In a legal battle that seems more about making headlines than substance, a U.S. judge has ordered Donald Trump's campaign to stop using Isaac Hayes' classic hit "Hold On, I'm Coming" at rallies. The lawsuit, filed by Hayes' family, claims that the Trump campaign ignored repeated requests to stop playing the song. The judge's temporary ruling bans the campaign from using the song until the court case is resolved.
The reality, however, paints a different picture. Trump's campaign likely has a blanket license to play the song, which is typically how music is licensed for public events like political rallies. This means the lawsuit is more of a symbolic gesture than a legitimate legal battle. The blanket license allows the Trump campaign to legally play a wide range of music, including "Hold On, I'm Coming."
The song, originally co-written by Isaac Hayes and Dave Porter, has seen its rights transferred multiple times over the decades, ultimately being split between Universal Music Group Publishing (UMPG) and Warner Chappell Music Publishing. According to the Trump campaign, all licensing for "Hold On, I’m Coming" is controlled exclusively by UMPG as the majority rights holder.
In fact, the Trump campaign asserts that they do have the proper license to use the song—a Music License for Political Entities or Organizations obtained from BMI in 2022. This license, they argue, covers the use of the song at rallies, making the lawsuit more about making headlines than about a legitimate legal issue.
Ronald Coleman, a lawyer for Trump, emphasized that the campaign had already stopped using the song and suggested that the case could be settled outside of court.
The lawsuit follows a pattern seen in previous cases where artists have objected to their music being used at political events, especially at Republican rallies. While artists like Abba, Foo Fighters, and Celine Dion have voiced their opposition.
This lawsuit against Trump seems to be more about making a statement than securing a legal victory. With Trump's campaign holding a valid blanket license, the legal battle might be all for show, another example of lawfare being used to target the former president.
