Isaac Hayes Estate Wins Emergency Court Hearing Over Trump's Unauthorized Music Use
The Isaac Hayes Estate has secured an emergency federal court hearing against Donald Trump regarding unauthorized use of Hayes' music at campaign events.
The hearing, scheduled for September 3 at the Northern District of Georgia Federal Court in Atlanta, addresses the estate's concerns over Trump's alleged 134 unauthorized uses of "Hold On, I'm Coming" at rallies. The estate previously demanded a $3 million licensing fee by August 16, before proceeding with legal action.
Isaac Hayes wearing glasses and sunglasses
Photo Credit: Isaac Hayes by William Henderson darkfiber22 / CC by 2.0
Isaac Hayes III, the late artist's son, clarified that while Trump may have initially been protected by ASCAP or BMI licenses, the estate opted out of these licenses when Trump began using the song at campaign events. Each unauthorized use could result in a $150,000 fine.
The lawsuit names multiple co-defendants, including:
- The Republican National Committee (RNC)
- National Rifle Association (NRA)
- Turning Point USA
- Trump for President Inc. 2024
In a related development, the Foo Fighters have also challenged Trump's campaign for using their song "My Hero" without permission at a recent rally. The band's representatives stated they would not have granted permission if asked and plan to donate any received royalties to Kamala Harris' campaign.
Classical columns with historic building backdrop
The case highlights ongoing tensions between political campaigns and musicians over unauthorized use of copyrighted music at campaign events, despite broad ASCAP and BMI licensing agreements.
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