14 Artists Who’ve Banned Their Music From His Campaigns

He likes to make an entrance every time he enters the room, however not everybody desires their voice as former President Donald Trump’s background. The presidential candidate is making his third bid for the Oval Workplace after dropping to President Joe Biden in 2020, and his MAGA followers are hoping for a win. One factor Trump is thought for is his ongoing rallies and staying on the marketing campaign path, giving speeches to a crowd of supporters sporting pink hats and touting American flags. Typically, he spices issues up with widespread songs that exemplify his mission, however not each artist is eager on their artwork getting used to assist the MAGA chief.

With Vice President Kamala Harris’s marketing campaign acquiring permission to make use of Beyonce‘s “Freedom” as their lead observe, it is clear that artists are selecting sides within the upcoming U.S. election. Nonetheless, all through his political profession, Trump has been publicly criticized by dozens of artists and musicians. It’s true that he has his justifiable share of supporters within the leisure trade, however he can not seem to assist himself by utilizing the music of artists who aren’t his largest followers. Take a look at a number of icons and hitmakers who’ve banned Trump from utilizing their tracks.

In 2018, Trump’s staff reportedly used Rihanna’s “Please Do not Cease the Music” at a number of rallies. When Rih & Co. realized of this, the singer’s authorized staff acted swiftly and denied giving Trump permission to make use of the tune. They added that Rihanna does not assist Trump, nor do they know each other. When the pop icon was made conscious of it on Xitter, she tweeted, “Not for for much longer…me nor my individuals would ever be at or round a type of tragic rallies, so thanks for the heads up philip!

On the latest Democratic Nationwide Conference, Kamala Harris got here to the stage with Beyoncé’s “Freedom” blasting overhead. The highly effective 2016 observe has captured consideration ever because it was featured on Bey’s No. 1 album, Lemonade—a lot in order that Trump, too, determined to make use of the tune final week. A video of the previous president visiting Detroit, Michigan, to host one other rally circulated on-line, with “Freedom” setting the stage. It reportedly did not take lengthy for Beyoncé’s staff to leap into motion by sending a cease-and-desist letter to cease Trump in his tracks.

There was a time while you could not run from Pharrell Williams’s megahit “Completely satisfied.” The infectious single took over radio stations worldwide earlier than being tapped for TV reveals, commercials, and any platform that hosts music. In 2018, Trump rubbed Pharrell the improper method when he performed “Completely satisfied” at a rally that occurred mere hours after the synagogue capturing in Pennsylvania that claimed the lives of 11 victims. Pharrell, too, despatched Trump’s staff a cease-and-desist letter and issued an announcement through his lawyer, per CNN.

“On the day of the mass homicide of 11 human beings by the hands of a deranged ‘nationalist,’ you performed his tune ‘Completely satisfied’ to a crowd at a political occasion in Indiana,” stated the lawyer. “There was nothing ‘completely happy’ concerning the tragedy inflicted upon our nation on Saturday and no permission was granted on your use of this tune for this objective.”

Throughout his 2016 run, Trump discovered himself leaning on two Adele favorites for his rallies. “Rolling within the Deep” and “Skyfall” have earned the British songbird acclaim, and Trump wished to capitalize on the tracks’ familiarity. Nonetheless, Adele wasn’t having it, and never solely did she ban the Apprentice star from utilizing her tunes, however she additionally publicly backed his opponent on the time, Hillary Clinton. “Do not vote for him,” Adele reportedly stated of Trump, through Vulture. “I’m English, however what occurs in America impacts me, too. I’m 100% for Hillary Clinton. I really like her, she’s superb.”

Rock ‘n’ roll artists have additionally stepped ahead to place Trump in his place, and The Rolling Stones added their identify to the checklist. Trump grew to become keen on together with “You Cannot At all times Get What You Need” in his marketing campaign, however the basic rock band did not recognize the sentiment. In 2020, a consultant acknowledged, “This might be the final time Trump makes use of any Jagger-Richards songs on his campaigns.” The group, together with BMI, additionally threatened to sue the previous president if he continued with out consent.

“The BMI have notified the Trump marketing campaign on behalf of the Stones that the unauthorized use of their songs will represent a breach of its licensing settlement,” an announcement learn. “If Donald Trump disregards the exclusion and persists then he would face a lawsuit for breaking the embargo and taking part in music that has not been licensed.”

The world misplaced an icon when The Artist Previously Recognized As Prince handed away unexpectedly in 2016. His property has been monitoring using his music, and it took subject with Trump in 2019. Throughout his ongoing marketing campaign path, Trump’s staff added “Purple Rain” to their playlist, to the dismay of Prince’s property. Then, the property reportedly shared a letter exhibiting that Trump didn’t have permission to make use of the observe at his rallies. He had been forbidden explicitly however appeared to hold on anyway.

