Swedish pop legends Abba have joined the growing list of musicians who are not happy with their music being used at Donald Trump’s presidential campaign rallies. The group’s iconic hits like The Winner Takes it All, Money, Money, Money, and Dancing Queen were reportedly played at an event in Minnesota in July, without any permission or license from the band.
In a statement to Reuters, Abba’s record label Universal Music expressed their displeasure and demanded that the unauthorized use of their music be stopped immediately. This comes after other artists like Celine Dion, Isaac Hayes, Sinéad O’Connor, Adele, REM, and the Rolling Stones have also objected to Trump using their songs to promote his campaign.
Despite these protests, musicians have had limited success in preventing politicians from using their music. Campaigns in the US are required to obtain a Political Entities License from music rights body BMI, which grants them access to a vast library of tracks for their events. While artists can request their music to be removed from the list, it seems that organizers often overlook this step and continue to use the songs without proper clearance.
The clash between musicians and politicians over the use of music for campaign purposes is not a new phenomenon, but it continues to be a contentious issue in the music industry. Abba’s stance against Trump’s use of their music adds another chapter to this ongoing debate.
