Photo Credit: Abba by Raph PH / CC by 2.0
Abba have called for Donald Trump to immediately cease using their music at his campaign rallies after he played several of their songs and used footage of the group at an event in Minnesota.
Abba have demanded that Donald Trump cease using their music after the former president played several of their songs and used footage of the group at a campaign rally in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Minnesota is notably the US state with the highest Swedish population.
The campaign not only played hits from the Swedish group, including “Dancing Queen,” “Money, Money, Money,” and “The Winner Takes It All,” but showed film footage of Abba members on a large video screen accompanied by messages urging supporters to donate.
Universal Music Group, to whom Abba is signed, released a statement that they had not been asked for permission for the use of either Abba music or videos by the Trump campaign, and that footage from the event must be “immediately taken down and removed.”
“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,” said a spokesperson for UMG. “Universal Music Publishing AB and Polar Music International AB have not received any request, so no permission or license has been given to Trump.”
Abba’s Björn Ulvaeus, President of CISAC, the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers, reportedly told Swedish news agency TT, “Our record company Universal makes sure it is taken down.”
Abba is only the latest to have taken issue with their music being used by the Trump campaign. Notably, including footage of the group at the rally adds a level to their complaint that goes beyond an artist’s music being used under a blanket license at a venue.
Celine Dion spoke out against the use of “My Heart Will Go On” at a campaign rally in Montana. Beyoncé prevented Trump from using her song “Freedom,” the main song used by his Democratic rival, Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign, after he tried to feature it in a Trump campaign video. Other artists who have taken issue with Trump’s use of their music, including the family of the late Isaac Hayes, the estate of the late Sinead O’Connor, and Johnny Marr of The Smiths.
During Trump’s 2020 presidential campaign, artists including Phil Collins and the estate of the late Tom Petty also sent cease and desist letters, while the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, and REM all bristled or otherwise took action at the campaign’s use of their work.
