Recently, Beyoncé, ABBA, and Jack White demanded Donald Trump to stop using their music for his campaign. These three are the last to join a list of over 30 artists that have requested Trump to not use their music for political reasons since 2016 to this day. So who are the artists that have told Trump to spot using their music?
“Oh….Don’t even think about using my music you fascists. Lawsuit coming from my lawyers about this (to add to your 5 thousand others.),” Jack White from the White Stripes wrote in an Instagram post after a Trump campaign staffer used his “Seven Nation Army” song .
The large list began in 2016 when Trump first sought the presidency. In its first rallies and ads Trump sought to use some songs of music legends like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Queen. Brian May from Queen and Mick Jagger from The Rolling Stones asked Trump’s campaign to use their music, while the estate of George Harrison from the Beatles denounced Trump was using The Beatles’ music without authorization.
Adele also stated in 2016 that Trump did not have permission to use her songs at political rallies. In that year’s elections, the artists endorsed Trump’s opponent Hillary Clinton.
In addition, Bruce Springsteen publicly opposed Trump using his song “Born in the U.S.A” and endorsed Clinton.
In 2018 artists such Rihanna, Aerosmith, Guns N’ Roses, and Pharrell Williams asked Trump’s campaign to stop using their songs. Some of them threatened legal actions.
Recently, Houstonian Beyoncé sent a cease and desist letter to Trump for using her “Freedom” song without permission. Beyoncé allowed Vice President Kamala Harris to use the song.
Abba stated on August 27 that they had “discovered that videos have been released where Abba’s music/videos has been used at Trump events, and we have therefore requested that such use be immediately taken down and removed,” adding that “no permission or license has been given to Trump.”
The large list of artists that have sent cease and desist, threatened legal action or simply asked Trump not to use their music includes, A-ha, Celine Dion, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Linkin Park, Luciano Pavarotti, Neil Young, Ozzy Osbourne, Panic! At the Disco, Phil Collins, R.E.M., Twisted Sister, Jack White, and Village People. You can see a more broad list here.
