Bon Jovi objects to McCain-Palin campaign using his songs.
Bon Jovi objects to McCain-Palin campaign using his songs.
Jon Bon Jovi issued a statement to TMZ today objecting to Gov. Sarah Palin’s (R-AK) use of his song “Who Says You Can’t Go Home” during her rallies:
We wrote this song as a thank you to those who have supported us over the past twenty-five years. The song has since become a banner for our home state of New Jersey and the defacto theme song for our partnerships around the country to build homes and rebuild communities. Although we were not asked, we do not approve of their use of ‘Home.’
The band joins John Mellencamp, Heart, Jackson Browne, the Foo Fighters, Van Halen and others in objecting to the use of their music by the McCain campaign. Ironically, today the McCain campaign faulted YouTube for taking down some of its videos — without acknowledging that some of those videos faced DMCA take-down notices. (HT: Huffington Post)
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Republicans at their best; lie, cheat and steal.
October 15th, 2008 at 3:49 pmActually, no offense to Mr. Bongiovi, but it would suit me just fine if Bambi McPalin did “go home”. Maybe President Obama could put her in charge of Alaska Homeland Security, protectin’ us against all those Russians who rear their heads every so often, dontcha know…
October 15th, 2008 at 3:49 pmThey don’t care if you object.
October 15th, 2008 at 3:51 pmThere is no abuse of power here people. Keep moving along.
note to musicians: Sue the bastards!
October 15th, 2008 at 3:54 pm“Who Says You Can’t Go Home”
This will be the song for Sarah on November 5th.
October 15th, 2008 at 3:57 pmI object to Bon Jovi songs…
October 15th, 2008 at 4:01 pmHere is my objection: that Bon Jovi ever came up with that terrible song.
October 15th, 2008 at 4:02 pmUncle Ho Says
October 15th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
note to musicians: Sue the bastards!
___________________________________________________________
I don’t know who actually owns the rights to this song, but oftentimes it’s not the songwriter or the artist who popularized it. Most songs wind up in the hands of BMI or ASCAP, who are contacted by anyone wishing to use a song, are paid the fee for the song’s use, and then the royalty is passed onto the holder of the copyright.
This entire transaction can occur without the copyright holder knowing what his song is being used for, so it’s unlikely he’d be able to sue. However, I believe he can issue a “cease and desist” order.
October 15th, 2008 at 4:04 pmmissmolly makes a very important point, one that’s frequently overlooked. In most cases, public use of a song is covered under a wide blanket license, for which both campaigns have likely paid the proper fees.
The artists have every right to object when a political campaign appropriates and misuses a piece of music, but they usually don’t have the option of suing if all the proper licenses have been obtained.
October 15th, 2008 at 4:09 pmMHM:
You are correct. That was the problem with the Foo Fighters issue, they don’t technically own their own song (which is all kinds of f’ed up, but that’s a debate for another thread. KILL THE MUSIC INDUSTRY!)
The corporations that license, own, market etc these bands also own the intellectual property that is the song in question and the company can license it to anyone they choose unless the band has a contract that allows them exclusive control (which is rare) or if they have NO contract and own all their music (like Trent Reznor/NIN who now gives away all his new music for free because he has more money than god and hates the music industry, and also encourages his fans to literally steal his cd’s rather than paying for them).
Foo Fighters, Heart, Bon Jovi et al are doing the only thing within their power to do in this case: Let the public know that they do NOT endorse McCain/Palin regardless of the use of their music.
October 15th, 2008 at 4:10 pmNewsflash: If the song is licensed from ASCAP or BMI under a general ‘arena use’ agreement and the venue pays blanket fees to ASCAP or BMI, then NONE of the bands listed can do a thing about their songs being played.
This has NOTHING to do with copyright; it’s related to public perfomance licensing rights and facilities that pay for the rights.
These idiots should really read their own contracts with their music publishers before spouting off like that.
(I run a record label and deal with this crap all the time)
October 15th, 2008 at 4:15 pmI’d go ahead and replace “Encyclopedia Britannica” with “misshusseinmolly.”
