Talk:Musicians who oppose Donald Trump's use of their music

This article was nominated for deletion on 16 February 2023. The result of the discussion was keep.

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This article has been mentioned by multiple media organizations:

Cantor, Matthew (January 30, 2024). "'Please let me get what I want': can artists stop politicians from using their songs?". The Guardian. Retrieved January 30, 2024. Trump hasn't been the only target of musicians' frustrations in this election cycle, even if there is an entire Wikipedia page cataloguing the artists who have told him not to use their music.
Rahman, Abid (August 12, 2024). "Isaac Hayes' Family Sues Trump Campaign for Unauthorized Use of "Hold on, I'm Coming"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 12, 2024. Indeed, the number of musicians who have publicly requested that the Trump campaign stop using their work is so lengthy that it has its own Wikipedia entry.
Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (October 15, 2024). "'Height of blasphemy': Rufus Wainwright and Leonard Cohen estate oppose Trump use of Hallelujah". The Guardian. Retrieved October 15, 2024. So many other artists have opposed him, from Rihanna to The Rolling Stones, that there is a Wikipedia page dedicated to the phenomenon.

Sources

Done PATD https://people.com/music/brendon-urie-panic-at-the-disco-trump-stop-playing-songs-rallies/
Done Rolling Stones https://deadline.com/2020/06/donald-trump-rolling-stones-bmi-warning-you-cant-always-get-what-you-want-1202971156/ , https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/9410514/rolling-stones-trump-rally-music
Done Tom Petty https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2020-06-22/tom-petty-family-trump-rally-i-wont-back-down, https://www.loudersound.com/news/tom-pettys-family-slap-donald-trump-with-cease-and-desist-notice
Done Many https://www.insider.com/artists-who-dont-want-trump-using-their-music-2018-11
Done Neil Young https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/neil-young-letter-trump-954835/
Done Rihanna https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/rihanna-sends-cease-and-desist-after-songs-played-at-trump-rally-752314/
Done Elton John - misc - https://ultimateclassicrock.com/rolling-stones-elton-john-trump/
Done REM https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/16/politics/r-e-m-trump-rally-trnd/index.html
Done Adele https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/feb/01/adele-donald-trump-songs-campaign
Done GNR https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/guns-n-roses-slam-trump-live-n-let-die-with-covid-45-shirt-999428/
Done Pharrell https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/pharrell-williams-sends-trump-legal-threat-letter-playing-happy-synagogue-shooting-1156155
Done Queen https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/queens-brian-may-denies-donald-trumps-usage-of-we-are-the-champions-100956/
EWF https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7445764/earth-wind-fire-donald-trump-unauthorized-september
Free https://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/trump-all-right-now-stanford-band-225962
Done Beatles/GH https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/george-harrison-estate-blasts-trumps-here-comes-the-sun-use-at-rnc-113571/
Done Pavarotti https://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/23/arts/music/luciano-pavarotti-donald-trump-soundtrack.html
Done Prince https://www.npr.org/2019/10/11/769251857/princes-estate-condemns-trumps-use-of-purple-rain-at-campaign-rally
Done Aerosmith https://www.cbsnews.com/news/steven-tyler-demands-president-trump-stop-playing-aerosmith-music-at-rallies/
Twisted Sister https://loudwire.com/dee-snider-reconsidering-decision-donald-trump-use-twisted-sister-classic-campaign/
Done Nickelback https://ew.com/gallery/presidential-campaign-music/
Done Bruce Springsteen https://www.iheartradio.ca/news/bruce-springsteen-releases-anti-trump-anthem-that-s-what-makes-us-great-1.2552336
Ozzy https://loudwire.com/ozzy-sharon-osbourne-president-trump-crazy-train/ Sergecross73 msg me 22:43, 27 June 2020 (UTC)[reply]
Partly done https://nypost.com/2020/07/18/trump-plays-the-outsider-incumbent-in-fan-made-video-on-twitter/ - Better source needed. Likely rejected by Linkin Park, but not confirmed. UPDATE: Every source in the world ended up reporting. Sergecross73 msg me 01:43, 19 July 2020 (UTC)[reply]
https://ew.com/gallery/presidential-campaign-music/ - Village People
https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/twitter-removes-video-trump-tweet-after-complaint-electric-avenue-singer-n1239036?cid=sm_npd_nn_fb_ma&fbclid=IwAR2ci7m9BlpbhCBAKKxahdAegv6ik_Odo8se6uHmniSB45U8g20fGk9pCjU Sergecross73 msg me 03:30, 2 September 2020 (UTC)[reply]

other objections

A more general article can list musicians objecting to the use of their music for other politicians. Born in the U.S.A. famously was used by Ronald Reagan without understanding the song meaning. Colonial Computer 06:14, 12 December 2023 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by 22yearswothanks (talk • contribs)

