AceShowbiz - Donald Trump's use of Isaac Hayes' classic track "Hold On, I'm Coming" at multiple campaign rallies has landed him in hot water with the late artist's estate. Isaac Hayes III, son of the soul music legend, announced via social media that a federal judge granted an emergency hearing for the lawsuit filed by Hayes Enterprises. The hearing is set for September 3 at the Northern U.S. District Federal Court in Atlanta.

The copyright infringement notice, filed on August 11 by Hayes Enterprises attorneys, targets Donald Trump, the RNC, Trump for President Inc. 2024, Turning Point, and the NRA. Hayes III emphasized on X (formerly Twitter) that they have repeatedly asked these entities to cease the use of the song without permission, but their requests were ignored. In a more charged statement, Hayes III denounced Trump's actions, citing disrespect and lack of integrity.

Legal representatives for the Hayes estate initially instructed Trump to pay $3 million in licensing fees by August 16, threatening further legal action upon non-compliance. The estate's lawyer, James Walker, mentioned that this sum was a substantial discount compared to the regular charges for such infringements. With the deadline passed, the case quickly escalated to the courts.

Trump's unauthorized use of popular music has been a recurring controversy throughout his political career. Many high-profile artists, including The Rolling Stones, Adele, Rihanna, and Steven Tyler, have publicly objected to their music being used at his rallies without permission. In just the past month, Celine Dion, Foo Fighters, and Beyonce Knowles have also taken issue with Trump's campaign for similar reasons.

The Foo Fighters' 1997 anthem "My Hero" was played without authorization as Trump welcomed Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to a campaign event in Glendale, Arizona. A spokesperson for the band confirmed that they were not asked for permission and would have denied it if approached. Furthermore, any royalties accrued from the usage of their song will be donated to the Kamala Harris / Tim Walz campaign, and appropriate legal actions are planned against Trump's campaign.

The instance of Beyonce's "Freedom" being played in a campaign video posted by Trump's spokesman on X further added to the series of unauthorized uses. This video was taken down after Beyonce's record label issued a cease-and-desist notice.

The upcoming court session in Atlanta highlights a significant moment in the fight against unauthorized use of music in political campaigns. Isaac Hayes III's declaration of "See you in court" underscores the determination to protect artistic rights and secure justice.