Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024 | 2 a.m.
In case you cowl politics lengthy sufficient, you’re sure to be taught one thing new.
Right here’s what I realized final week: The long-lasting Sam and Dave track “Maintain on, I’m Coming” was truly written by the late Isaac Hayes.
What does a Sixties basic soul track must do with politics? Maintain on. I’m coming with the reply.
After Donald Trump’s marketing campaign used the R&B hit at a sequence of rallies, 134 to be precise, Hayes’ property threatened to file a lawsuit in opposition to the previous president for copyright infringement.
The household additionally demanded $3 million in licensing charges the marketing campaign racked up from utilizing the track between 2022 and 2024.
“It has come to our consideration that you just or the marketing campaign have approved the unlawful public efficiency of the track on a number of events throughout varied rallies to your political marketing campaign with out authorization from the copyright holder, regardless of being requested repeatedly to not have interaction in such unlawful use by our shopper,” the household’s attorneys wrote Aug. 11 in a cease-and-desist discover.
“As we ready this letter, there was an extra use in Montana simply two nights in the past, even together with your workplace apparently conscious that you just had no permission.”
Exhibit A connected to the letter particulars each inappropriate use of the track, together with a 2022 Nationwide Rifle Affiliation rally that occurred within the wake of a faculty taking pictures in Uvalde, Texas, the place 19 youngsters and two adults have been murdered.
“Why are we utilizing it on the NRA conference?” the Grammy award winner’s son, Isaac Hayes III, informed the Hollywood Reporter. “I needed to take authorized motion as a result of Trump has made statements in opposition to ladies, and here’s a man who has been convicted of sexual abuse. I’m a brother to seven sisters, and I don’t need anyone to think about ‘Maintain On’ and consider Donald Trump.”
The Hayes household says the $3 million price ticket is a discount.
“The traditional payment for these infringements could be 10 instances as a lot if we litigate, beginning at $150,000 per use,” the letter stated.
Good luck accumulating that cash. Trump plans to pay that proper after he pays the $5 million he owes E. Jean Carroll, the lady who gained a civil trial in opposition to him for sexual assault.
In different phrases, by no means.
“Maintain On, I’m Coming” isn’t the one track on Trump’s copyright infringement playlist.
Trump has been warned for utilizing music from different artists together with Tom Petty, Rihanna, the Rolling Stones, the Village Individuals, Aerosmith, Bruce Springsteen, Phil Collins and Journey.
Final week, Celine Dion requested him to cease taking part in her signature track “My Coronary heart Will Go On,” which she stated was a peculiar marketing campaign alternative, for the reason that anthem anchors the soundtrack to the 1997 movie “Titanic,” a film a couple of sinking ship.
“By no means is that this use approved, and Celine Dion doesn’t endorse this or any related use,” the singer’s administration workforce stated in a press release on X, previously often known as Twitter. “And actually, THAT track?”
In distinction, when Vice President Kamala Harris steps out to the track “Freedom” throughout this week’s Democratic Nationwide Conference in Chicago, she’ll be doing it with singer Beyonce’s blessing.
In response to stories, Beyonce gave Harris the OK to make use of the track all through the marketing campaign. She didn’t give a Trump marketing campaign spokesman Steven Cheung permission to make use of the track in a marketing campaign video launched on X earlier this week. The video was eliminated Wednesday night time after Trump’s marketing campaign acquired a cease-and-desist letter. Even Trump is aware of higher than to mess with the Beyhive.
“Freedom,” which options rapper Kendrick Lamar, debuted on Beyoncé’s 2016 album “Lemonade.” The Grammy-nominated track grew to become an anthem in lots of demonstrations following the 2020 police choking demise of George Floyd.
In the meantime, if Trump insists on illegally utilizing Isaac Hayes’ hits at his marketing campaign occasions, he might no less than choose a Hayes track that might be extra applicable. “I Stand Accused” is one which involves thoughts.
“Stroll On By” is one other.
That may be music to my ears.
Leonard Greene is a columnist for New York Day by day Information.
