Donald Trump's Campaign Faces Backlash Over Unauthorized Use of Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On"
During a recent campaign rally in Montana, an unexpected moment occurred when the iconic Celine Dion song "My Heart Will Go On" began playing. The choice of the song, often associated with the sinking of the Titanic, was reportedly an inside joke among campaign staff, symbolizing the campaign's perceived struggles following the rise of Kamala Harris in recent polls.
The Incident's Fallout
The moment was captured on video and quickly went viral. However, it didn’t take long for Celine Dion’s management team and her record label, Sony Music Entertainment Canada Inc., to respond. In a strongly-worded statement, they condemned the unauthorized use of Dion’s song at a political rally, stating, “Today, Celine Dion’s management team and her record label became aware of the unauthorized use of the video, recording, musical performance, and likeness of Celine Dion singing ‘My Heart Will Go On’ at a Donald Trump/JD Vance rally in Montana.”
Legal Implications
This isn’t the first time Donald Trump’s campaign has faced criticism for using music without proper authorization. The statement from Dion’s team suggests that Sony Music may consider legal action against the former president’s campaign. The list of artists who have publicly opposed the use of their music by Trump’s campaign is extensive, including The Beatles, Bruce Springsteen, Phil Collins, Pharrell Williams, Elton John, Adele, Neil Young, Luciano Pavarotti, Aerosmith, and many others.
A Growing List of Complaints
This incident adds to the growing number of complaints from musicians who do not want their work associated with Trump’s political activities. The frequent misuse of songs has led to increasing tensions between artists and the former president's campaign team. Many artists have made it clear that they do not want their music used in a political context, especially without their explicit permission.
Finally
As Trump’s campaign continues to face scrutiny over its practices, it remains to be seen whether they will change their approach or continue to risk legal challenges from artists and record labels. For now, the unauthorized use of "My Heart Will Go On" serves as a reminder of the importance of respecting intellectual property rights, even in the heated atmosphere of political campaigning.
