TRUMP CARD
Kiwi’s copyright stoush
AKiwi music producer has been shocked to discover his music has been used to introduce US President Donald Trump at a conservative rally.
Sebastian Kereti, from South Auckland, says he’s now considering suing over the unauthorised use of his work, at a rally in Washington DC hosted by right-wing student group Turning Point USA on July 23.
His music label has contacted Trump’s campaign team over “payment concerns”.
The 22-year-old wrote the track Thoughts several years back when in his first year at Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand.
It’s an instrumental electronic hype track with a “catchy melodic line” and a bass drop that has proven hugely popular, with some 13 million YouTube views even before the Trump event.
Kereti’s music is published on platforms like Soundcloud and Bass Nation, an MTV-like YouTube channel. He says he earns several thousand dollars in royalties each month for his music and is fine with requests to use the track.
But the first he heard that a section of it had been used at a Trump rally was when people started tagging him in videos from the event.
The footage starts with a campaign highlights reel before the track starts to play, building up to a bass drop before President Trump steps on to the stage.
Kereti, who goes by his production name Loud, said at first he thought the people tagging him were joking — “It was the last place I’d expect to see it being used.
“I’m not a fan of [Trump] . . . I would much prefer Obama to use it,” he said, although he was “not really into politics”.
“But just knowing that it was my song used for that stage and platform was pretty crazy.”
Views on YouTube are now approaching 18 million.
Images from the event had already gone viral for another reason — a hoax presidential seal which was projected on to the screen behind Trump.
Kereti said he was seeking input from fans on whether to sue the
rally’s organisers for unauthorised use of his track.
Under copyright law, politicians are able to use music unless there is any legal action banning their use. But, like any other public performance or an artist’s music, royalty payments are required.
The music label for Thoughts, US-based Lowly Palace told the Herald on Sunday they understood the video played at the rally was created by Trump’s campaign team.
They have contacted his campaign team over their “payment concerns”.
Turning Point USA did not respond to a request for comment.
Earlier this year Warner Bros acted to take down a video posted on social media by Trump over copyright issues. The video — promoting his 2020 election campaign — featured a section of the soundtrack from the movie The Dark Knight Rises.
Late last year chart-topper Rihanna also had a go at Trump for using her music at a rally, tweeting: “Not for much longer . . . me nor my people would ever be at or around one of those tragic rallies.”
Pharrell Williams and the Rolling Stones have also repeatedly asked Trump to stop playing their music at rallies.
I’m not a fan of him . . . I would much prefer Obama to use it.
Sebastian Kereti