Rolling Stones Threaten Lawsuit Against President Trump Over Unauthorized Music Use
The Rolling Stones have threatened to file suit against President Donald Trump over his continued unauthorized use of the band’s music at campaign rallies.
The band issued a statement via Deadline saying, “This could be the last time President Donald Trump uses Stones songs. Despite cease & desist directives to Donald Trump in the past, the Rolling Stones are taking further steps to exclude him using their songs at any of his future political campaigning. The Stones’ legal team is working with BMI. BMI has notified the Trump campaign on behalf of the Stones that the unauthorized use of their songs will constitute a breach of its licensing agreement. If Donald Trump disregards the exclusion and persists, then he would face a lawsuit for breaking the embargo and playing music that has not been licensed.”
President Trump used the Stones’ “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” as he exited the stage of his campaign rally in Tulsa, Okla. on June 20. President Trump previously used the same song at campaign rallies during his 2016 presidential campaign. The Rolling Stones requested then-candidate Trump to cease and desist use of “You Can’t Always Get What You Want.”
BMI, for their part, said in a statement prior to the Rolling Stones issuing theirs, “The Trump campaign has a Political Entities License which authorizes the public performance of more than 15 million musical works in BMI’s repertoire wherever campaign events occur. There is a provision, however, that allows BMI to exclude musical works from the license if a songwriter or publisher objects to its use by a campaign. BMI has received such an objection and sent a letter notifying the Trump campaign that the Rolling Stones’ works have been removed from the campaign license, and advising the campaign that any future use of these musical compositions will be in breach of its license agreement with BMI.”
GALLERY: The Rolling Stones – MetLife Stadium – 08/5/2019
