Music stars like Mick Jagger, Sia, Lorde, and Steven Tyler have signed their names to a letter urging the major U.S. political parties to ask for permission before using their music.
“As artists, activists, and citizens, we ask you to pledge that all candidates you support will seek consent from featured recording artists and songwriters before using their music in campaign and political settings,” reads the letter from the Artist Rights Alliance to the Democratic and Republican committees.
“This is the only way to effectively protect your candidates from legal risk, unnecessary public controversy, and the moral quagmire that comes from falsely claiming or implying an artist’s support or distorting an artists’ expression in such a high stakes public way.”
Also adding their names to the letter are Keith Richards, Joe Perry, Regina Spektor, R.E.M., Blondie, Elvis Costello, Sheryl Crow, Roseanne Cash, Lionel Richie, Pearl Jam and Green Day.
“Falsely implying support or endorsement from an artist or songwriter is dishonest and immoral,” the letter reads. “It undermines the campaign process, confuses the voting public, and ultimately distorts elections.
“It should be anathema to any honest candidate to play off this kind of uncertainty or falsely leave the impression of an artist’s or songwriter’s support.”
The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, Neil Young and the estate of Tom Petty have all complained to the Trump campaign about the use of their songs at his campaign events.