"Don't Use My Song Without Permission"... Beyonc? Also Angry at Trump Campaign

Trump Uses Beyonc? Song Supporting Democrats Without Permission
"Will Take Legal Action" Warning Met with "Suppression of Freedom"
Foo Fighters, Celine Dion, and Others Also Strongly Oppose

The election campaign of former President Donald Trump, the Republican presidential candidate in the United States, is facing backlash for unauthorized use of pop stars' songs. On the 28th (local time), CNN reported, "The Trump campaign played pop star Beyonc?'s latest album track 'Texas Hold 'Em' at a campaign event held in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on the 31st of last month." Additionally, last week, it was revealed that Beyonc?'s song 'Freedom' was used as background music in a video posted on social media by Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung.

Former U.S. President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump is seen performing his signature dance moves on stage during a rally in Asheboro, North Carolina, on the 21st (local time). [Image source=Yonhap News]

This is a somewhat surprising combination if one knows Beyonc?'s political stance. Beyonc? is known to have supported the Democratic Party for a long time, and previously, it was a major issue that she allowed Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential candidate, to use 'Freedom.' Since then, the Harris campaign has used this song as a representative 'campaign song.' According to the music magazine Rolling Stone, after spokesperson Cheung used the song, Beyonc?'s record label warned the Trump campaign, "If you do not stop using the song, we will take legal action," and the video was subsequently deleted from social media.

Regarding this, spokesperson Cheung told CNN, "We deliberately used this song to provoke the Democrats," adding, "We wanted to show that the Democrats are only interested in banning everything, including freedom."

This is not the first time the Trump campaign has used songs without permission. At an event held in Arizona on the 23rd, the world-famous rock band Foo Fighters' signature song 'My Hero' was reportedly used. The Foo Fighters stated, "The Trump campaign never requested permission to use this song," and added, "If we receive royalties for the use of this song, we will donate them to the Harris campaign."

Earlier, pop star Celine Dion also immediately protested when the theme song of the movie 'Titanic,' 'My Heart Will Go On,' was played at a Trump campaign rally. Dion's side criticized on social media, saying, "We never approved the Trump campaign's use of this song," calling it "unauthorized use."

There have also been cases that led to legal disputes. The family of the famous American soul musician Isaac Hayes recently filed a lawsuit demanding damages in response to the Trump campaign's unauthorized use of Hayes' songs. The family pointed out, "Since the 2020 presidential campaign, Trump has played Hayes' 'Hold On, I'm Comin'' at the end of every event, and also used this song at a rally in Bozeman, Montana, on the 9th." According to the political media outlet The Hill, the amount of damages demanded by Hayes' family is reported to be $3 million (approximately 410 million KRW).