The drama surrounding former president Donald Trump’s re-election campaign never seems to end.
As the controversial Republican maintains a notable level of support from American voters, GOP politicians, and even former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., he is not so popular among the musicians whose talents are broadcasted at his rallies. This election cycle, multiple famed artists have requested that Trump stop playing their music at his campaign events.
Following the example of musical talents like Celine Dion, Beyonce, and the Foo Fighters, the Swedish band ABBA has demanded their music is not featured at Trump rallies. The group’s record company and the band itself have reportedly made the request, to be effective immediately.
A statement from the record company, provided to a Swedish outlet on Thursday August 29, specified that ABBA musicians and production team members “discovered” the use of videos and hence made the request. Some of the group’s songs were played during a July rally in Minnesota, including “Money, Money, Money” and “The Winner Takes It All.”
More serious than wishing to not be associated with the GOP nominee, though, is the alleged reality that Trump’s team has not been granted permission to feature the videos, according to the record company.
However, representatives from the Trump campaign have countered this claim, saying that they do, in fact, have license to play the band’s music, per an “agreement with BMI [Broadcast Music, Inc.] and ASCAP [American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.]”
Last week, when Trump introduced his latest major endorsee Kennedy, the campaign played the Foo Fighters song “My Hero,” sparking controversy about the politician using their songs. The band also said that it is taking “appropriate actions” against the Trump campaign, with music royalties to be given to the Kamala Harris and Tim Walz campaign.
And these are not the only musicians to have wanted their music to be disassociated from Trump’s re-election efforts. Over the years, a larger handful of bands and independent artists have forbidden the former president from using their music at events, including Adele, Bruce Springsteen, Guns N’ Roses, Neil Young, Rihanna, and the Rolling Stones.
