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Take a look at the artists who have banned Trump from using their music


Take a look at the artists who have banned Trump from using their music

Donald Trump seems to be falling back into an old pattern: in campaign videos and at rallies, he uses music by artists who have not given their consent.

Recently, an increasing number of artists have criticized the former president for this practice. They join a long list – including Bruce Springsteen, Rihanna, Phil Collins, Pharrell, John Fogerty, Neil Young, Eddy Grant, Panic! at the Disco, REM and Guns N’ Roses – who have spoken out against Trump’s use of their music during his 2020 campaign.

The objections also extend to the estates of deceased musicians such as Leonard Cohen, Tom Petty and Prince.

Of course, Trump has also secured the support of several musicians, including Kid Rock and Lee Greenwood, who is known for his patriotic hit “God Bless the USA.”

Vice President Kamala Harris launched her presidential campaign with a commercial featuring Beyoncé’s song “Freedom” after getting the singer’s permission to use it at events. The song has become the anthem of her campaign and sets the stage for Harris’ speeches.

Here’s a look at the artists and their estates who have recently clashed with the Trump campaign over the use of their music.

Foo Fighters

The Foo Fighters announced they would donate to Kamala Harris’ campaign after learning that Donald Trump used one of their songs at a political rally without their consent.

At a campaign rally in Glendale, Arizona, last Friday, Trump introduced Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who had suspended his campaign earlier that day, and endorsed Trump while the Foo Fighters’ song “My Hero” played.

When asked by X whether the Foo Fighters had authorized the use of their song, the band answered with a clear “no.”

Celine Deon

When Trump played Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” at a rally in Montana earlier this month, Dion’s team responded with a fiery statement about X.

“Today, Céline Dion’s management team and her record label, Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc., became aware of the unauthorized use of the video, recording, musical performance and image of Céline Dion singing ‘My Heart Will Go On’ at a Donald Trump/JD Vance campaign rally in Montana,” said a statement posted on social media.

“This use is in no way authorized and Céline Dion does not endorse this or any similar use,” the statement continued. “… And really, THIS song?”

Beyoncé performs at the Wolstein Center in Cleveland, Ohio on November 4, 2016. Andrew Harnik/Associated Press

Beyonce

Beyoncé banned Trump from using her song “Freedom” after it was featured in a Trump campaign video on X, even though the song is a central anthem of Harris’ campaign.

Last week, Trump’s campaign deleted the video showing the former president stepping off a plane to the song. According to Rolling Stone, Beyoncé threatened to send Trump’s campaign a cease-and-desist letter.

Isaac Hayes

Earlier this month, the family of late singer Isaac Hayes threatened legal action against Trump because he played Hayes’ song “Hold On, I’m Coming” at a political rally without their consent.

“Once again, the estate and family of @isaachayes have NOT authorized the use of ‘Hold On, I’m Comin’,” Isaac Hayes III, the late musician’s son, said on X. “We and our partners at @primarywave are taking legal action to stop the unauthorized use of this song.”

Sinead O’Connor

In March, Sinéad O’Connor’s estate asked Donald Trump to stop playing her biggest hit, “Nothing Compares 2 U,” at his campaign rallies.

The estate of the Irish singer and songwriter demanded in a statement that “Trump and his associates must immediately refrain from using her music.”

“We were therefore outraged to learn that Donald Trump has used her iconic rendition of ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ at his political rallies,” the statement said. “It is no exaggeration to say that Sinéad would have been disgusted, hurt and insulted to have her work distorted in this way by someone she herself has described as a ‘biblical devil.'”

Johnny Marr

After guitarist Johnny Marr discovered that The Smiths’ song “Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want” was played at a Trump rally in Rapid City, South Dakota, he expressed his disapproval on X.

“Ahh… right… OK. I never thought in a million years that this could happen,” Marr said on X. “Consider this crap ended immediately.”

This report uses material from the Associated Press and previous Globe articles.


You can reach Alyssa Vega at [email protected].

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