NEW YORK – Pop powerhouses, American classics, British artists, and the estates of deceased legends — many musicians have objected to the use of their songs at campaign events by Donald Trump.
After a video of Celine Dion performing her hit “My Heart Will Go On” was broadcast at a Trump campaign rally in Bozeman, Montana last weekend, the response from her team was swift.
“In no way is this use authorized, and Celine Dion does not endorse this or any similar use,” a statement posted on social media read. “…And really, THAT song?”
Dion joins a long list of performers who’ve objected to Trump using their songs. This list includes Bruce Springsteen, Rihanna, Phil Collins, Pharrell, John Fogerty, Neil Young, Eddy Grant, Panic! at the Disco, R.E.M., Guns N’ Roses, and more.
It also includes the estates of deceased performers like Leonard Cohen, Tom Petty, and Prince, as well as English acts from across the pond like the Rolling Stones, the Beatles, and Adele.
However, some celebrity musicians have shown support for Trump, including Kid Rock and Lee Greenwood, known for his patriotic anthem, “God Bless the USA.”
Who has recently rebuked the use of their songs by the Trump campaign?
Since the 2020 election, several artists have objected to the use of their music at Trump rallies. For example, the Smiths’ “Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want” played at a few Trump events, sparking a negative response from guitarist Johnny Marr.
In 2022, David Porter, one of the songwriters behind Sam and Dave’s “Hold On, I’m Coming,” publicly opposed Trump’s use of the song at an NRA rally, leading to a threatened legal action by the late soul singer Isaac Hayes’ family.
Can artists legally object to their songs being used in political campaigns?
Yes, but artists often lack full control over the use of their music. Performing rights organizations like ASCAP and BMI manage the licensing of most recorded music for political campaigns.
If a political license is acquired, artists can object to the use of their songs and have them removed from the license. However, campaigns do not always immediately comply with these requests.
What are some other examples of artists objecting to the use of their songs in campaigns?
Artists like Pharrell Williams and John Fogerty have sent cease-and-desist letters to halt the use of their music at Trump rallies. Neil Young even filed a lawsuit over the use of his song “Rockin’ in the Free World” by the Trump campaign.
Eddy Grant also took legal action against Trump for using his hit “Electric Avenue” in a campaign video.
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