Swedish supergroup ABBA has added its name to the ever-growing list of musicians asking Donald Trump to stop using their music at his presidential campaign rallies. In a statement, ABBA stated that they had discovered the unauthorized use of their music and videos at a Trump event through videos online. They have promptly requested the removal and deletion of such content, emphasizing that no permission or license had been granted.
Despite ABBA’s claims, a spokesperson for the Trump campaign asserted that they had obtained a license to play ABBA’s music through agreements with BMI and ASCAP, performing rights organizations. This incident echoes a recurring theme in recent political campaigns, as artists across various genres have expressed their disapproval of their music being used without consent.
In the lead-up to the 2020 election, numerous artists, including Bruce Springsteen, Rihanna, Phil Collins, Pharrell, John Fogerty, Neil Young, Eddy Grant, Panic! at the Disco, R.E.M., and Guns N’ Roses, publicly objected to Trump’s use of their songs. This cycle, Celine Dion has requested the candidate to stop using her hit ‘My Heart Will Go On,’ while Beyoncé blocked Trump from utilizing her song ‘Freedom’ in a campaign video. The family of the late Sinéad O’Connor has also demanded Trump stop using her iconic song ‘Nothing Compares 2 U’ at political rallies, while the family of soul legend Aretha Franklin filed a lawsuit seeking $3 million in damages over the unauthorized use of her music.
Although artists can object to the use of their music, campaigns are technically allowed to play songs at rallies as long as they possess a blanket license from ASCAP or BMI. These licenses grant permission to use a vast repertoire of copyrighted music for specific purposes, such as public performances.
Swedish daily newspaper Svenska Dagbladet reported that their journalist witnessed the use of ABBA’s song ‘The Winner Takes it All’ at a Trump rally in Minnesota in July. Universal Music in Sweden confirmed that videos had surfaced showcasing ABBA’s music being played at least at one Trump event.
ABBA, known for their chart-topping hits throughout the 1970s and 1980s, released a comeback album, ‘Voyage,’ in 2021. The band’s recent statement underscores the ongoing debate about the use of copyrighted music in political campaigns, highlighting the importance of artists’ rights and their control over how their music is utilized.
