The latest episode in the saga between Donald Trump and music artists. The record label of the iconic Swedish pop group ABBA announced on Thursday, August 29, that it had asked the Republican candidate to stop using its hits during his campaign for the US presidential elections.
Universal Music in Sweden says it has seen several of the band’s songs played at least once at the former president’s campaign events. The Swedish quartet consisting of Agnetha, Björn, Benny and Anni-Frid – whose initials spell out ABBA – were the record label until 1982, when they called it quits.
The Swedish newspaper Swedish newspaper reports that one of its journalists attended a Trump rally in Minnesota, where there is a large Swedish community, in July, during which one of ABBA’s hits was played. The winner takes it all. An old ten-minute music video of the group was projected on a giant screen showing ABBA performing some of their biggest hits, including Money, money, money AND Prom queen.
Other artists asked to stop using their music
“We asked him that [ces morceaux] be eliminated »Universal Music AB said in an email to Agence France-Presse. “Universal Music Publishing AB and [la maison de disque] Polar Music International AB has not received any applications [d’utilisation de ces titres]Trump was not given any permission or license either”adds the group.
Candidates do not need express permission from an artist to play their songs at rallies, as long as the political party or venue has obtained a general license from the performing rights organizations ASCAP and BMI. However, a spokesman for Donald Trump’s campaign told the AP that they had obtained a license.
In the past, other music celebrities such as Bruce Springsteen, Neil Young, the Rolling Stones and even Celine Dion recently asked the Republican candidate to stop broadcasting their songs during the campaign.
