A US judge has told Donald Trump’s campaign to stop using Isaac Hayes’ song “Hold On, I’m Coming” at rallies, according to the BBC. This ruling came after Hayes’ family sued the campaign for not heeding their requests to stop playing the song, which was a hit for soul duo Sam and Dave in 1966. The judge’s order means the campaign cannot play the song again until the court case is resolved. However, the judge did not require the removal of past recordings featuring the song.
Isaac Hayes III, the late musician’s son, praised the decision, stating that his father, who passed away in 2008, would not have supported Trump. He emphasized that this issue is about character, not politics. Trump’s lawyer, Ronald Coleman, said the campaign has agreed to stop using the song and noted that they were pleased the court didn’t order the removal of existing videos. Coleman also suggested that a settlement might be reached before going to trial.
Hayes, who co-wrote the song in 1966, is known for other hits like “Shaft” and “Walk On By.” His estate is demanding $3 million in licensing fees for the song’s use from 2022 to 2024, claiming the Trump campaign used it 134 times despite requests to stop.
Trump’s lawyers have disputed this claim, arguing that the Hayes estate doesn’t hold the song’s license.
The BBC also reports that other artists, such as Abba and Foo Fighters, have complained about their music being used in political campaigns. Legal battles over music rights often take years, with limited success in stopping the use of songs.
For example, Guyanese-British singer Eddy Grant’s case against Trump for using his song “Electric Avenue” in a 2020 campaign video is still pending in court.
Credit : BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c89w28w13zxo