's song "Fortunate Son" at a number of rallies, and one time while he was walking off of Air Force One and headed into a rally.
Fogerty released a statement on X saying, "He is using my words and my voice to portray a message that I do not endorse."
"The fact that Mr. Trump also fans the flames of hatred, racism and fear while rewriting recent history, is even more reason to be troubled by his use of my song," he wrote. The cease-and-desist letter reportedly stated that the use of Fogerty's songs at Trump rallies is "trademark infringement, unfair competition, false designation of origin and false description."
Then, in 2021, Fogerty expressed his distaste for Trump in his first song release in eight years. The song was called, "Weeping in the Promised Land." It was about Fogerty's experience living through 2020. He called Trump a "fork-tongued pharaoh."
13.The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones threatened further legal action in 2020 after sending Trump cease-and-desists that he ignored, dating all the way back to 2016. He played their song "You Can't Always Get What You Want" at a rally. The band's lead singer Mick Jagger told the BBC that it was "kind of weird" Trump wanted to use that song. "It’s a funny song for a play-out song — a drowsy ballad about drugs in Chelsea... It’s kind of weird. He couldn’t be persuaded to use something else," he said.
In 2020, music rights management company BMI released a statement to CNN on the band's behalf, explaining that Trump's campaign has a "political entities license." That means they can legally play the 15 million songs in BMI's catalog at campaign rallies.
"There is a provision, however, that allows BMI to exclude musical works from the license if a songwriter or publisher objects to its use by a campaign... BMI has received such an objection and sent a letter notifying the Trump campaign that the Rolling Stones’ works have been removed from the campaign license, and advising the campaign that any future use of these musical compositions will be in breach of its license agreement with BMI.”
14.Prince's estate
Trump played Prince's hit "Purple Rain" at a rally in 2020.
In a statement on X, his family said doing this contradicted a commitment Trump already made not to use Prince's music. "Prince Estate will never give permission to President Trump to use Prince's songs," they wrote.
President Trump played Prince’s “Purple Rain” tonight at a campaign event in Minneapolis despite confirming a year ago that the campaign would not use Prince’s music. The Prince Estate will never give permission to President Trump to use Prince’s songs. pic.twitter.com/FuMUPzSWOe
— Prince (@prince) October 11, 2019
Twitter: @prince / Via Twitter: @prince
15.Queen
The British rock band's management team called their journey with Trump's use of their music "an uphill battle" back in 2020. Trump played their song "We Will Rock You" at a rally, and walked out to their song "We are the Champions" at the RNC in 2016. In 2019 the campaign used "We Will Rock You" again, but this time in a campaign video. The video was removed from Twitter after Queen complained. They said in a statement, "We are frustrated by the repeated unauthorised use of the song after a previous request to desist, which has obviously been ignored by Mr Trump and his campaign."
16.Linkin Park
The band sent the Trump campaign a cease-and-desist in 2020 after he shared a campaign video on social media with their song "In the End" playing.
The group had the video removed, and said in a statement, "Linkin Park did not and does not endorse Trump, nor authorize his organization to use any of our music."
Linkin Park did not and does not endorse Trump, nor authorize his organization to use any of our music. A cease and desist has been issued.
— LINKIN PARK (@linkinpark) July 19, 2020
Twitter: @linkinpark / Via Twitter: @linkinpark
17.Eddy Grant
The singer sued the former president for using his song "Electric Avenue" in a campaign video in 2020. Trump reshared the video on his personal social media account. The video was created by a third party that's not affiliated with the campaign. The case was still going on in 2023. Grant asked the Manhattan federal court to find Trump guilty of copyright infringement. Trump's legal team asked the judge to narrow the case since Grant doesn't own the song.
18.Twisted Sister
Unlike most of these examples, the group's lead singer Dee Snider did personally permit his friend Donald Trump to use their song "We're Not Gonna Take It" during his first presidential campaign. However, Snider said, "Three months later, I'm tapping out: He is now talking about things [in his politics] we never spoke about at dinner." Snider went on to say he called Trump to ask that he stop using the song and Trump obliged, telling Snider they're still cool.
