The family of celebrated soul musician Isaac Hayes has issued a directive to Donald Trump, demanding the cessation of the song “Hold On, I’m Coming” during his campaign rallies. The request comes alongside a warning of legal repercussions if compliance is not achieved by August 16.
According to a letter shared by Hayes’ son, the family is pursuing $3 million in licensing fees for Trump’s campaign’s repeated use of the iconic track from 2022 to 2024. The song, originally popularized by the duo Sam and Dave, has frequently been played at Trump’s rallies, serving as a prelude and postlude to his speeches.
Hayes, who co-wrote the song in 1966 as a staff writer at Stax Records, is a Grammy and Oscar winner known for hits like “Shaft” and “Walk On By.” The family’s legal correspondence asserts that they have made multiple requests for the Trump campaign to discontinue usage of the song, noting 134 specific instances of its continued play.
Legal representative James Walker describes the campaign’s actions as “willful and brazen” copyright infringement. Hayes’ family is also calling for the removal of videos featuring the song and a formal acknowledgment that the family has not sanctioned its use.
In a further clarification, Walker mentioned that the $3 million sought is a “heavily discounted” amount given the regularity with which the campaign has featured “Hold On, I’m Coming.” Should the dispute escalate to legal action, the family intends to pursue $150,000 in damages for each instance of unauthorized use, potentially exceeding $20 million.
As of now, the Trump campaign has not publicly responded to these allegations.
The Hayes family previously condemned Trump’s use of the song during a National Rifle Association convention following the tragic Uvalde school shooting in 2022. They expressed condolences to the victims and their families during that incident and emphasized their disapproval of the song’s association with Trump’s rhetoric.
In a recent statement, Isaac Hayes III vocally criticized Trump, asserting that the former president embodies a “lack of integrity and class” by using his father’s music without permission, alongside a history of inappropriate behavior and comments. The family announced its commitment to take decisive action against such practices.
The controversy reflects ongoing tensions between artists and political campaigns. Numerous musicians, including notable acts such as The Beatles, Neil Young, and Bruce Springsteen, have similarly voiced objections to the unauthorized use of their music by political figures. Many artists have taken steps to formally protest, leading to significant discourse on artists’ rights within political contexts.
The ongoing situation illustrates a broader pattern of artists seeking to protect their work from being co-opted in political spheres, highlighting the challenges faced in safeguarding creative rights against unrestricted usage.
