The Isaac Hayes Estate has secured an emergency federal court hearing against Donald Trump regarding unauthorized use of Hayes' music at campaign events.

The Northern District of Georgia Federal Court in Atlanta scheduled the hearing for September 3, following claims of 134 unauthorized uses of "Hold On, I'm Coming" at Trump rallies. The estate previously demanded a $3 million licensing fee by August 16 before proceeding with legal action.

The lawsuit names multiple defendants alongside Trump:

• The Republican National Committee (RNC)
• National Rifle Association (NRA)
• Turning Point USA
• Trump for President Inc. 2024

Photo Credit: Isaac Hayes by William Henderson darkfiber22 / CC by 2.0

According to Isaac Hayes III, while Trump's campaign initially had ASCAP and BMI licensing coverage, the estate opted out of these licenses when Trump began using the song at rallies. Each unauthorized use could result in a $150,000 fine.

In a related development, Foo Fighters have also challenged Trump's campaign for using their song "My Hero" without permission at a recent rally featuring Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s endorsement. The band's representatives stated they would not have granted permission if asked and plan to donate any received royalties to Kamala Harris' campaign.

This case highlights ongoing tensions between musicians and political campaigns over unauthorized music usage, with particular focus on the complexities of music licensing and performance rights in political settings.

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