Musicians Tell Republicans to Stop Using Their Music

When introducing the Nazi witch Sarah Palin as vice presidential candidate, the Republicans played the song "Barracuda." Heart were not happy. Neither was the band Van Halen happy about them playing "Right Now" as McCain walked on, and Jackson Browne was really pissed that they* used his song "Running On Empty" in a commercial. Also used without permission were the band Orleans's song "Still the One" (one of the co-writers is now a Democratic New York Congressman), and Franki Valli's song "Can't Take My Eyes Off Of You."

What do you think McCain & Team's reaction was to the demands from the artists that they stop? Anyone? It was the same thing Republicans have said to everyone not "in the fold" for over a decade: "Fuck you." "Barracuda" is still pumping out at campaign stops featuring the wicked witch of the far north.

Heart
Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart have informed the McCain/Palin Campaign that Universal Music Publishing and Sony BMG have sent a cease-and-desist notice to not use one of Heart's classic songs "Barracuda," as the congratulatory theme for Sarah Palin. The Republican campaign did not ask for permission to use the song, nor would they have been granted that permission.
"We have asked the Republican campaign not to use our music. We hope our wishes will be honored."**

Van Halen
"Permission was not sought or granted nor would it have been given."

Jackson Browne
"We are confident that Jackson Browne will prevail in this lawsuit. Not only have Senator McCain and his agents plainly infringed Mr. Browne's copyright in Running On Empty, but the Federal Courts have long held that the unauthorized use of a famous singer's voice in a commercial constitutes a false endorsement and a violation of the singer's right of publicity," Lawrence Iser of the Santa Monica, California law firm Kinsella Weitzman Iser Kump & Aldisert said in a press release. "In light of Jackson Browne's lifelong commitment to Democratic ideals and political candidates, the misappropriation of Jackson Browne's endorsement is entirely reprehensible, and I have no doubt that a jury will agree."

*Officially the Ohio State Republican Party in an ad against Obama.
**The song is still in use because the Republicans paid ASCAP, a corporation established to provide income from radio and other musical performance. Have I mentioned that our copyright laws are designed to enrich the ultrawealthy and have nothing to do with the artists that created the music?