Artists Object to Unauthorized Use of Music at Trump Rallies

Since the 2020 election, numerous artists have voiced their objections to the use of their music at Donald Trump rallies. Notable examples include The Smiths, whose song “Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want” was played at several events, prompting guitarist Johnny Marr to express his disbelief on social media. Similarly, David Porter, co-writer of Sam and Dave’s “Hold On, I’m Coming,” publicly condemned the song's use at an NRA rally, stating, “Hell to the NO!” Recently, the son of the late soul singer Isaac Hayes announced potential legal action against Trump for 134 counts of copyright infringement regarding the unauthorized use of “Hold On, I’m Coming” at campaign rallies from 2022 to 2024. This highlights the legal framework surrounding music licensing in political campaigns, where a political license allows for the use of songs without individual negotiations, although artists can object and request removal. Several artists have taken action to prevent their music from being used in political contexts. Pharrell Williams and John Fogerty both issued cease-and-desist letters after their songs were played at Trump rallies. While lawsuits are rare, Neil Young previously filed a suit over the use of his music, which he later dismissed. Eddy Grant also took legal action over the use of his song “Electric Avenue” in a campaign video mocking Joe Biden, illustrating the ongoing tensions between artists and political campaigns regarding music rights.