The Rolling Stones & more sign open letter demanding clearance for political campaign music

29 July 2020, 11:18 | Updated: 29 July 2020, 11:34

The likes of Mick Jagger, Sir Elton John, Linkin Park and Green Day have released an open letter calling for an end to unauthorised use of music by politicians.

The Rolling Stones, Linkin Park, Green Day and more have signed a petition calling for an end to unauthorised use of their music by politicians.

Several artists, including Mick Jagger and co - who recently threatened legal action against US President Donald Trump for using their music at political rallies - have teamed together to sign a letter demanding politicians and campaigners stop using their songs without their permission.

The likes of Pearl Jam, Blondie, Panic! At The Disco, Aerosmith, Lorde, R.E.M., Sheryl Crow, Kurt Cobain's estate, Blondie and more, have also added their signatures to the open letter by the Artist Rights Alliance.

In the document, they've asked for the Democratic and Republican national, congressional and senatorial committees to stop using their songs for their own political gain and therefore forcing the artists to explain whether they support them or not.

Read the letter in full here

The letter reads: "No politician benefits from forcing a popular artist to publicly disown and reject them.

"Yet these unnecessary controversies inevitably draw even the most reluctant or apolitical artists off the sidelines, compelling them to explain the ways they disagree with candidates wrongfully using their music. And on social media and in the culture at large, it's the politicians that typically end up on the wrong side of those stories."

Ted Kalo, the executive director of the Artists Rights Alliance, told Variety: "It an issue that has come up in previous election cycles, but has happened with much greater frequency in this cycle, and that caught our attention.

"At a time when Americans are joining together to stand up for their rights and demand more of politicians and big institutions, the energy to just not take it anymore was overwhelming. Rather than only taking this on piecemeal, we felt it was time to confront this problem in numbers with a simple request: Ask and receive permission first."

Just last month, the Paint It Black rockers revealed that their legal team and performing rights organisation BMI sent a letter to the President, warning they may resort to legal action if he keeps using their tunes.

A rep for the band explained: "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.

"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 letter was sent to the Trump campaign team shortly after You Can't Always Get What You Want was played at a rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The legendary band previously distanced themselves from the US President in 2016.

They tweeted at the time: "The Rolling Stones do not endorse Donald Trump. You Can't Always Get What You Want was used without the band's permission."

Recently, the surviving members of Linkin Park sent a cease and desist to the Trump administration.

The move came as a result of a cover of their In The End single being posted by Trump's Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications, Dan Scavino, which the US President then retweeted.

Taking to Twitter on the eve of the third anniversary of their frontman Chester Bennington's passing, they wrote: "Linkin Park did not and does not endorse Trump, nor authorize his organization to use any of our music. A cease and desist has been issued."

Linkin Park did not and does not endorse Trump, nor authorize his organization to use any of our music. A cease and desist has been issued.
— LINKIN PARK (@linkinpark) July 19, 2020

Jung Youth who features in the cover version also took to Twitter to slam his version being used in a "propaganda video".

The artist wrote: "Earlier today I found out that trump illegally used a cover song that I am part of in a propaganda video which he tweeted...anyone who knows me knows I stand firmly against bigotry and racism. Much love to everyone in the twitter community who helped get the video taken down fr!!"

Earlier today I found out that trump illegally used a cover song that I am part of in a propaganda video which he tweeted...anyone who knows me knows I stand firmly against bigotry and racism. Much love to everyone in the twitter community who helped get the video taken down fr!!
— JUNG YOUTH (@JUNGYOUTHmusic) July 19, 2020