Week 45: November 5, 2024
Music and Politics: Navigating the Rights of Artists in Campaigns
.
Election Day in the U.S. – The Soundtrack of Political Campaigns
As Americans head to the polls today, political campaigns are ramping up, not just with speeches and advertisements, but also with the music that fills their rallies and events. Campaign songs have long played a powerful role in setting the tone and energizing crowds, but they often stir controversy when used without the explicit consent of the artists who created them.
.
Music Licensing in U.S. Political Campaigns: The Clash Between Artists’ Rights and Legal Permissions
In the United States, the use of music at political speeches and events requires licenses from copyright organizations like ASCAP and BMI, which ensure that rights holders receive their royalties. Despite these licenses, several artists, including ABBA, have criticized Donald Trump’s campaign for playing their music without their explicit consent. ABBA specifically took issue with the use of their song ”The Winner Takes It All” at Trump events, stating that they had not given permission for this use and demanded the music be removed. Trump’s campaign responded by claiming they have a valid license through agreements with BMI and ASCAP, which grant them the right to play music at political events, a fact confirmed by BMI.
This issue is not unique to ABBA; many artists, including Celine Dion, Foo Fighters, Bruce Springsteen, Rihanna, Phil Collins, Pharrell, John Fogerty, Neil Young, Eddy Grant, Panic! at the Disco, R.E.M., Guns N’ Roses, and Adele, have also voiced their discontent over their music being used in Trump’s campaigns. More recently, Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones, and Linkin Park, have added their names to the growing list of musicians who have objected to their songs being associated with political events without approval.
However, in the U.S., it is difficult for artists to legally prevent the use of their music if a license has been issued, as American copyright law does not include the strong ”moral rights” found in Europe and Sweden. This often means that artists and songwriters must rely on public statements and media pressure to express their wishes and hope that political campaigns will respect how they want their music to be used. In political campaigns, artists may or may not give direct consent, depending on the licensing agreements in place through organizations like ASCAP or BMI. Public statements or objections would typically be made if the artist disapproved.
.
The Power of Music in Politics: The Soundtrack of Political Support
Some artists have openly supported Donald Trump and permitted their music to be used in his campaigns. Notable figures include Kid Rock, who has performed at Trump rallies, and Ted Nugent, a long-time advocate for conservative politics. Kanye West also showed his support during Trump’s presidency, while Lee Greenwood, renowned for his patriotic anthem “God Bless the U.S.A.,” has frequently had his song featured at Trump events. These artists stand in contrast to others who have objected to their music being associated with Trump’s political platform.
Kamala Harris has used several iconic songs during her campaign, most notably Beyoncé’s ”Freedom” from the ”Lemonade” album. Beyoncé has openly supported Kamala Harris and granted permission for the use of her song ”Freedom” in Harris’s campaign. It became a prominent part of her campaign after it was featured in her first 2024 presidential campaign video.
Kamala Harris also used Mary J. Blige’s “Work That” during her campaign and election victory speech back in the 2020 election. Blige expressed her surprise and excitement at hearing the song during such a historic moment, as it was one of Harris’s major appearances after being elected Vice President. Blige described it as an ”honor” that her music was part of Harris’s journey to the White House.
.
Exploring Campaign Music History
For a deeper dive into the history of campaign songs and their impact on elections, check out Fredrik Strage’s article, All the President’s Songs, over on the economy channel EFN. He also offers a carefully curated Election Night Playlist to set the mood for today’s political showdown in the USA. Additionally, music journalist Fredrik Strage discusses the best and worst campaign songs in Sweden, and reviews some of the most memorable ones in Swedish political history in these clips from earlier this autumn.
To this day, no songs featured on Tangy Market’s Marketplace have been used in political campaigns, to the best of our knowledge. A significant portion of the royalties collected on Tangy Market comes from American performing rights organizations (PROs) like BMI and SESAC, as we have lots of American songs on our Marketplace. You can see which rights holders collect royalties for each asset on its Marketplace page under the “Royalty Collector” section.
While many artists actively protect their rights and grant permission for their favorite politicians to use their songs, Tangy Market provides a unique opportunity for fans, investors, and music makers to support the music they love. By investing in shares of popular songs, you can earn returns from their royalties on our simple, transparent platform. To learn more about using Tangy Market, check out our FAQ for detailed information on how to navigate the platform and make the most of your experience.
