Rihanna and Axl Rose to Donald Trump: Stop Playing Our Music at Your Rallies
President Trump’s constant use of popular music from artists who do not support him continues. Artists from Paul McCartney to Bruce Springsteen to Steven Tyler have publicly asked for Trump to stop playing their music during the 2016 campaign. Prince’s estate has done the same. In likely violation of the public performance rights rules, Trump and his staff continued to play the music and disregard requests.
Impressively, even for Donald Trump, he managed to win the negative attention of Rihanna and Guns n’ Roses lead singer Axl Rose in the same 24-hour period. Both expressed annoyance that Trump has recently played their music at his rallies.
Forty-eight hours before Election Day, Washington Post political reporter and Washington Bureau chief, Phil Rucker tweeted, “It’s been said a million times, but here’s a million and one — Trump’s rallies are unlike anything else in politics. Currently, Rihanna’s “Don’t Stop the Music” is blaring in Chattanooga as aides toss free Trump T-shirts into the crowd, like a ball game. Everyone’s loving it.”
Less than a day later Rihanna tweeted in response.
“Not for much longer…me nor my people would ever be at or around one of those tragic rallies, so thanks for the heads up philip!”
Trump also managed to win the negative attention of Axl Rose, the lead singer of Guns n’ Roses. Rose, 56, has 1.4 million followers on twitter.
“Just so ya know… GNR, like a lot of artists opposed to the unauthorized use of their music at political events, has formally requested r music not be used at Trump rallies or Trump associated events,” Rose tweeted.
“Unfortunately, the Trump campaign is using loopholes in the various venues’ blanket performance licenses which were not intended for such craven political purposes, without the songwriters’ consent,” Rose added.
Rose also tweeted a message that read “vote blue bitches,” during his twitter tirade on performance rights.
“We have an individual in the WH that will say n’ do anything w/no regard for truth, ethics, morals or empathy of any kind, who says what’s real is fake n’ what’s fake is real,” Rose continued.
Rihanna has made her efforts on twitter pointedly political. She tweeted support of Florida ballot initiative
“FLORIDA: You have the opportunity to make history this election. Let’s #bringithome. Vote @andrewgillum. And VOTE YES on Amendment 4 to restore voting rights to folks who have already paid their debt to society. VOTE on November 6th!” she posted on twitter on November 4.
If Amendment 4 passes in Florida over a million more registered voters could be added to the rolls.
