Trump Ordered to Halt Use of Isaac Hayes Song

According to media reports, Judge Thomas Thrash Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia ruled from the bench Tuesday that the estate of Isaac Hayes is entitled to a preliminary injunction to stop the Donald J. Trump campaign from using Hayes’ song, “Hold On, I’m Coming” during campaign events.

The family of singer-songwriter Hayes, who died in 2008, and Isaac Hayes Enterprises, became the latest in a growing list of artists who have threatened to sue Trump when it published a letter last month claiming unauthorized use of the song at Trump’s rallies.

Hayes co-wrote the song with David Porter and it was originally recorded in 1966 by R&B duo Sam & Dave. According to the letter, which was sent by the family’s attorney, James Walker, and which the Hayes family posted to X on August 11, the song has been used more than 100 times without authorization, adding up to a “very discounted fee” of $3 million that the family is requesting be paid for the multiple counts of copyright infringement. The family threatened to sue in federal court and seek the full amount of the fees as well as injunctive relief if they did not receive a response by August 16.

The complaint was consequently filed August 16 and charged the Trump Campaign and Trump individually with unlawfully profiting off Hayes’ reputation and identity and the Republican National Committee; Turning Point, USA; the National Rifle Association of America; the American Conservative union and BTC, Inc. with vicariously and contributorily infringing by hosting events where the song was played and uploading infringing videos.

In their latest post on X, the family charged that Trump’s claims to have had a license to the song via Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), a collective music licensing organization, are false. The family posted an image of that excludes the song from its contract with Donald J. Trump for President 2024 and said “Donald Trump for President has not had [a] valid license for [nearly] 100 days, and @realDonaldTrump has NEVER had a license. Not to mention the numerous uses before Nov. 30th, 2022.”

At least 35 artists have spoken out against or sent takedown notices to Trump in response to their music being used during his various campaigns. Trump has also come under fire recently for using Celine Dion’s famed song from the Titanic soundtrack, “My Heart Will Go On,” at his rallies. The Canadian singer’s management team and her record label, Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc., posted a statement to X last month confirming that the singer did not authorize or endorse the use of the song and questioning the decision to use the tune – the theme for a movie about a doomed ship – at a campaign event.

Image Source: Deposit Photos
Author: mikeledray
Image ID: 490006326