One of many largest bands of all time gave Trump the axe after he used their famed basic, “Right here Comes the Solar.” Members of The Beatles weren’t completely happy to see that Trump performed the observe on the Republican Nationwide Conference in 2016. Lead guitarist George Harrison’s property made their opinions clear in a tweet, saying, “The unauthorized use of ‘Right here Comes the Solar’ on the RNC is offensive & towards the desires of the George Harrison property.” They then quipped, “If it had been ‘Watch out for Darkness,’ then we MAY have permitted it! #TrumpYourself.”

Considered one of Trump’s more moderen authorized run-ins with an artist or their property comes courtesy of Isaac Hayes. Simply this month, Hayes’s property obtained a slight authorized victory of their quest to take Trump to court docket over the unauthorized use of Sam & Dave’s basic, “Maintain On, I am Coming.” The previous president performed the tune in 2022 on the Nationwide Rifle Affiliation, which did not sit properly with the property.

“The property and household of Isaac Hayes DID NOT approve and would NEVER approve using ‘Maintain on I’m coming’ by Sam and Dave by Donald Trump at this weekend’s @NRA conference,” the property shared in an announcement. “Our condolences exit to the victims and households of #Uvalde and mass capturing victims in every single place.” Moreover, the observe’s co-songwriter, David Porter, tweeted his disgust. “Somebody shared with me Donald Trump used the tune ‘Maintain On I’m Coming’ for a talking look of his. Hell to the No! I did Not and would NOT approve of them utilizing the tune for any of his functions! I additionally know Isaac’s property would not approve as properly! #Memphis #Music #Grammy.”

Occasion coordinators have been utilizing Queen’s “We Are the Champions” as a theme tune for many years, however the group wasn’t thrilled to listen to the observe on the 2016 Republican Nationwide Conference. The band took to Xitter to denounce using the observe, whereas Sony/ATV Publishing additionally launched an announcement. “Sony/ATV Music Publishing has by no means been requested by Mr. Trump, the Trump marketing campaign or the Trump Group for permission to make use of ‘We’re the Champions’ by Queen,” Forbes reported. “On behalf of the band, we’re pissed off by the repeated unauthorized use of the tune after a earlier request to desist, which has clearly been ignored by Mr. Trump and his marketing campaign.”

“Queen doesn’t need its music related to any mainstream or political debate in any nation,” the assertion continued. “Nor does Queen need ‘We’re the Champions’ for use as an endorsement of Mr. Trump and the political opinions of the Republican Social gathering. We belief, hope and anticipate that Mr. Trump and his marketing campaign will respect these needs transferring ahead.”

They gave us a few of our favourite basic Soul information to ever be created, however The O’Jays stopped Trump after he performed “For the Love of Cash” on his actuality present, The Apprentice. In 2016, cofounder Eddie Levert revealed to Billboard that Trump additionally used “Love Prepare” on the marketing campaign path. When he was instructed to cease, Levert stated Trump’s staff was a tad upset. “They received on me about it, stated I received sufficient cash from him so now I can kick grime in his face.”

Levert added on the time, “I want him the perfect, however I do not suppose he is the person to run our nation. So when he began utilizing ‘Love Prepare,’ I known as him up and instructed them, ‘Pay attention, man, I do not imagine in what you are doing. I am not with you. I do not need you to make use of my voice. I am not condoning what you are doing.”

Earlier this month, Celine Dion’s consultant got here ahead with a pointed message about Trump utilizing her No. 1 hit, “My Coronary heart Will Go On.” The tune, which was featured within the international sensation movie Titanic, made an look at a Trump rally in Montana. Dion’s staff known as the use “unauthorized” and added, “Actually, THAT tune?” The assertion continued that in “no method is that this use approved, and Celine Dion doesn’t endorse this or any related use.”

Rock band Panic! On the Disco are not followers of Trump—at the very least lead vocalist Brendon Urie is not. He made his opinions clear in a tweet after Donald Trump Jr. was seen making an look at one in all his father’s rallies in Arizona, strolling out to “Excessive Hopes.” Urie wasn’t having it. “Expensive Trump Marketing campaign, F*ck you. You’re not invited. Cease taking part in my tune,” he tweeted. The singer added that Trump “represents nothing we stand for. The best hope we’ve is voting this monster out in November.”

“Within the Air Tonight” is one in all Phil Collins’s best hits. The acquainted observe was heard at one in all Trump’s Iowa rallies in 2020, to the singer’s dismay, who despatched the previous president a cease-and-desist letter. TMZ shared a replica of the letter during which Collins’s lawyer detailed his shopper’s grievances. “Mr. Collins has critical issues that the style during which the Trump marketing campaign has used ‘Within the Air Tonight’ has brought on, and can trigger, harm to Mr. Collins’ status and recognition with the general public.”

Rock icon Elton John was a fixture in Trump’s marketing campaign path after the previous president continued to make use of his basic hit, “Rocket Man.” Trump did not get approval for the tune, and John got here ahead with a grievance. He acknowledged that he did not have any private with the politician however wished to maintain his music out of the election course of within the U.S.