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Rolling Stones Bmi Donald Trump

Rolling Stones ask Donald Trump to stop using their music to boost presidential campaign

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By Rebecca Stewart, Trends Editor

May 5, 2016 | 2 min read

The Rolling Stones have asked presidential hopeful Donald Trump to "cease" using their songs to boost his political campaign.

Rolling Stones ask Trump to stop using music

Trump played the band's hit 'Start Me Up' following a speech at a rally last night (4 May) in which he celebrated edging closer to winning the Republican nomination.

“The Rolling Stones have never given permission to the Trump campaign to use their songs and have requested that they cease all use immediately," said the band in a statement hours later.

The former Apprentice US host has used several of the band's hits throughout his campaign trail, including 'Sympathy for the Devil' and 'Brown Sugar'. Artists' permission is not typically required during political rallies if the venue has a blanket license from performing rights groups, but this hasn't stopped stars like Adele, Elton John and Neil Young object to his use of their music.

Groups like BMI give musicians the option to protest use of their back catalogue, and can exclude songs from the blanket license under certain conditions.

Rolling Stones Bmi Donald Trump

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