All articles tagged with #music licensing
Taylor Swift and Bad Bunny quietly removed their songs from official Trump TikTok videos, denying the president high-profile music in his clips while keeping the tracks available to other users; the move is a subtle, strategic protest aligned with Swift’s political stance and Bad Bunny’s pro-immigrant messaging.
Noah Kahan publicly condemned President Trump for using his song 'American Cars' in an Instagram post without the artist's permission, stating he would never approve of his music supporting Trump or the administration; the post referenced Trump at a General Motors factory in Milford, Michigan.
Singer Noah Kahan criticized the White House for using his song 'American Cars' to back President Trump, saying he would never approve his music being used in support of the administration; the White House said the track is in the public Instagram library and available for use, a point noted amid a wider chorus of musicians opposing political uses of their songs.
Noah Kahan criticized the White House after it used his song “American Cars” in a social-media post featuring images of President Trump at a GM facility, saying he would never approve his music being used to support the administration. The clip appeared on TikTok and, after fans flagged it, Instagram reportedly had the sound disabled. Co-writer Noah Levine also criticized the usage. The controversy echoes similar objections from other artists like Katy Perry and Ariana Grande who condemned the White House’s use of their songs in past posts.
Billboard’s 2026 Top Music Lawyers profiles the leading outside counsel shaping the music industry’s legal landscape, from AI licensing deals and copyright questions to major antitrust battles and catalog acquisitions; the piece highlights practitioners across top firms who advise stars like Taylor Swift, Cardi B, and Michael Jackson’s estate, and explains the nomination methodology.
American pop star Ariana Grande asked the White House to stop using her 2024 song 'Bye' to promote its immigration policies after a TikTok video depicting arrests featured the track; her team is seeking to remove the music from the video, and a White House spokesperson rebutted the critique while Grande’s camp pursues removal.
Melania, Brett Ratner's documentary about the First Lady, uses Jonny Greenwood's Phantom Thread score without Greenwood or Paul Thomas Anderson's consent, prompting claims of a breach of Greenwood's composer agreement. Melania producer Marc Beckman defends the decision, noting politics and asserting the music will remain in the film, while revealing several artists who declined clearance (including Guns N' Roses, Grace Jones, and Prince's estate). The Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter" was cleared, and other tracks are reportedly in, with Greenwood also commenting that music and art should be above politics—even as the film stirs political controversy.
Spanish figure skater Tomàs-Llorenç Guarino Sabaté avoided a last-minute choreographic change after Universal granted rights to use Minions music for his Olympic short program. The licensing issue highlights ongoing complexity in music clearance for figure skating, with ISU officials urging a practical, cross-sport solution, and Guarino Sabaté set to compete in the men’s singles on Feb. 10 at the Milano Ice Skating Arena.
Stranger Things considered licensing Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway to Heaven' for its finale but was ultimately unable due to the band's strict licensing policies, highlighting the challenges of securing iconic rock songs for TV use.
Universal Music Group has settled its copyright infringement lawsuit against AI music platform Udio, and they will collaborate on a new licensed AI music platform launching in 2026, aiming to create a protected environment for music creation and streaming while expanding revenue opportunities for artists and songwriters.
UMG and AI music company Udio have reached a strategic agreement ending their lawsuit over copyright infringement, with UMG licensing its music assets to Udio and collaborating on a new AI-powered music platform set to launch in 2026, offering a protected environment for music creation and engagement.
Taylor Swift owning both the original and re-recorded versions of four albums from Big Machine presents multiple monetization opportunities, including licensing and anniversary reissues, while allowing her to maximize revenue and control over her catalog.
Victor Willis, a founding member of the Village People, defended Donald Trump's use of "Y.M.C.A." at campaign rallies, stating that Trump had the necessary BMI license and genuinely enjoyed the song. Willis chose not to withdraw permissions, noting the financial benefits and clarifying that the song is not a "gay anthem," but appeals to a broad audience, including Trump.
Victor Willis, the writer of "YMCA," clarifies that the song is not gay-themed, despite popular belief. He expresses gratitude for Donald Trump's use of the song at rallies, which has reportedly generated millions in revenue. Willis plans to take legal action against those who label the song as a gay anthem, emphasizing that it was inspired by activities at the YMCA unrelated to gay culture.
Victor Willis of the Village People thanked Donald Trump for using "Y.M.C.A." at his rallies, despite initial objections, due to the song's increased popularity and financial benefits. Willis clarified that "Y.M.C.A." is not a gay anthem, countering assumptions based on the group's history and the song's associations. He emphasized the song's universal appeal and warned against labeling it as a gay anthem, threatening legal action against such claims starting in 2025.