The family of late soul singer Isaac Hayes has demanded that Donald Trump stop using the Hayes-penned song “Hold On, I’m Comin'” at his campaign rallies. A letter sent to Trump and his campaign team by the Hayes family’s lawyer, James Walker, threatens legal action if the song continues to be used. The letter alleges that the Trump campaign has “willfully and brazenly engaged in copyright infringement” by using the 1966 Sam & Dave song, written by Hayes and David Porter, despite repeated requests to stop.
The family demands $3 million in licensing fees for using the song between 2022 and 2024. Isaac Hayes III, the son of Isaac Hayes, expressed strong objections to Trump’s use of the song. “Donald Trump epitomizes a lack of integrity and class, not only through his continuous use of my father’s music without permission but also through his history of sexual abuse against women and his racist rhetoric,” he said.
“This behavior will no longer be tolerated, and we will take swift action to end it.”
The legal letter claims the song has been used so frequently that the $3 million figure is “heavily discounted.” If a resolution is not reached and a lawsuit is filed, the Hayes family intends to seek $150,000 in damages for each instance the song was used, potentially totaling over $20 million.
Hayes family demands song ban
The Trump campaign has not yet responded to the letter or the threat of legal action.
This is not the first time musicians have protested the Trump campaign’s use of their music. Artists such as The Beatles, Neil Young, Adele, Bruce Springsteen, Sinead O’Connor, and Aerosmith have all issued cease-and-desist orders in the past. On Saturday, Celine Dion’s team objected to using her song “My Heart Will Go On” at a Trump rally in Montana.
“In no way is this use authorized, and Celine Dion does not endorse this or any similar use,” a statement from her team read. Musicians have had limited success in stopping politicians from using their music, as campaigns can obtain a Political Entities License from the music rights body BMI, granting them access to millions of tracks for use at rallies. However, artists and publishers can request their music be withdrawn from this list.
