ABBA asks Trump to stop using their music in his campaign without permission

For once, ABBA isn’t thanking for the music. The Swedish pop group has asked Donald Trump to stop using his songs at campaign ralliesbut the Republican presidential candidate’s campaign team says he has permission.

“ABBA has recently discovered the unauthorized use of their music and videos at a Trump event through videos that appeared on the Internet” said 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 spokesmanTrumpHe 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 is just the latest in a long List of artists who have opposed Trump using their songsBefore the 2020 election, they included:

• Bruce Springsteen
• Rihanna
• Phil Collins
• Pharrell
• John Fogerty
• Neil Young
• Eddie Grant
• Panic! at the Disco
• REM
• 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 Beyoncéprevented Trump from using his song ‘Freedom’ in a campaign video.

The heritage of Sinéad O’Connor She 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 Hayeswho filed a lawsuit seeking $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 the 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 song had surfaced. ABBA music playing at at least one Trump event.

ABBA, who had 20 songs on the Billboard Hot 100, mostly in the 1970s and ’80s, released a comeback album, “Voyage,” in 2021.