There are lots of rules guiding the use of copyrighted songs, and their violation in some instances can be considered a crime. But it even becomes more dramatic when these songs are used in political campaigns and the artists are speaking out against the act.
Recently, Celine Dion called out Donald Trump for the use of her iconic song “My Heart Will Go On” without her permission. But what really happened?
Hitting The Wrong Note with Celine Dion
The US Presidential campaigns are ongoing, and the contestants are pulling all the strings they have to get the attention of the electorate. This is where Donald Trump thrives, as he knows how to use the attention to further his cause. At his recent campaign at Bozeman, Montana, Donald Trump used Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” and this triggered the artist’s team. Apparently, the song was played while the supporters waited for Trump to come on stage.
This move was met with disapproval by Dion’s team who voiced out their displeasure via a X post at the utter lack of respect from Trump's team. The statement reads: “Today, Celine Dion's management team and her record label, Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc, became aware of the unauthorized usage... In no way is this use authorized, and Celine Dion does not endorse this or any similar use. ...And really, that song?"
Rhythm and Rights: The Beat Goes on Against Unauthorized Use
Music artists put a lot into their work, and it only makes sense that their intellectual right are protected. To protect their efforts, a law was set in place to guide the use of their work, and it is known as use of copyrighted songs. This is what empowers artists with a right to control how their songs are used, and also to get monetary proceeds from it.
That said, the use of Celine Dion’s song by Donald Trump without permission has sparked a lot of criticism and backlash on political campaigns. Now, more artists are speaking up about the illegal use of their songs to propagate political views. Queen and Rolling Stones are two of such artists that have taken a stand against the use of their songs without permission by Trump's team.
But here are the questions to ask: why can’t they get permission to use this music? Also do the artists have to give access to their music? Well the answer is simple, some people either overlook the use of copyrighted music or just blatantly decide to use it regardless of the backlash.
Another thing that should be known is that artists reserve the right to withhold access to their works, even when they are offered compensation. As the battle between artists and political expression continues, it remains to be seen who gets the upper hand at the end of the day.
Final Thoughts
Celine Dion’s bold move in calling out Donald Trump’s illegal use of her song is an audacious one. If anything, it sends a signal that nobody is bigger than the law, nor has the ability to infringe on the rights of artists for their own political gains. It also sets a precedent for other politicians who want to ride on the influence of artists to promote their ideals.