Abba Says "Thank You for NOT the Music": Donald Trump's Presidential Campaign Bends Antennae Again
ABBA Request Trump to Halts Song Usage: Mirroring the Mamma Mia! Sequel Title, ABBA Appeals to Trump to Cease Use of Their Tunes
Swedish Pop Icons Abba Ask Trump to Stop Playing Their Tunes at Rallies
In a seasaw twist of events, the iconic Swedish supergroup Abba has made yet another controversial request to the former President Donald Trump. This time, the group has asked him to cease using their songs at his campaign rallies.
For once, Abba isn't crooning "Thank You for the Music."
The quartet has recently discovered that the Trump campaign has been playing their music at campaign events through clips on the internet. In response, Abba – who bagged the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974 with 'Waterloo' and stormed the global charts – has demanded the removal and deletion of this unauthorized content. However, their requests have been ignored, with no permission or license granted.
A spokesperson for the Trump campaign, unfazed by Abba's dissent, claimed that they had obtained a license. Aside from Abba, this response mirrors the responses of other artists who have objected to Trump using their music in the past, such as Bruce Springsteen, Rihanna, Phil Collins, Pharrell, and Guns N' Roses.
Unauthorized Use, Complex Copyright Laws, and Legal Ramifications
The use of music in political campaigns is often a minefield of copyright laws. Here's how it typically unfolds:
- Public Performance Rights: To play songs at campaigns, organizers need licenses from organizations like ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers), BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.), or SESAC (Society of European Stage Authors and Composers). These entities manage public performance rights for thousands of artists, and obtaining a license from them covers a broad array of songs [4].
- Specific Artist Permissions: For popular or iconic tracks, campaigns might need to secure explicit permission from the artist or the music publisher. This can be challenging, as artists may deny for various reasons [4].
- Mechanical Licenses: For custom compilations or videos, campaigns might need mechanical licenses, which cover recording and distribution of songs. This requires permissions from both the recording artist and the song's composer [4].
However, specific situations may require additional permissions. Managing these licenses is crucial to avoid legal issues during campaign events. Without explicit permissions, the use of music can lead to copyright infringement suits [2][4].
A Brief History of Political Controversies over Music Licensing
- Legal Action: The estate of soul legend Isaac Hayes demanded $3 million in damages after suing Trump for illegally using 'Shaft.' This was one of the many lawsuits faced by the Presidential hopeful for using songs without permission [2][4].
- Public Disputes: Artists like Celine Dion and Beyoncé have asked Trump to stop using their songs, while Woodkid, an French artist, called out Trump for using his LGBT+ anthem 'I морж Патта' [2][4].
As the 2024 US presidential election heats up, we can expect more artists to speak out and demand control over how their music is used in political campaigns, reinforcing the importance of understanding and navigating the complex web of copyright laws.
- US presidential election 2024
- copyright infringement
- Donald Trump
- Abba
- Artist control
- The Swedish pop icons, Abba, have asked Donald Trump to cease using their music at his political campaign rallies, stating that their permission was not sought and no license has been granted.
- Currently, Abba's music is being used through clips on the internet, which the band has requested to be removed and deleted.
- On LinkedIn and other social-media platforms, the public discourse on the unauthorized use of Abba's music by Trump's campaign is becoming a hot topic.
- As the entertainment industry grapples with the complexities of copyright laws, shortcuts like adopting general-news music or procuring vague billboard permissions could lead to future copyright infringement disputes moving forward.
