Donald Trump and his campaign team have once again faced backlash for using a song without permission, this time from Canadian icon Céline Dion. Dion’s team released a statement following Trump’s use of her song ‘My Heart Will Go On’ during a campaign rally in Montana, stating that the use was unauthorized and that Dion does not endorse it. This incident follows a pattern of Trump facing objections from artists for using their songs without permission, including Woodkid, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Tom Petty, Neil Young, The Rolling Stones, Adele, and many more.
This latest dispute highlights the lack of self-awareness on Trump’s part when it comes to cultural touchstones, as ‘My Heart Will Go On’ was famously featured in the 1997 film Titanic. Dion herself recently made headlines for her return to live singing at the Paris Olympics amid her battle with stiff person syndrome. The misuse of artists’ songs for political rallies has been a common practice, as US politicians have legal leeway to use songs without permission by purchasing licensing packages from music rights organizations. However, artists have the right to remove their music from these lists and object to its use in political contexts.
Overall, Trump’s use of unauthorized songs continues to draw criticism from artists and showcases a lack of awareness and respect for their work. From Céline Dion to Leonard Cohen to Sinéad O’Connor, artists have been vocal about their objections to their music being used for political campaigns without permission. The ongoing disputes highlight the complex relationship between music and politics and the need for greater respect for artists’ intellectual property rights.
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