The Foo Fighters have publicly denied giving permission for their song “My Hero” to be used during a rally where Robert F. Kennedy Jr. endorsed former President Donald Trump. At the event, Kennedy announced the suspension of his presidential campaign, stating that he no longer saw a viable path to victory.
Shortly after, he joined Trump on stage as the Foo Fighters’ song played, prompting the band to clarify that they had not authorized this use and were taking steps to address the issue.
Trump’s campaign responded to the Foo Fighters’ objection by claiming they had a valid license to play the song, dismissing the band’s concerns as unfounded.
This denial from the campaign has not quelled the controversy, as the band reiterated that they would not have allowed the use of their music and are considering further actions. The situation highlights ongoing tensions between Trump and various artists over unauthorized music use.
Foo Fighters
This incident is just one of several recent clashes between Trump’s campaign and musicians. Earlier in the week, Beyoncé’s team sent a cease-and-desist notice to the campaign after her song “Freedom” was used without permission in a social media post. Similarly, the estate of Isaac Hayes has taken legal steps against the campaign for repeated unauthorized use of Hayes’ music at Trump rallies over the past two years.
The broader issue of unauthorized music use by political campaigns has been a recurring theme for Trump’s team, with numerous artists objecting to their work being played at his events.
High-profile figures like Céline Dion, Adele, Neil Young, and the Rolling Stones have all voiced their disapproval, emphasizing that they do not want their music associated with Trump’s rallies. These artists are particularly concerned that such use could be misinterpreted as an endorsement of Trump’s political agenda.
Legal experts advise that artists who find their music used without permission at political events should take formal action to protect their rights.
This could include sending cease-and-desist letters, contacting music licensing organizations to revoke permissions, and publicly distancing themselves from the political campaign in question. Such measures are crucial to prevent the unauthorized use of intellectual property and to avoid the false impression of political endorsements.
