Federal Judge Orders Trump Campaign to Halt Isaac Hayes Song at Rallies

On September 3, a federal judge in Georgia ruled that former President Donald Trump’s campaign must cease using the song “Hold On, I’m Coming.” This decision comes after the estate of the late R&B artist Isaac Hayes filed a lawsuit to stop its use.

Judge Thomas Thrash Jr. issued a preliminary injunction at the Richard B. Russell Federal Building & U.S. Courthouse in downtown Atlanta. This injunction prohibits the Trump campaign from using the song in videos, rallies, and events.

Isaac Hayes, an Oscar and Grammy-winning artist, co-wrote “Hold On, I’m Coming” in 1966. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and passed away in 2008 from a stroke at his home in Tennessee at the age of 65.

During the ruling, Judge Thrash stated, “I do order Trump and his campaign to not use the song without proper license.” However, he declined a request from the Hayes estate to remove videos that had already included the song.

After the ruling, Trump’s attorney, Ronald Coleman, expressed satisfaction with the decision to not require the removal of previously recorded uses. “The campaign has no interest in annoying or hurting anyone,” Coleman said. “And if the Hayes family feels it hurts or annoys them, that’s fine; we’re not going to force the issue.”

The lawsuit arose after the Hayes estate claimed that Trump’s campaign used the hit song, originally popularized by the soul duo Sam & Dave, without the necessary approval. The estate’s lawyers pointed out that the campaign had played the song at various events over 100 times within a two-year span.

According to court documents, the Hayes estate is seeking “compensatory damages for the unauthorized use” of Hayes’ composition. The legal action reflects a growing trend among artists and their estates as they claim their rights in connection with their works and how they are used by political campaigns.

The estate of Isaac Hayes is not the only entity taking action against Trump’s campaign for unauthorized music use. Other prominent artists and bands, including ABBA, the Foo Fighters, Céline Dion, Beyoncé, Johnny Marr of The Smiths, and the estate of Sinéad O’Connor, have also demanded that Trump stop featuring their music during his campaign activities.

Following the judge’s decision, Isaac Hayes III expressed gratitude and hope that this ruling would encourage more artists to stand up against their music being utilized without permission by political figures. “We are very grateful and happy for the decision by Judge Thrash,” he stated after the hearing. “I want this to serve as an opportunity for other artists to come forward that don’t want their music used by Donald Trump or other political entities.”

This ruling serves as a significant moment in the ongoing conversation about copyright, artist rights, and the usage of music in political contexts. As artists increasingly become vocal about the use of their works in campaigns, it reflects a broader trend of musicians asserting their rights to control how their music is utilized. The implications of this ruling could resonate beyond this particular case as it stresses the importance of obtaining proper licensing and respecting the rights of creators.