The Swedish group ABBA is the latest in a long list of musicians asking Donald Trump to stop using their music in his presidential campaign without permission.
For once, ABBA doesn’t say thank you for music. Swedish pop group has asked Donald Trump to stop using his songs at campaign ralliesbut the campaign team of the Republican presidential candidate says he has permission.
“ABBA has recently discovered the unauthorized use of his music and videos at a Trump rally through videos that appeared on the Internet“says a statement to The Associated Press from the band, which won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974 with ‘Waterloo’ and went on to become one of the most successful groups in history.
In response, a campaign spokespersonTrumpHe said he had obtained a license. “The campaign was licensed to play ABBA music through our agreement with BMI and ASCAP,” the spokesperson told the Associated Press.
ABBA It’s just the latest in a long line list of artists who have opposed Trump using their songs. Before the 2020 election, they included:
- Bruce Springsteen
- Rihanna
- Phil Collins
- Pharrell
- John Fogerty
- Neil Young
- Eddy Grant
- Panic! at the Disco
- R.E.M.
- Guns N’ Roses
- Celine Dion
- Beyoncé
- Sinead O’Connor
- Isaac Hayes
In this cycle, Celine Dionhas asked the candidate to stop using ‘My Heart Will Go On’, while Beyoncéstopped Trump from using his song ‘Freedom’ in a campaign video.
The heritage of Sinéad O’Connor He has also demanded that Trump stop using the late artist’s song ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ at political rallies, along with the soul legend’s family. Isaac Hayeswhich filed a lawsuit demanding $3 million in damages.
What US law says about the use of songs
Campaigns do not need an artist’s express permission to play their songs at rallies, as long as the political organization or venue has obtained what is known as a general license from performing rights organizations ASCAP and BMI.
Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet said its reporter attended a Trump rally in Minnesota in July where ‘The Winner Takes it All’ was played. Universal Music in Sweden said videos of the ABBA music playing at at least one Trump rally.
ABBA, which had 20 songs on the Billboard Hot 100, most in the 70s and 80s, released a comeback album, ‘Voyage’, in 2021.
