By Legendary Swedish pop group ABBA has formally requested that U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump stop using their music and videos at his campaign rallies, according to a statement released Thursday by the band’s record label, Universal Music.
The request comes after reports that several ABBA hits, including “The Winner Takes It All,” “Money, Money, Money,” and “Dancing Queen,” were played at a Trump rally held on July 27 in Minnesota. Swedish daily Svenska Dagbladet, which had a reporter present at the event, noted that the songs were accompanied by videos.
Universal Music’s statement was unequivocal: “Together with the members of ABBA, we have discovered that videos have been released where ABBA’s music has been used at Trump events, and we have therefore requested that such use be immediately removed and taken down.” The label emphasized that no permission or license had been granted to the Trump campaign for the use of ABBA’s music.
The members of ABBA – Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad – declined to comment further on the matter. However, a representative confirmed to Reuters that they fully supported Universal’s statement, underscoring the unified stance of the iconic group on this issue.
This incident adds ABBA to a growing list of artists who have objected to their music being played at Trump events over the years. Other notable musicians who have raised similar concerns include late American singer-guitarist Tom Petty, British singer-songwriter Adele, rock band R.E.M., late Irish singer and activist Sinéad O’Connor, and Canadian singer Celine Dion.
In April, Sinéad O’Connor’s label demanded the Trump campaign stop using her music, while earlier this month, Celine Dion and her label made a similar complaint, describing the use of her performance as “unauthorized.”
The use of popular music at political rallies has long been a contentious issue, with artists often finding their work associated with political figures or causes they do not support. The situation highlights the complex intersection of copyright law, artistic intent, and political messaging in the digital age.
As of Thursday, the Trump campaign had not immediately responded to requests for comment on ABBA’s demand. The incident raises questions about the campaign’s vetting process for music used at events and its respect for artists’ rights and wishes.
The unauthorized use of music at political rallies can potentially damage an artist’s brand and reputation, especially if their personal views do not align with those of the politician using their work. It also presents legal challenges, as campaigns that use copyrighted music without proper licensing may be in violation of copyright laws.
As the 2024 U.S. presidential campaign season heats up, this incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing tensions between political campaigns and the music industry. It underscores the importance of obtaining proper permissions and respecting artists’ wishes when it comes to the use of their work in political contexts.
The situation continues to evolve, and it remains to be seen how the Trump campaign will respond to ABBA’s request and whether this will lead to changes in how music is selected and used at future campaign events.