Collective, NLIST satisfying sources

2024

Context

Hi all, just coming to this article from a news article about Hayes' objection: https://www.theguardian.com/music/article/2024/aug/12/family-of-isaac-hayes-threaten-donald-trump-with-lawsuit-over-use-of-song-in-rallies

Would it be possible for someone to add just a bit of context to the intro for this? Perhaps just a brief description of when public figures can use copyrighted material, if at all? Maybe link to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_use or similar?

Sorry to not pull my weight here; just arriving in the middle of a workday.

Thanks for considering it

Michelle Mccarras (talk) 15:23, 12 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Hi, there's a discussion of this issue in Proposed addition to intro: below. Don Q314 (talk) 14:23, 31 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Did Free Singer Paul Rodgers actually sue Trump?

I searched for the outcome of the stated 2016 lawsuit and found no evidence Rodgers filed a suit. The linked article does not state Rogers filed a suit. Don Q314 (talk) 14:10, 25 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I'd just remove it then. Lots of people threaten legal action but don't do anything. And while it can be an interesting addition to entries, it's not a requirement. The article is really just about objecting to the use of music. Sergecross73 msg me 15:18, 25 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks. I rewrote the entry to remove mention of a lawsuit. Don Q314 (talk) 15:48, 25 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Should we add The Beach Boys, David Bowie, or Laura Branigan?

We have a section on Luciano Pavarotti's family objecting to Trump's use of Pavarotti's music. I'm not sure if it's appropriate to add sections for the following:

The Beach Boys: [Brian Wilson and Al Jardine disavow Mike Love's Beach Boys benefit for Trump]

David Bowie: [son objected; apparently doesn't own Bowie's music]

Laura Branigan: [legacy manager objected] Don Q314 (talk) 10:40, 30 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

I think all three fall outside the scope of the article, which is musicians opposing the use of their music. The first one doesn't cite any specific music, and the latter two doesn't come from musicians. Ive generally made exceptions for artists who have commentary from their estate, who can legitimately talk on behalf of a subject. This is actually the first time I've noticed that Pavirotti's entry doesn't mention an estate at all... Sergecross73 msg me 14:16, 30 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Thank you. I wasn't sure about whether Laura Branigan's legacy manager could speak on her behalf. Pavarotti's estate (possibly including music rights - I couldn't track it down) was divided among his widow and daughters. (See Luciano Pavarotti) Don Q314 (talk) 14:32, 30 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Proposed addition to intro:

Political campaigns can buy rights to play songs through licensing packages offered by BMI and ASCAP. BMI and ASCAP allow artists to remove a song from an organization's political campaign license at any time. After BMI or ASCAP notifies the campaign of the song's removal, the campaign must stop using the song or risk legal action for copyright infringement. A political campaign that uses a licensed song without the artist's permission may also infringe on the artist's rights of publicity and branding, exposing the campaign to legal action on trademark or other tort grounds.[2 CITES] Don Q314 (talk) 15:35, 30 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

What are the two cites? Sergecross73 msg me 16:12, 30 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

[1]https://www.wcnc.com/article/news/verify/elections-verify/music-songs-presidential-political-campaign-events-trump-beyonce-isaac-hayes-fact-check/536-8df23b99-02c9-4185-920d-1adabdf26f61

[2]https://artistrightsnow.medium.com/cross-section-of-artists-and-songwriters-join-artist-rights-alliance-to-urge-politicians-stop-ed9b08ca6609 Don Q314 (talk) 17:08, 30 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Medium isn't a usable source per WP:MEDIUM, and...I've never heard of WCNC before, so I think we'd need better sources in order to add this. (I personally have no idea whether this is true or not. I created and wrote much of this article, but I've come at it as someone who writes about music/songs. I can't say I'm a legal or political expert by any means.)

