ABBA have joined the chorus of artists demanding that Donald Trump cease playing their music at campaign rallies.
The legendary pop group has instructed its record label, Universal Music, to inform Trump’s campaign that it does not have permission or license to use its music, according to Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet.
“Together with the members of Abba, we have discovered that videos have been released where ABBA’s music/videos has been used at Trump events, and we have therefore requested that such use be immediately taken down and removed,” Universal Music said in a statement released on Thursday, August 29th.
“Universal Music Publishing AB and Polar Music International AB have not received any request, so no permission or license has been given to Trump,” the statement added.
At an event in St Cloud, Minnesota on Tuesday, Trump reportedly played ABBA songs “Money, Money, Money,” “The Winner Takes It All,” and “Dancing Queen,” and also showed footage of ABBA’s music videos.
In the past month, Trump’s campaign has faced similar takedown demands from the Foo Fighters and Beyoncé for the unauthorized use of their music. Although Trump’s campaign events are covered by broad ASCAP and BMI licenses that permit the use of music, artists have the option to opt out of these licenses. Once an artist opts out and notifies a candidate that they are in breach of the license, the candidate could be liable for a $150,000 fine for each unauthorized use. Currently, the estate of Isaac Hayes is suing Trump for $3 million over this very issue.
