The Rolling Stones are threatening Donald Trump with legal action for using his songs in his protests despite directives to cease and desist.
The Stones said in a statement Sunday that their legal team was working with music rights organization BMI to stop the use of their material in Trump’s re-election campaign.
The IMC notified the President of the United States campaign on behalf of the group that the unauthorized use of their songs would constitute a violation of their license agreement, according to the statement.
If Trump ignores the exclusion and persists, he will face a lawsuit to break the embargo and play unauthorized music. The Stones had complained during the 2016 Trump campaign about the use of their music to ignite their conservative base in protests.
The 1969 classic You Can’t Always Get What You Want was a popular song for its events. It was replayed at the end of Trump’s recent rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, an indoor event criticized for its potential to spread the coronavirus.
Other musicians and their representatives have also complained that their music is associated with the Trump events. The family of the late Tom Petty said he had issued a cease and desist order after his song I Won’t Back Down was used in Tulsa.
“Trump was in no way authorized to use this song to promote a campaign that leaves too many Americans and common sense behind,” the statement said. “Both the late Tom Petty and his family strongly oppose racism and discrimination of any kind. Tom Petty would never want a song of his to be used in a hate campaign. He liked to bring people together. ”
Neil Young admonished Trump in 2018 after listening to one of his songs played against his wishes during the president’s midterm campaign rallies. Trump used his 1990 single Rockin ‘in the Free World, despite previous warnings.
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