7 Artists who told Donald Trump to stop using their music: Abba, Rihanna, Adele and more

Adele and Rihanna (Image via Instagram/@adele/badgalriri)

Donald Trump has been asked on many occasions since his presidential campaign in 2016 to desist from playing certain songs by certain artists at his campaign rallies. Campaign music is almost as important as the speeches delivered at the rallies—they set the mood for the candidate’s appearance on stage and even rev up the crowd in anticipation of historical speeches being made.

As the United States presidential election is set for November 4, 2024, the candidates have touched down in many states in the country to make their intentions known to their supporters and those who share their ideologies and have played many soundtracks that resonate with their message. The Republican candidate, Donald Trump’s choice of music at some of his rallies, has resulted in several cease and desist letters issued against him by popular artists. This article explores some of them.

7 Artists who told Donald Trump to stop using their music: Abba, Rihanna, Adele and more

Rihanna
Beyonce
Adele
Celine Dion

ABBA
Pharrell Williams
Aerosmith

1. Rihanna

The Barbadian singer reportedly issued a cease and desist letter to Donald Trump after her hit song, Don’t Stop the Music, was played during the Republican campaign rally he attended in Chattanooga, Ten, in November 2018.

Part of the letter read:

“As you are or should be aware, Ms. Fenty has not provided her consent to Mr. Trump to use her music. Such use is therefore improper.”

2. Beyonce

Beyonce (Image via Instagram/@beyonce)
After Queen B’s chart-topping song, Freedom, was endorsed as Kamala Harris’ official campaign song in July 2024, the song was later used during Trump’s Detroit campaign in August 2024.

Republican spokesperson Steven Cheung posted a clip of Trump arriving at Detroit with Beyonce’s Freedom as a background song. Beyonce’s Legal team gave Donald Trump a cease and desist letter, which prompted the removal of the shared video from Cheung’s official Twitter page.

3. Adele

Adele (Image via Instagram/@adele)
During Trump’s 2016 campaign rallies, the British singer’s hit records, including her Oscar-nominated single Skyfall, and Rolling in the Deep, were used without her consent. Adele’s spokesperson confirmed the allegation in a report by the BBC in February 2016.

The Easy on Me hitmaker later showed her support for the Democratic Party’s frontman, Hilary Clinton, at her Miami concert in October 2016.

4. Celine Dion

Celine Dion (Image via Instagram/@celinedion)
In August 2024, the 1997 classic, My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion, was played at Trump’s Montana rally. The campaign featured a video of the 56-year-old singer belting the Titanic soundtrack on a big screen with the crowd singing along.

Rebuking the use of the song during the campaign, Celine Dion, alongside her legal team, sent a cease and desist letter via X to Trump, the content of which stated:

“In no way is this use authorized, and Celine Dion does not endorse this or any similar use. And really, THAT song?”

5. ABBA

At Trump’s Minnesota campaign held in August 2024, the Stockholm-based music group’s songs The Winner Takes it All, Dancing Queen and Money Money Money were played. On August 29, 2024, a statement was issued by ABBA and its label, Universal Music, demanding that Trump discontinue the use of their music in his campaigns.

A part of the statement read:

“Together with the members of Abba, we have discovered that videos have been released where ABBA’s music/videos have been used at Trump events, and we have therefore requested that such use be immediately taken down and removed.”

6. Pharrell Williams

Pharrell Williams (Image via Instagram/@pharrell)
In October 2018, Donald Trump played the Despicable Me 2 soundtrack, Happy, by Pharrell Williams at his Indiana campaign rally. Pharrell, showing displeasure at the use of his song, issued a statement against Trump through his lawyer, Howard King in October 2018:

A section of the cease and desist letter read:

“Pharrell has not, and will not, grant you permission to publicly perform or otherwise broadcast or disseminate any of his music.”

7. Aerosmith

Aerosmith’s member, Steven Tyler, has issued a cease and desist letter twice to Trump for the use of his band’s songs during his campaigns. The Rock band’s 1973 hit record, Dream On, was used during Trump’s 2015 political rallies. Tyler took swift action by issuing Trump a cease and desist letter, requesting that none of the group’s music should be used in any of the latter’s rallies.

Donald Trump also played the band’s 1993 Grammy-nominated song, Livin’ On the Edge, at his West Virginia rally in 2015. In August 2018, Trump once more played the band’s songs, leading them to issue another Cease and desist letter against him.

Other artists who have asked Donald Trump to stop using their music for the campaign include Bruce Springsteen, Eddy Grant, Guns N’ Roses, Eddy Marr, and Panic! At The Disco, amongst others.