Rock legend Steven Tyler has sent a cease-and-desist letter to the White House demanding that President Trump Donald John TrumpConsultant secures Democratic nomination in Wyoming House race Wyoming treasurer wins GOP gubernatorial nod, beating Trump-backed rival Trump to announce NAFTA 'handshake' deal on Thursday: report MORE stop playing Aerosmith songs at his rallies.
Tyler’s attorney, Dina LaPolt, sent the letter after Trump’s Tuesday night rally in West Virginia, as first reported by Variety. The band’s “Livin’ on the Edge” played as Trump supporters entered the Charleston Civic Center.
The scene in WV before Trump’s rally. Aerosmith’s “Livin’ on the edge” playing. pic.twitter.com/HW1qr9TBgE — Jim Acosta (@Acosta) August 21, 2018
LaPolt’s letter, a copy of which was obtained by Variety, notes that Trump was previously asked to stop using Aerosmith songs twice during his campaign.
“Mr. Trump is creating the false impression that our client has given his consent for the use of his music, and even that he endorses the presidency of Mr. Trump,” the letter reads.
LaPolt writes that Aerosmith fans have mistakenly believed that Tyler endorses Trump’s presidency and expressed as much on social media, and says that Trump’s use of the song is a violation of the Lanham Act.
LaPolt said in the first two cease-and-desist letters, which were related to Trump’s use of “Dream On,” that the issue was neither personal nor political, but an issue of copyright. Tyler is a registered Republican.
Trump said in 2015 that he had found a “better” song to play instead of “Dream On,” and boasted that the scandal gave Tyler “more publicity … than he’s gotten in 10 years.”
A number of musical artists have requested that Trump not play their songs at public events, including R.E.M., Twisted Sister and Elton John.
daymon911 on August 22nd, 2018 at 18:51 UTC »
That might be the most flattering picture of Steven Tyler that exists in the known universe.
crossedstaves on August 22nd, 2018 at 17:07 UTC »
So do artists generally not own the copyrights to their songs in the recording industry? This seems to be a thing a lot. Is it just a thing where the label is the one licensing this stuff and the artists have no legal say?
rockemsock on August 22nd, 2018 at 16:42 UTC »
Is Trump really still organizing these rallies or is it just Trump supporters? Is it normal for a sitting president to hold rallies?