Son of late R&B singer suing Trump over ‘un-permitted’ use of song at campaign rallies

ATLANTA — The son of late music legend Issac Hayes is taking former president Donald Trump and his associates to court over the use of the song ‘Hold on, I’m Comin.’

“I think they need to rethink the ability for politicians to use the music of musical artists,” Isaac Hayes III told Channel 2′s Audrey Washington on Monday.

Hayes co-wrote the hit song in 1966. It was originally released and popularized by soul and R&B duo Sam & Dave.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Attorneys with the Hayes estate said Team Trump has played the song more than 100 times, over two years at various rallies and Trump events.

Hayes III said Trump and other associates named in the suit, including the NRA, consistently ignored copyright infringement notifications they sent.

“It’s unacceptable,” Hayes said.

“The copyright act is very clear, $150,000 per infringement,” attorney James L. Walker Jr said.

Monday, a Trump campaign representative told Washington that the campaign has a licensing agreement with BMI, an organization that represents the rights of musicians.

The representative said that agreement allows the use of music at Trump events.

Attorneys for the Hayes estate pushed back on that statement and read a new letter from BMI.

“Hold On, I’m Coming is excluded from the blanket license effective immediately. BMI will consider any performance of the work by Donald J. Trump for president 2024 campaign from this day forward to be unlicensed and a material breach of the agreement,” Walker read.

Hayes III said beyond the permission and licensing issues, the legal fight for him is personal.

He said he is moving forward with the lawsuit for his father.

“I know he would not want his music associated with that,” Hayes explained.

The emergency injunction hearing is scheduled for Tuesday at 10 a.m. inside the Richard B. Russell Federal Building & United States Courthouse in Downtown Atlanta.

Attorneys for musical artists like Beyonce, Foo Fighters, and Celine Dion have requested the Trump campaign to stop playing their songs at rallies or in videos.

TRENDING STORIES:

• Coroner identifies 7 victims killed in Mississippi bus crash on way from Atlanta to Dallas
• Man reported missing weeks ago found dead in ravine near Lake Lanier
• 2 metro Atlanta suburbs ranked among fastest-growing in the U.S.

[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]

IN OTHER NEWS:

High school senior, football player dies in crash on Georgia highway

©2024 Cox Media Group