The Rolling Stones have released an official statement confirming their intent to take legal action against President Trump.
In a hard-hitting statement, they said: “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 campaigns. 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.”
The Stones first objected to Trump’s use of the song during the 2016 presidential campaign, however, Trump ignored their protestations and since then has continued to use the song without their permission.
The famous rock anthem was once again used on Saturday at Trump’s poorly attended rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In a 19 000 seater stadium, just 6 200 people turned up in support of Trump. The irony could not have been lost on the President as the song blasted from speakers once again as his walk-off theme song.
With the support of BMI – the global performing rights organization and the imminent threat of legal action, he might just listen this time around.
BMI informed the Trump campaign last week that the continued unauthorized use of the song would constitute a breach of its licensing agreement.
While the Trump campaign has a Political Entities License which authorizes the public use of more than 15 million musical works in BMI’s repertoire at campaign events, there is a clause that protects the songwriter's rights. If the publisher or writer objects to its use by a campaign, BMI is fully within its rights to issue a formal objection.
This they have done and now the waiting game begins – how will Trump respond? His Tulsa rally was most humiliating for him and anyone who watched footage from the event will have noticed his air of dejection as he walked off stage while the Stones anthem played.
No, you can’t always get what you want Mr President.
BMI warns Donald Trump Campaign to stop playing Rolling Stones songs: https://t.co/DWZ26dCglg
— The Rolling Stones (@RollingStones) June 27, 2020
