The estate of Isaac Hayes has settled a copyright dispute with the Donald Trump campaign over the use of the song “Hold On, I’m Comin’,” co-written by Hayes and performed by Sam & Dave, the estate announced Monday.
Isaac Hayes III, Hayes’ son and estate manager, stated in an Instagram post that the lawsuit “has been mutually resolved, and we are satisfied with the outcome.” The financial terms of the settlement were not disclosed. Hayes III added that the resolution “reaffirms the importance of protecting intellectual property rights and copyrights, especially as they relate to legacy, ownership and the responsible use of creative works.”
The lawsuit is the latest in a series of legal challenges and public objections from musicians regarding the Trump campaign’s use of their music. Throughout his 2016, 2020, and 2024 presidential campaigns, Trump has repeatedly drawn criticism for playing songs at rallies and campaign events without securing explicit permission from the artists or their representatives.
While venues often hold blanket performance licenses through organizations like BMI and ASCAP, which permit the public performance of a wide range of songs, these licenses do not necessarily grant campaigns the right to use specific tracks without the artist’s consent. The situation becomes more complex with pre-1972 sound recordings, which historically lacked the same federal copyright protections as later works, resulting in a patchwork of state laws governing their use.
In August 2024, Céline Dion’s team issued a statement objecting to Trump’s use of her song “My Heart Will Move On” at a campaign rally. Beyoncé also sent a cease-and-desist letter after a campaign spokesperson used her song “Freedom” in an online video. Earlier, in 2024, ABBA’s songs “Money, Money, Money”, “The Winner Takes It All”, and “Dancing Queen” were played at a Trump campaign event in St. Cloud, Minnesota.
The Trump campaign has faced at least one previous copyright suit, filed by Eddy Grant over the use of his music in a campaign video. The legal battles highlight the ongoing tension between political campaigns’ desire to energize supporters with popular music and artists’ rights to control how their work is used and associated with political messaging.
The Artist Rights Alliance, along with a group of artists including Mick Jagger, Lorde, Sia, and Sheryl Crow, have signed a letter demanding that politicians seek permission before playing their music at campaign rallies and public events. Despite these efforts, the Trump campaign has continued to face accusations of unauthorized music use, prompting further legal action and public condemnation.
