13 Musicians Who Sued Politicians for Using Their Songs
Picture this: You're at a political rally. The energy is electric, and the song blaring through the speakers is one you absolutely love. But — did the artist behind that hit actually give the thumbs-up for their music to be used in this way? The relationship between political campaigns and popular music is a rocky one, full of legal twists and public showdowns. So, can political campaigns really hijack your favorite tunes without asking permission? Let's find out, and take a look at 13 musicians who said, "Stop the music!"
Can Political Campaigns Legally Use Music Without Permission?
Here's the deal: Political campaigns often secure public performance licenses from organizations like ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC. These licenses allow them to pump up the crowd with almost any song they want at live events — no need to ask each artist individually. But don't get too comfortable — these licenses come with strings attached.
First, these licenses typically only cover live events, not campaign ads or videos. So, if a campaign wants to use a song in an ad that runs every five minutes on your TV, they'd better think twice.
Second — and perhaps more importantly — just because a campaign can legally play a song at a rally doesn't mean the artist has to sit back and take it. If the artist feels their music is being used to send a message they don't support, they've got a few tricks up their sleeve, such as claiming trademark infringement, false endorsement, or violations of their right of publicity.
13 Musicians Who Said 'No Way' to Politicians Using Their Music
When it comes to their music, some artists are just not having it. Here are some of the most memorable moments when musicians told politicians to stop the music.
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Bruce Springsteen vs. Ronald Reagan (1984): Ah, the Boss. Ronald Reagan might have thought "Born in the U.S.A." was the perfect anthem for his re-election campaign, but Bruce Springsteen was quick to disagree. Springsteen made it clear that the song was anything but a patriotic rally cry, and Reagan's team wisely backed off.
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Tom Petty vs. George W. Bush (2000) and Donald Trump (2020): Tom Petty was a man of principles, and when George W. Bush used "I Won't Back Down" without permission, Petty did just that. A cease-and-desist letter soon followed, and Bush's campaign pulled the song. Fast forward to 2020, and the Petty family found themselves in a similar situation when Trump used the same song. The Petty estate made it crystal clear: They did not endorse Trump, and they didn't want their music used by him either.
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Jackson Browne vs. John McCain (2008): Jackson Browne took a more aggressive approach when he discovered that John McCain had used his song "Running on Empty" in a campaign ad without his permission. Instead of just voicing his objection, Browne went straight to the courts, filing a lawsuit against McCain and his campaign. The lawsuit resulted in a legal settlement, making it a textbook case of how copyright law can be wielded to protect an artist's rights, even in the heat of a political race.
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Heart vs. Sarah Palin (2008): During Sarah Palin's vice-presidential run, the band Heart found themselves in an awkward situation when Palin began using their song "Barracuda" at her rallies. Although the campaign claimed they had the right to play the song due to a blanket license, Heart wasn't having it. They publicly objected, stating that the song did not align with Palin's political message. Despite this, Palin's campaign continued to use the track, sparking a public debate about artists' rights versus licensing loopholes.
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Neil Young vs. Donald Trump (2015-2020): If there's one artist who isn't afraid to make his voice heard, it's Neil Young. When Donald Trump started using "Rockin' in the Free World" at his rallies, Young didn't just object — he made it a years-long battle, publicly criticizing Trump at every turn. Even though Trump claimed he had the right to use the song, the bad blood never died down.
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R.E.M. vs. Donald Trump (2015): When Trump played "It's the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" at one of his rallies, R.E.M.'s Michael Stipe didn't hold back. He blasted Trump and his team for using the song without permission and told them in no uncertain terms to stop.
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Aerosmith vs. Donald Trump (2015): Steven Tyler has been known to belt out a tune or two, but he wasn't singing Trump's praises when "Dream On" was used at Trump rallies. Tyler sent a cease-and-desist letter, arguing that the use of the song falsely implied his endorsement, and Trump's campaign eventually complied.
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Queen vs. Donald Trump (2016): When Trump's team used "We Are the Champions" during the Republican National Convention, Queen's Brian May wasn't amused. The band made it clear that they did not want their music associated with Trump, and they took steps to prevent further use.
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Mick Jagger and Keith Richards vs. Donald Trump (2016): The Rolling Stones weren't about to let their music get rolled over by politics. After "You Can't Always Get What You Want" played at numerous Trump events, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards put their foot down, publicly objecting and taking steps to block the use of their song.
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Adele vs. Donald Trump (2016): Adele and her powerhouse voice strongly objected to Trump's campaign — so when her songs "Rolling in the Deep" and "Skyfall" played at his rallies, she quickly shut it down. Adele's camp issued a statement saying she had not given permission for her music to be used in any political campaigns.
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Rihanna vs. Donald Trump (2018): Rihanna's "Don't Stop the Music" might be an anthem for hitting the dance floor, but she wasn't about to let it become a political anthem. When her song played at a Trump rally, she made her stance clear on Twitter: "Not for much longer ... me nor my people would ever be at or around one of those tragic rallies."
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Friendly Fires vs. Boris Johnson (2021): Across the pond, the UK band Friendly Fires wasn't feeling the love when Boris Johnson used their song "Blue Cassette" at a Conservative Party conference in 2021. The band condemned the use of their music, stating they had never given permission for it to be played in a political context. This disagreement escalated into a legal battle that eventually ended in an undisclosed settlement.
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M People vs. Liz Truss (2022): UK band M People wasn't too pleased when Truss used their hit "Moving On Up" at a Conservative Party conference. The band publicly criticized Truss for the unauthorized use, making it clear they didn't share her political views.
In the battle of music versus politics, it's clear that artists have a strong say in how their work is used — even if the law sometimes gives campaigns a bit of leeway. While public performance licenses might allow campaigns to blast your favorite tunes at rallies, the artists behind those hits are increasingly speaking out and reclaiming control over their music. So next time you hear a catchy tune at a political event, remember: There's a lot more going on behind the scenes than just music.
References: The Party's Over: What Can Artists Do About Politicians Using Their Music? | 35 musicians who famously told politicians: Don't use my song | Queen want Donald Trump to stop using their music. But the law might be on Trump's side. | Rihanna Sends Cease-and-Desist After Songs Played at Trump Rally
