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ABBA tells Trump campaign to stop using their music

By Elizabeth Wagmeister, CNN

(CNN) — ABBA is requesting that former PresidentĀ Donald Trump stop using their music for his presidential campaign, after the group became aware of unauthorized use of its songs at a recent rally.

A representative for ABBA told CNN that the Trump campaign did not request or obtain permission from the group or its label, Universal Music.

In a statement to CNN, a representative for the band said: ā€œABBA has recently discovered the unauthorized use of their music and videos at a Trump event through videos that appeared online. As a result, ABBA and its representative has promptly requested the removal and deletion of such content. No request has been received; therefore, no permission or license has been granted.ā€

A Trump official told CNN: ā€œThe campaign had a license to play ABBA music through our agreement with BMI and ASCAP.ā€

BMI and ASCAP are Performance Rights Organizations based in the US. For a political campaign to play music at a rally, a license from a Performance Rights Organization (PRO) is required. Even with a PRO license, artists and songwriters have various rights of approval, depending how a song is used in a rally, according to legal experts.

Attorney Heidy Vaquerano, a Los Angeles-based partner at the law firm Fox Rothschild who specializes in music, explained to CNN that if a song is used with video images, it could require an additional license.

ā€œThe campaign would need to reach out to the respective songwriters of the musical composition through their publisher and the artistā€™s record label for permission. The publisher, in turn, would go to the artist for their approval for the use,ā€ Vaquerano told CNN.

ABBA joins a growing list of artists who have spoken out against Trump using their music for campaign purposes.

The rock band Foo Fighters saidĀ they did not authorizeā€Æthe Trump campaign to use their song ā€œMy Hero,ā€ which was played at a rally in Arizona.

Trumpā€™s campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung told CNN they did ā€œhave aā€Ælicenseā€Æto play the song.ā€ A representative for Foo Fighters told CNN the band was not asked permission by the Trump campaign.

The feud between Trump and Foo Fighters highlights a now-familiar tension between some musicians and the campaign, which despite obtaining certain licenses is faced with artists who do not want their music being aligned with Trumpā€™s politics.

More artists speak out

Rocker Jack White formerly of The White Stripes has also condemned the Trump campaign for using his music in a social media video.

On Thursday, Trumpā€™s Deputy Director of Communications Margo Martin posted a video on X of the former president boarding a plane that was set to The White Stripesā€™ hit song ā€œSeven Nation Army.ā€

White wroteĀ a strongly-worded post on his Instagram that read in part: ā€œDonā€™t even think about using my music.ā€ He said he intends to file a lawsuit.

The video was removed from Martinā€™s X account shortly after Whiteā€™s post.

CNN has reached out to the Trump campaign and representatives for White for comment.

This is not the first time the Trump campaign has pulled down a social media video after a star objected and threatened legal action.

Earlier this month, Cheung posted a video of Trump on X that was set to BeyoncĆ©ā€™s song ā€œFreedom.ā€ BeyoncĆ©ā€™s label reportedly threatened the Trump campaign with a cease and desist for the social media video. It was taken down shortly after. (CNN has reached out to a representative for BeyoncĆ©.)

CNN previously reported that BeyoncĆ©Ā gave her sign-offĀ to Kamala Harris to use ā€œFreedomā€ as her official campaign song.

At a Trump rally in Montana earlier in August, Celine Dionā€™s song and video for ā€œMy Heart Will Go Onā€ was played, prompting her team to speak out. ā€œIn no way is this use authorized, and Celine Dion does not endorse this or any similar use,ā€ the singerā€™s teamĀ said in a statement.

The estate of soul singer Isaac Hayes filed a copyright infringement suit against Trump for using the soul artistā€™s songs at rallies, so far becoming the only musician to take legal action against the campaign. A hearing on the matter is set for next week.

Trump has been using music from artists who donā€™t support him for years.

During his 2016 and 2020 campaigns, musicians including Bruce Springsteen, Rihanna, Phil Collins, Neil Young, Pharrell, Rolling Stones, Adele, Guns Nā€™ Roses and the estates of the Beatles and Prince all spoke out against Trump for using their music.

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