ABBA requests Trump to stop using their songs at campaign rallies

The iconic Swedish pop group ABBA has officially requested that former President Donald Trump’s re-election campaign cease using their music and videos at rally events. Meanwhile, the Trump campaign asserts that they have the necessary permissions to do so.

During a rally held on July 27 in Minnesota, ABBA’s popular tracks, such as “The Winner Takes It All,” “Money, Money, Money,” and “Dancing Queen,” accompanied by video presentations, were played as reported by Reuters.

In a statement from the band’s record label, Universal Music, they stated, “Together with the members of ABBA, we have discovered that videos have been released where ABBA’s music has been used at Trump events, and we have therefore requested that such use be immediately removed and taken down.”

The band refrained from providing additional comments but fully supported Universal’s stance.

In response, a spokesperson for Trump pointed out that the campaign had acquired the proper licensing. “The campaign had a license to play ABBA music through our agreement with BMI and ASCAP,” they told the Associated Press.

The license referenced is a public performance contract provided by performing rights organizations (PROs) responsible for collecting royalties and distributing payments to songwriters and publishers.

However, even if the performances have been duly licensed, the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers acknowledges that if an artist feels their music is improperly associated with a political campaign, they may take legal action on various grounds, including false endorsement claims.

ABBA joins an extensive list of musical artists and their representatives who have raised objections to the use of their songs at Trump’s events during his campaigns in 2016, 2020, and now 2024. This list features numerous well-regarded performers spanning the last fifty years.

• ABBA: “The Winner Takes It All,” “Money, Money, Money,” “Dancing Queen”
• Adele: “Rolling in the Deep,” “Skyfall”
• Aerosmith: “Dream On,” “Living on the Edge”
• The Beatles: “Here Comes the Sun”
• Beyoncé: “Freedom”

• Celine Dion: “My Heart Will Go On”
• Creedence Clearwater Revival: “Fortunate Son”
• Earth, Wind & Fire: “September”
• Elton John: “Rocket Man,” “Tiny Dancer”

• Foo Fighters: “My Hero”
• Guns N’ Roses: “Sweet Child O’ Mine”
• House of Pain: “Jump Around”
• Isaac Hayes: “Hold On, I’m Comin'”
• Jack White: “Seven Nation Army”
• Linkin Park: “In the End”
• Neil Young: “Rockin’ in the Free World”
• Ozzy Osbourne: “Crazy Train”
• Phil Collins: “In the Air Tonight”
• Pharrell Williams: “Happy”
• Prince: “Purple Rain”
• Rihanna: “Don’t Stop the Music”

• The Rolling Stones: “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”
• Sinead O’Connor: “Nothing Compares 2 U”
• The Smiths: “Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want”
• Tom Petty: “I Won’t Back Down”
• The Village People: “YMCA,” “Macho Man”

This ongoing situation underscores the complexities of music licensing and the intersection of political activities with the entertainment industry.

Source: Reuters