October 15th, 2008 at 4:15 pmWhat wrong with the McCain campaign? Besides the obvious, of course.
They are being positively pathological about this…
October 15th, 2008 at 4:18 pmWhat makes you think Jon Bon Jovi isn’t aware of what his contract says?
It doesn’t sound like he demanded anything that he has no right to demand (i. e. that they stop using his song). Sounds to me like he’s simply saying he doesn’t approve of this use, as the artist who created the work. He has every right to make such a public declaration.
October 15th, 2008 at 4:21 pmi think it’s called ROCK AGAINST THUGS
i know i just included bon jovi under the banner of rock.
i’m sorry.
October 15th, 2008 at 4:32 pmAC/DC called and they said that McCain can use “Highway to Hell” all they want…
crooksNliars, as a musician, I would like to point out that you have quite a fitting name for someone who runs a record label. Just sayin’ ;)
October 15th, 2008 at 4:33 pmWhat does that leave, Barney the Dinosaur’s “I Love You”?
October 15th, 2008 at 4:35 pmJust remember Reagan with “Born in the USA” as a proclomation of his glories.
October 15th, 2008 at 4:37 pmFirst politicians isolated themselves from the do not call list, now it’s copyright laws. What’s next – abuse of power?…
October 15th, 2008 at 4:50 pmNever mind.
5th Estate Says:
What does that leave, Barney the Dinosaur’s “I Love You”?
October 15th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Oh god no….please. I’ll do anything…
October 15th, 2008 at 5:07 pmZooey: I’m with you on that(reply to 5th Est).
It’s one of those songs that make you want to choke the living shit out of someone.
October 15th, 2008 at 5:11 pmThe other is “Don’t worry, be happy”
Trace; when WE want YOUR opinion, we will rattle your chain.
October 15th, 2008 at 5:12 pmUntil then, be QUIET IN THE PEANUT GALLERY!
Tracy,
I don’t think we can know about what or how the nightclubs or cover bands are doing things. Unless Wayne is around, he’s a musician, and he might know.
What we do know is that the McCain campaign is NOT making any sort of attempt to go through proper channels regarding their music.
I thought you liked rules and stuff.
October 15th, 2008 at 5:19 pmGood argument, Trace — “nightclubs do it, and you libs don’t whine about THAT!”
Another fine wingnut apologia brought to you by Tracy_5.
Tracy_5: when it absoluely, positively, has to be stoopid!™
October 15th, 2008 at 5:49 pmI guess McPalin got sick of a steady diet of Big & Rich and Hank Jr. Yes they can play the song at their rallies as long as they pay the ASCAP (or equivalent) fee but this is getting hysterical having so many artists making a point of saying they don’t approve of the candidate’s use of the song. Kind of wonder if certain episodes of antisocial behavior by Republicans towards performers who dared to express an opinion has anything to do with this reaction.
October 15th, 2008 at 5:58 pmI object to Bon Jovi using his own songs.
October 15th, 2008 at 8:12 pmOriginal as always, Tracist. Well done.
October 15th, 2008 at 8:19 pmcrooksNliars Says:
I dont know about the rest but Jackson Browne OWNS his songs 100% perhaps you just dont know what you are talking about.
October 16th, 2008 at 9:36 amTracy__5 Says:
Why are you insulting US with your constant stupidity? McCain is using copyrighted material the creaters of which object. YOU are just a moron who will appologize for ANYTHING McTHIEF does.
October 16th, 2008 at 9:40 amI dont know about the rest but Jackson Browne OWNS his songs 100% perhaps you just dont know what you are talking about.
Spoken like someone that has no idea how copyright and licensing works. The artist retains 100% copyright, but that’s not what the issue is here. LICENSING of the songs falls under the scope of the publishing company the artist either owns or contracted to represent them. If they signed a contract that allows a blanket licensing OR a public performance license, the artist can’t stop a venue from playing the songs, so long as they pay their blanket fees to ASCAP or BMI.
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