Neil Young again sues Trump campaign for playing Rockin' in the Free World at rally
The Canadian-American musician sued Trump in 2020 over unauthorised use of song at a political event.
Canadian music icon Neil Young has filed a $10 million lawsuit against the fundraising committee supporting US President Donald Trump, alleging unauthorized use of his 1989 song "Rockin' in the Free World." The Trump 47 Committee played the track before President Trump took the stage at a rally in Youngstown, Ohio on October 12th.
Young's legal team argues that the committee infringed upon his copyright by playing the song without his permission, constituting an unauthorized public performance. The Grammy Award winner, 80, has previously expressed strong opposition to Trump's politics and characterized the song as a "blistering anthem" that contrasts with Trump's hollow promises.
Young alleges that the Trump campaign was aware of the necessary license for playing the song at rallies but chose not to obtain it. The lawsuit claims that the song has been played multiple times at other Trump rallies. In 2020, Young sued Trump's re-election campaign over the same song and "Devil's Sidewalk," which the campaign allegedly settled shortly after being served with the lawsuit, promising not to use the songs without permission.
In a statement on his website, Young thanked Trump for attending his shows in the 1980s and 1990s but drew a clear line, stating that he will not allow his music to be played without his permission. The lawsuit follows previous legal actions taken by Young against Trump, including a 2020 case involving "Rockin' in the Free World" and "Devil's Sidewalk." Notable artists such as The Rolling Stones, Rihanna, Adele, REM, and Prince have also criticized Trump for using their music at campaign events.
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