19.The O'Jays
The group sent Trump's campaign a cease-and-desist in 2016 after their song "Love Train" played at the Republican National Convention. They also sent a cease-and-desist to the campaign and former Florida lawmaker John Mica after he shared a video supporting Trump as their song "For the Love of Money" played. In a statement their legal team said, "Your use of our clients’ signature song, and utilizing the original recording, constitutes a patently false implication that Mr. Levert and Mr. Williams have endorsed you or your political agenda or Mr. Trump’s agenda. Our clients unequivocally do not endorse you, your agenda nor your party’s views or those of Mr. Trump. On the contrary, Mr. Levert and Mr. Williams have actively opposed these ideals."
20.House of Pain
Rapper and frontman for the group Everlast expressed his frustration in 2016 after Trump played their song "Jump Around" at rallies. In a tweet that has been deleted, he told Trump a cease-and-desist was on its way. In a statement, the rapper said, "The smartest businessman in the world should know that you have to license this music if it makes an appearance on TV with you, and they’re making appearances on TV — so you’re a moron. And the reason he doesn’t ask anybody — a lot of people have asked him to cease and desist — [is] because every f—ing person would say, ‘No, f— you.’"
21.Free
After Trump accepted the Republican nomination for president in 2016, the song "All Right Now" played. It was written by two members of the band.
Paul Rodgers, the lead singer for the British rock band, said on X, "Permission to use 'All Right Now' was never sought for or granted by me. My lawyer is dealing with this matter."
Permission to use "All Right Now" was never sought for or granted by me. My lawyer is dealing with this matter. - Paul
— Paul Rodgers (@_paulrodgers) July 18, 2016
Twitter: @_paulrodgers / Via Twitter: @_paulrodgers
22.Earth, Wind & Fire
The group spoke out after their song "September" played on the second night of the Republican National Convention in 2016.
The group reposted a tweet from Queen and said, "Another unauthorized use (September) at the Republican Convention, against our wishes."
Another unauthorized use (September) at the Republican Convention, against our wishes - Earth, Wind & Fire https://t.co/GV48JxcbGz
— Earth, Wind & Fire (@EarthWindFire) July 20, 2016
Twitter: @EarthWindFire / Via Twitter: @EarthWindFire
23.Rihanna
In 2018 her song "Don't Stop the Music" was played at a rally for a Republican Senate candidate in Tennessee that Trump attended. When the pop star found out about it, she sent him a cease-and-desist. Her team also wrote a letter to Trump's White House counsel that said, "It has come to our attention that President Trump has utilized [Rihanna‘s] musical compositions and master recordings, including her hit track ‘Don’t Stop the Music,’ in connection with a number of political events held across the United States... As you are or should be aware, Ms. Fenty has not provided her consent to Mr. Trump to use her music. Such use is therefore improper."
Rihanna also made her feelings clear on X before sending the cease-and-desist.
Not for much longer...me nor my people would ever be at or around one of those tragic rallies, so thanks for the heads up philip! https://t.co/dRgRi06GrJ
— Rihanna (@rihanna) November 5, 2018
Twitter: @rihanna / Via Twitter: @rihanna
24.R.E.M.
The rock band has had a few run-ins with Trump over his use of their music, starting in 2015. That's when the former president first played their song "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" on the campaign trail. Lead singer Michael Stipe responded, "Do not use our music or my voice for your moronic charade of a campaign." Trump wasn't fazed, and in 2019 he retweeted a video of Democrats looking annoyed as he delivered his State of the Union address. R.E.M's song "Everybody Hurts" played in the background.
Finally, in 2020, bassist Mike Mills tweeted that the band was considering legal action after Trump played their songs "Everybody Hurts" and "Losing My Religion" at a rally. "We are exploring all legal avenues to prevent this, but if that's not possible please know that we do not condone the use of our music by this fraud and con man."
