ABBA and Other Artists Challenge Trump’s Unauthorized Music Use

• ABBA has requested Donald Trump to stop using their music at his campaign rallies, confirmed by Universal Music.
• This is not the first time artists have objected to their music being used at Trump events, with artists like Tom Petty, Adele, and R.E.M. expressing disapproval.
• The issue of unauthorized use of music in political campaigns is a recurring theme, with artists often at odds with politicians.
• As the 2024 US presidential election approaches, the unauthorized use of music in campaigns remains a contentious issue.

In a recent development that has stirred the music and political world, the legendary Swedish pop group ABBA has requested U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump to cease the use of their music and videos at his campaign rallies. This information was confirmed by the band’s record label, Universal Music, on Thursday. The issue came to light when ABBA’s popular hits including The Winner Takes It All, Money, Money, Money and Dancing Queen were played at a rally held by Trump and his running mate JD Vance on July 27 in Minnesota.

The event was accompanied by videos, as reported by Swedish daily Svenska Dagbladet, which had a reporter present at the event. In a statement, Universal Music said, 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 record label further clarified that no permission or license had been granted to the Trump campaign for the use of ABBA’s music.

The members of the band declined to comment further, a representative told Reuters, adding that they fully supported Universal’s statement. The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Artists’ Objections to Unauthorized Music Use

This is not the first time that artists have objected to their music being played at Trump events. Over the years, several artists or their representatives, including late American singer-guitarist Tom Petty, British singer-songwriter Adele, and rock band R.E.M., have expressed their disapproval. In April, the label of late Irish singer and activist Sinéad O’Connor also demanded the Trump campaign stop using her music. Canadian singer Celine Dion and her label earlier this month made a similar complaint, calling the use of her performance unauthorized.

The issue of unauthorized use of music in political campaigns is not new. It has been a recurring theme in U.S. politics, with artists often finding themselves at odds with politicians over the use of their music. The controversy often arises from the fact that politicians use popular songs to connect with voters, but artists feel that their work is being used to endorse a political message or candidate they do not support.

In a similar vein, Jack White, the former frontman of the White Stripes, has also voiced his objection to the Trump campaign using his music without permission. The song “Seven Nation Army” by White Stripes was used in a clip depicting Trump traveling for his presidential campaign. In an Instagram post, White wrote: “Oh…. Don’t even think about using my music, fascists” before saying he would file a lawsuit for the inappropriate use.

The Impact of Music in Political Campaigns

The issue has also resonated across the Atlantic, with protests coming from Europe, where Queen, the Rolling Stones, The Animals, and Johnny Marr of The Smiths have already opposed the unauthorized use of their music in Trump’s campaign. The unauthorized use of ABBA’s music took place in Minnesota, a state known for its large community with Swedish roots, who make up an estimated 7% of the swing state’s population, the highest proportion in any U.S. state. ABBA, a label rooted in the four band members’ first names — Agnetha, Bjorn, Benny, and Anni-Frid — is surely Sweden’s best known modern cultural export. It was among the leading lights of the disco and pop scene until the band broke up in 1982.

The iconic group, known for timeless classics such as Dancing Queen, Voulez-Vous, Waterloo, and the entire Mama Mia soundtrack, expressed their discontent to Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet over the use of their hits Dancing Queen, The Winner Takes It All and Money, Money, Money at the rally in Minnesota on July 27. The 2024 US presidential election vote will take place on Tuesday 5 November when Americans will go to the polls to decide if Trump or his Democrat opponent Kamala Harris, who is currently serving as the Vice President, will be their new leader.

In conclusion, the unauthorized use of music in political campaigns continues to be a contentious issue. While politicians argue that the use of popular songs helps them connect with voters, artists often feel that their work is being used to endorse a political message or candidate they do not support. As the 2024 US presidential election approaches, it remains to be seen how this issue will unfold and what impact it will have on the campaigns and the artists involved. The artists’ stand against unauthorized use of their music underscores the importance of respecting intellectual property rights, even in the high-stakes world of political campaigns.