Pop Group ABBA Ask Donald Trump To Stop Using Their Songs, But Trump Team Says They Have The OK

NEW YORK —The Swedish supergroup ABBA has requested Donald Trump cease using their music at campaign rallies, but the Republican presidential nominee’s campaign claims it has permission.

“ABBA has recently discovered the unauthorised use of their music and videos at a Trump event through videos that appeared online,” stated a statement to The Associated Press from the band, whose classics include “Waterloo,” “The Winner Takes It All” and “Money, Money, Money.”

“As a result, ABBA and its representatives swiftly demanded that such content be removed and deleted. No request was submitted. Hence no permission or license was provided.

Pop Group ABBA Ask Donald Trump To Stop Using Their Songs, But Trump Team Says They Have The OK

A spokeswoman for the Trump campaign confirmed that it had secured a license. “The campaign had a licence to play ABBA music through our agreement with BMI and ASCAP,” a spokeswoman told the Associated Press.

ABBA joins a long line of singers who protested Trump’s use of their songs. Bruce Springsteen, Rihanna, Phil Collins, Pharrell, John Fogerty, Neil Young, Eddy Grant, Panic! at the Disco, R.E.M., and Guns N’ Roses were among many who performed ahead of the 2020 presidential election.

Celine Dion has begged the candidate not to use “My Heart Will Go On” this year, and Beyoncé has prohibited Trump from using her song “Freedom” in a campaign video. Adele requested Trump not to play her songs at political rallies in 2016.

Campaigns do not need an artist’s permission to play their music at rallies if the political organization or venue obtains a blanket license from the performance rights organizations ASCAP and BMI.

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Pop Group ABBA Ask Donald Trump To Stop Using Their Songs, But Trump Team Says They Have The OK

In July, Svenska Dagbladet, a Swedish daily newspaper, reported that a reporter attended a Trump event in Minnesota where “The Winner Takes It All” was played. Universal Music in Sweden said footage had surfaced showing ABBA’s music being played at at least one Trump event.

ABBA, which has 20 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, largely from the 1970s and 1980s, will release a return album, “Voyage,” in 2021.

SOURCE | AP