FYI, some resources for figuring out sources that are or aren't usable - WP:RSP is a general one, while WP:RSMUSIC and WP:NOTRSMUSIC are a music-related one. Sergecross73 msg me 17:22, 30 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks very much for the guidance. I won't publish the addition; if I find WP reliable sources, I may raise the issue again. Don Q314 (talk) 17:54, 30 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

No problem, happy to help. I know it takes some time to learn how Wikipedia works. The process is a lot easier when people are open to learning how to do things the correct way. Thank you for hearing me out. I appreciate it. Sergecross73 msg me 17:58, 30 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Redone with better cites:

Venues and political campaigns can buy rights to play songs through licensing packages offered by BMI and ASCAP. BMI and ASCAP allow artists to remove a song from a campaign's Political Entities License.[A,1] After BMI or ASCAP notifies the campaign of the song's removal, the campaign must stop using the song or risk legal action for copyright infringement.[2] A political campaign that uses a licensed song without the artist's permission may also risk legal action on trademark,[2] false advertising, or right of publicity grounds.[3]

[A] Music licensing

[3]https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/2024/08/29/abba-trump-campaign-music/

[4]https://www.npr.org/sections/therecord/2012/02/29/147592568/music-in-political-campaigns-101

[5]https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/05/05/the-rolling-stones-demand-trump-stop-using-its-music-at-rallies-but-can-the-band-actually-stop-him/?itid=lk_inline_manual_13 Don Q314 (talk) 14:15, 31 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, those sources are usable, and as far as I can understand, seem to verify the he content you wish to add. Sergecross73 msg me 14:44, 31 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks again. Don Q314 (talk) 15:23, 31 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Before I spend time "ordering" this list??

It's kind of alphabetical but with lots of skips and mis-placements. Upsets my sense of balance, it does.

Before I start moving things around, any thoughts or objections? I'll wait about a week.

Thanks

wiki-ny-2007 (talk) 04:48, 31 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

What did you have in mind with your changes? Sergecross73 msg me 12:02, 31 August 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Add Rufus Wainwright

As of yesterday 2601:500:8600:7160:4C51:F277:A185:CD1B (talk) 23:54, 15 October 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Someone already added it under Leonard Cohen since it's his song. Sergecross73 msg me 23:55, 15 October 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Conflicting reports on Leonard Cohen cease and desist letter

The Guardian reported that "The estate of Leonard Cohen has issued a cease and desist order to Donald Trump, after a recording of Rufus Wainwright singing Cohen’s song Hallelujah was played at a bizarre campaign event."

However, Rolling Stone stated: "A rep for Cohen’s publishers, Sony Music Publishing, declined to comment. (A previous version of this story included a report that Sony had issued a cease-and-desist letter to the Trump campaign, but Rolling Stone has since learned that was incorrect.)"

The source for the cease and desist reporting seems to be a Rufus Wainwright press release, reported on here, apparently stating that Sony Music, the publishing company for Cohen's estate, had sent the Trump campaign a cease and desist letter.

I'm inclined to remove any mention of a Cohen cease and desist letter unless more solid reporting emerges. Guidance welcomed! Don Q314 (talk) 11:06, 18 October 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Yes, Wainwright's Instagram post did state that the publishing company for Cohen's estate had sent a cease and desist letter. However, Rolling Stone said its previous reporting that Sony had sent such a letter was incorrect (see above). As linked above, The Guardian says, without citing a source, that it was the estate itself that sent the letter. All roads seem to lead back to Wainwright's post, and I haven't been able to find confirmation that it was correct. Don Q314 (talk) 19:27, 30 October 2024 (UTC)[reply]

Update: The Guardian now states: "This article was amended on 6 November 2024 to clarify that the estate of Leonard Cohen asked Sony Music to issue a cease and desist letter to the Trump campaign, rather than the estate itself issuing the letter." However, their cited source is a post on a Facebook fan page purporting to be from the Leonard Cohen estate. Don Q314 (talk) 15:03, 8 November 2024 (UTC)[reply]