[Baltimore Sun] Judge rules Trump campaign cannot use classic Isaac Hayes song without license
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Former President Donald Trump is facing another roadblock when it comes to what songs he can and can’t use during his presidential campaign.
The estate of the late R&B singer and songwriter Isaac Hayes recently ordered Trump and his campaign to stop using the song “Hold On, I’m Coming.”
An emergency preliminary injunction alleges the former president doesn’t have approval to play the song at events.
The song was released in 1966, co-written by Hayes and David Porter and performed by Sam Moore and Dave Prater, also professionally known as Sam & Dave.
“Mr. Trump and the Trump Campaign has unlawfully publicly performed the Copyrighted Work at all rallies and public appearances starting in 2020,” according to court documents. “A cease-and-desist letter was sent that year to the Trump campaign by non-parties Universal Music Group and Warner Chappell Music … Despite the cease-and-desist letter, Mr. Trump and the Trump Campaign have unlawfully used the Copyrighted Work in violation of several provisions.
According to CNN, Judge Thomas Thrash Jr. said in court “I do order Trump and his campaign to not use the song without proper license.”
However, the judge denied a motion to force the Trump campaign to take down any previously recorded uses of the song.
Ronald Coleman, an attorney for Donald Trump, said during a news conference “that out of consideration for the sentiments of the Hayes family and in order to avoid further litigation” the song will no longer be played.
The son of Isaac Hayes, Isaac Hayes III, stated after the hearing that he wants the decision by the judge “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, and continue to fight for music artists rights and copyright.”
“Specifically, and ironically, Trump has spent a lifetime and well over 60 years protecting, expanding and building the Trump name goodwill and brand that his father left him, but refuses to honor, respect and pay for the name, brand, goodwill, intellectual property and business that was left to the Hayes family by their father,” the emergency injunction states.
Isaac Hayes III posted a letter on X from BMI dated June 5, 2024, stating Donald Trump never had a valid license to use the song.
“Donald Trump for President has been claiming they had a valid @BMI license to play ‘Hold On, I’m Coming’ for weeks. FALSE,” the post reads. “Donald Trump for President has not had valid license for nealy 100 days, and @realDonaldTrump has NEVER had a license. Not to mention the numerous uses before Nov. 30th, 2022.”
Other artists have taken issue with the Trump campaign using their music including Celine Dion and Foo Fighters, but have not gone to court over the complaints.
Hayes died in 2008 at age 65 after suffering a stroke.
Content from The National Desk is provided by Sinclair, the parent company of FOX45 News.
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