The household of late soul singer Isaac Hayes has threatened to sue former US President Donald Trump if his marketing campaign doesn’t cease utilizing the singer’s music “Maintain On, I am Coming” at his rallies.
A letter The Hayes household demanded that Trump adjust to the order by Friday, and likewise demanded that he pay $3 million in licensing charges for the music’s use at Trump marketing campaign occasions since 2022.
“It has come to our consideration that you just or the marketing campaign have allowed the illegal public efficiency of the music on a number of events throughout your varied political marketing campaign rallies with out the permission of the copyright holder, regardless of our repeated requests to not have interaction in such illegal use by our shopper,” the household’s legal professional, James Walker, mentioned in a letter.
“Maintain On, I am Coming” was launched in 1966 by the R&B duo Sam and Dave. Hayes, who died in 2008, wrote the music with David Porter.
In accordance with the Hayes household, the Trump marketing campaign has performed the music 134 occasions over the previous two years.
Walker’s letter mentioned the $3 million sought “represents a really low charge” for the variety of occasions the music was used. The letter warned that the household would search a a lot increased sum, together with attorneys’ charges, if it took authorized motion towards Trump and his marketing campaign.
“The everyday charge for these violations could be 10 occasions the quantity if we filed a lawsuit, beginning at $150,000 per use,” the corporate mentioned.
The household additionally requested the marketing campaign to challenge an announcement on its social media accounts stating that they didn’t have permission from Hayes’ property to make use of the music.
The Trump marketing campaign didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
That is a minimum of the second time in latest days {that a} Republican presidential candidate’s marketing campaign has been requested to cease utilizing an artist’s music.
Representatives for the singer Celine Dion He said US singer Jessica Louise mentioned Saturday that using her music “My Coronary heart Will Go On” at a public rally was “unauthorized” and her permission had not but been obtained.
