The band, known for hits like “Waterloo” and “The Winner Takes It All,” learned that their music was being used without permission after seeing videos of a Trump rally online. In response, ABBA has requested the removal of these videos, stating that no permission or license was granted.
The Trump campaign, however, insists that it has secured the rights to play ABBA’s music through agreements with performance rights organizations.
ABBA is not the first artist to object to their music being used in Trump’s events. During the 2020 election cycle, several prominent musicians, including Bruce Springsteen and Rihanna, voiced similar concerns. Adele also requested that her songs not be used at political rallies.
In the current campaign, Celine Dion has requested that her song “My Heart Will Go On” not be played following its use in Trump’s rally videos. Dion’s representatives have clarified that this use was unauthorized and does not reflect her endorsement.
Earlier this month, Beyoncé’s team blocked Trump from using her song “Freedom” after it was featured in a video of the former president. The song saw a surge in popularity following its use in Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign launch.
Recently, the Trump campaign played “My Hero” by the Foo Fighters at a rally, prompting a statement from the band indicating that they had not granted permission for its use.
Political campaigns can play music at rallies without specific artist permission as long as they hold a blanket license from performance rights organizations such as ASCAP and BMI.
In July, a Swedish newspaper reported that ABBA’s music was played at a Trump rally in Minnesota. ABBA, who first gained fame in the 1970s and 1980s, made a comeback in 2021 with their album “Voyage.”
