Isaac Hayes Estate Demands Trump Pay $3 Million
The family of the late singer/songwriter Isaac Hayes has sent Donald Trump a letter ordering him to cease and desist playing ‘Hold On/I’m Coming’ at his rallies and pay them $3 Million for past unauthorized use of the song.
Added some new moves to his dance this weekend. pic.twitter.com/0F2DK1Dq0p
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) June 27, 2022
The Hayes estate owns the copyright to the song, and has requested in the past that Trump stop using it at his rallies. It has become such a popular staple with MAGA fans because that is the song that Trump typically performs his “dance” to.
The demand letter states that Trump has violated Title 17, US Code Section 501 of the Copyright Act over 100 times by playing the song at his rallies. It then said that if Trump doesn’t immediately do the following, they will be filing a lawsuit:
- Stop playing the song.
- Go back and scrub and clips being used by the campaign in ads or social media that have that song.
- Pay $3 Million for past unauthorized use of the song.
- Issue a statement in writing that he has been using the song without permission.
Many artists over the years have sent boilerplate letters to Trump asking him to stop stealing their music, and Trump rarely complies. But there has not yet been a demand this specific and detailed threatening legal action. And this involves Trump’s favorite rally song, where he shows off all the dance moves that he learned at Studio 54.