The family of singer-songwriter Isaac Hayes is threatening legal action against former President Donald Trump for using the song “Hold On, I’m Comin'” at rallies.
Isaac Hayes III, the musician’s son, shared a copyright infringement notice filed by lawyer James Walker.
The notice, directed at Trump, demands $3 million in licensing fees. “Hold On, I’m Comin'” was performed by Sam & Dave and written by Hayes and David Porter.
“Donald Trump epitomizes a lack of integrity and class, not only through his continuous use of my father’s music without permission but also through his history of sexual abuse against women and his racist rhetoric,” Hayes III posted on social media over the weekend.
We the family of @isaachayes Isaac Hayes Enterprises, represented by Walker & Associates, are suing @realDonaldTrump and his campaign for 134 counts copyright infringement for the unauthorized use of the song “Hold On I’m Coming” at campaign rallies from 2022-2024.
We demand… pic.twitter.com/GOBLz7ejYL
— Isaac Hayes III (@IsaacHayes3) August 11, 2024
“This behavior will no longer be tolerated, and we will take swift action to put an end to it.”
The family is contemplating 134 counts of copyright infringement due to Trump’s repeated unauthorized use of the track at campaign rallies over the past two years.
The notice also listed conditions that the campaign stop playing “Hold On, I’m Comin'” at future rallies and take down any videos featuring the track.
Hayes III also want’s Trump to issue a public disclaimer by this Friday, or “further legal action” will follow.
The family’s lawyer claims that Trump “wilfully and brazenly” committed copyright infringement and has persisted in using the song “despite being asked repeatedly not to engage in such illegal use” by the estate.
According to the lawyer, the song has been played so many times at rallies, that the $3 million in fees is “heavily discounted.”
If the Trump campaign does not comply with the family’s demands, and a lawsuit is filed, the notice warns, they will go after $150,000 in damages per use of the song.
Hayes wasn’t the only musician that hit out at Trump for using one of their hits this week.
Céline Dion’s management team and record label, Sony Music Canada, claimed the Trump campaign’s use of “My Heart Will Go On” at a rally in Montana was “unauthorized.”
Today, Celine Dion’s management team and her record label, Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc., became aware of the unauthorized usage of the video, recording, musical performance, and likeness of Celine Dion singing “My Heart Will Go On” at a Donald Trump / JD Vance campaign… pic.twitter.com/28CYLFvgER
— Celine Dion (@celinedion) August 10, 2024
The campaign reportedly displayed a video of Dion performing the 1997 ballad at a Friday rally in Bozeman, Montana.
Dion’s team released a statement on X on Saturday, when they were notified of the campaign’s use of the “video, recording, musical performance, and likeness of Celine Dion” performing the song.
“In no way is this use authorized, and Celine Dion does not endorse this or any similar use,” according to the tweet. “…And really, THAT song?”
Dion’s hit was infamously the theme song of 1997’s epic “Titanic,” which follows Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet’s doomed love story going down with the ship.
The Canadian singer isn’t the first musician to object to the Trump campaign’s use of their catalogue.
Trump played the Rolling Stones’ “Start Me Up” at a rally in 2016, and the band responded with a statement pointing out that they never gave their permission to play it and requested that it “cease all use immediately.”
Pharrell was decidedly unhappy when Trump used his song “Happy” at a 2018 rally. His lawyer responded with a letter, stating “Pharrell has not, and will not, grant you permission to publicly perform or otherwise broadcast or disseminate any of his music.”
The same year, Rihanna, told Trump to stop playing the music when he blasted “Don’t Stop the Music” at a rally.
“Me nor my people would ever be at or around one of those tragic rallies,” she remarked in response.
In 2020, Linkin Park sent a cease-and-desist was sent to Trump after his campaign featured their song “In The End” in one of their videos, which has since been deleted.
The move was on brand for the band, as their lead vocalist, the late Chester Bennington tweeted in 2015 that “Donald Trump is a greater threat to the United States than terrorism.”
Earlier this year, Sinead O’Conner’s estate told Trump to “desist from using her music immediately.”
Her estate noted she had once called Trump a “biblical devil” and would be “disgusted, hurt, and insulted” that he was using her hit “Nothing Compares 2 U” at his rallies.