Classic rockers and current stars demand authorization for campaign music – Deadline


What do members of the Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, REM, Pearl Jam, and Green Day have in common with the likes of Lorde, Sia, and Regina Spektor? Out of the hordes of sold-out fans and albums, everyone has signed an open letter demanding that their songs be licensed before they can be played at political events.

They are among the dozens of big names that partner with the Artist Rights Alliance to call on major US political parties to “establish clear policies that require campaigns to obtain the consent of prominent recording artists, songwriters, and owners. copyright before publicly using your music in a political or political environment. ” campaign settings. “

Also among those inking the letter are members of Blondie, Elvis Costello, Sheryl Crow, Rosanne Cash, and Lionel Richie.

IMC warns that Donald Trump’s campaign will stop playing the Rolling Stones “You can’t always get what you want” in protests

Artists Rights Alliance

The news comes amid an avalanche of recent complaints from musicians who complain that their songs were used by Donald Trump’s reelection campaign. As Deadline exclusively reported last month, human rights groups BMI and ASCAP have warned the president’s team against the use of certain songs at protests and other events. At the forefront of that initiative are the Rolling Stones, whose “You can’t always get what you want” has been a staple at Trump events for years.

Mick Jagger and Keith Richards of that band are among the musicians who signed the open letter. But they certainly aren’t alone in wanting their music to get off the rally’s playlists.

Numerous other acts have publicly opposed the use of his songs at Trump campaign rallies, including Neil Young, whose “Rockin ‘in the Free World” was played when Trump announced his candidacy after descending an escalator at Trump Tower. in New York in June. 2015; Queen for his use of “We Are the Champions” at the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland; Rihanna, for using her hit song “Don’t Stop the Music” at a 2018 Trump rally in Tallahassee, FL; Pharrell Williams, whose Oscar-nominated “Happy” was played at a Trump rally hours after 11 people were killed in a Pittsburgh synagogue in October 2018; Panic! at Disco’s Brendon Urie, whose “High Hopes” played at Trump’s event in Phoenix this week; and the inheritance of Tom Petty, whose “I’m Not Going Back” was also played at the Trump rally last week in Tulsa.