We are aware that the President* @realDonaldTrump continues to use our music at his rallies. We are exploring all legal avenues to prevent this, but if that’s not possible please know that we do not condone the use of our music by this fraud and con man.
— Sweet Daddy Cool ✌️🇺🇦 🌸⚾️🇨🇦 (@m_millsey) January 15, 2020
Twitter: @m_millsey / Via Twitter: @m_millsey
25.Aerosmith
In 2018 lead singer Steven Tyler sent Trump a cease-and-desist after their song "Livin' on the Edge" played at a rally. That was his third cease-and-desist letter to then-President Trump. The two others were sent in 2015. In one of the letters, Tyler's attorney said Trump "is falsely implying that our client, once again, endorses his campaign and/or his presidency."
Tyler tweeted that this wasn't a political issue for him, "Protecting copyright and songwriters is what I've been fighting for even before this current administration took office."
THIS IS NOT ABOUT DEMS VS. REPUB. I DO NOT LET ANYONE USE MY SONGS WITHOUT MY PERMISSION. MY MUSIC IS FOR CAUSES NOT FOR POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS OR RALLIES. PROTECTING COPYRIGHT AND SONGWRITERS IS WHAT I’VE BEEN FIGHTING FOR EVEN BEFORE THIS CURRENT ADMINISTRATION TOOK OFFICE.
— Steven Tyler (@IamStevenT) August 22, 2018
Twitter: @IamStevenT / Via Twitter: @IamStevenT
In a second tweet he concluded, "No is a complete sentence."
THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY @JOEPERRY AND I HAVE BEEN PUSHING THE SENATE TO PASS THE MUSIC MODERNIZATION ACT. NO IS A COMPLETE SENTENCE.
— Steven Tyler (@IamStevenT) August 22, 2018
Twitter: @IamStevenT / Via Twitter: @IamStevenT
26.Neil Young
Young has expressed opposition to Trump's use of his music at rallies since 2015. In 2020 he sued Trump's campaign for copyright infringement for playing his songs, "Rockin' in the Free World" and "Devil's Sidewalk" at rallies. At the time his lawyer said Young didn't want his songs "used as a 'theme song' for a divisive, un-American campaign of ignorance and hate." Young eventually dropped his 2020 lawsuit, and a separate case in Manhattan federal court was dismissed with prejudice. That means Young cannot sue for the same thing again in that case.
27.Elton John
Throughout Trump's first campaign he played John's songs "Tiny Dancer" and "Rocket Man" at many rallies. In 2016, the singer said he wanted Trump to stop. "I don’t really want my music to be involved in anything to do with an American election campaign. I’m British. I’ve met Donald Trump, he was very nice to me, it’s nothing personal, his political views are his own, mine are very different, I’m not a Republican in a million years."
28.Adele
Trump was playing her song "Rolling in the Deep" at rallies back in 2016. In a statement, her spokesperson said, "Adele has not given permission for her music to be used for any political campaigning."
29.Pharrell Williams
The producer and designer sent a cease-and-desist to Trump after he played the song "Happy" at a political event in 2018. Williams's lawyer said in a statement, "On the day of the mass murder of 11 human beings at the hands of a deranged ‘nationalist,’ you played his song ‘Happy’ to a crowd at a political event in Indiana... There was nothing ‘happy’ about the tragedy inflicted upon our country on Saturday and no permission was granted for your use of this song for this purpose."
30.A-ha
Keyboardist and songwriter for the group, Magne Furuholmen, responded to a Trump campaign video that mirrored the music video for their song "Take On Me" in 2019. In a statement, he said, "You want to be careful about deciding who’s allowed to do what with what you put out in the world... We didn’t intend to make our music part of a divisive campaign and, all things equal, would preferred it not to have been," he said. Furuholmen actually wrote a song earlier that year called "This is Now America," which he said was a response to Trump's administration.
There's also Panic! At The Disco, Ozzy Osbourne, Guns N' Roses, Leonard Cohen's estate, and George Harrison's estate, who had hilarious responses.
For more on the 2024 election, click here.
