Rolling Stones warn Trump of legal action over song use
LONDON: The Rolling Stones are threatening US President Donald Trump with legal action for using their songs at his rallies despite cease-anddesist directives.
The Stones said in a statement on Sunday that their legal team is working with music rights organisation BMI to stop use of their material in Trump’s re-election campaign.
“The BMI have notified the Trump campaign on behalf of the Stones that the unauthorised use of their songs will constitute a breach of its licensing agreement,’’ the Stones said.
“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 had complained during Trump’s 2016 campaign about the use of their music to fire up his conservative base at rallies.
The Rolling Stones’ 1969 classic You Can’t Always Get What You Want was a popular song for his events.
It was played again at the close of Trump’s recent rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Other artists have also complained about having their music associated with Trump’s events.
The family of the late rock musician Tom Petty said that it had issued a cease-and-desist order after Trump used the song I Won’t Back Down in Tulsa.
“Trump was in no way authorized to use this song to further a campaign that leaves too many Americans and common sense behind. Both the late Tom Petty and his family firmly stand against racism and discrimination,” it said.