No more “Lose Yourself” for Vivek Ramaswamy, Donald Trump’s rival in the primaries. On August 12, during a meeting at the Iowa State Fair, the Republican presidential candidate for 2024 decided to rap on the famous song by Eminem. If the video made the buzz on social networks, it did not please the principal concerned. The 50-year-old rapper was quick to ban Vivek Ramaswamy from using his music during his campaign.
Eminem made his request to Broadcast Music Incorporated (BMI), the American copyright collection organization for songwriters, composers and producers. The letter, dated August 23 and relayed by the Daily Mail, is addressed directly to the presidential campaign lawyer. She explains that the label has received “communications from Marshall B. Mathers III, professionally known as Eminem, objecting to the use of his musical compositions by the Vivek Ramaswamy campaign.” The agreement is “effective immediately”.
From now on, the use of Eminem’s works by the candidate will be considered “a material breach of the agreement for which BMI reserves all rights and remedies in this regard”.
This is not the first time that artists have refused to allow political representatives to use their works. In 2018, Rihanna revolted on Twitter after Donald Trump used her song Don’t stop the music during a trip during his midterm campaign. Two years later, the Rolling Stones would go so far as to threaten to sue the Republican president if he continued to use their song You Can’t Always Get What You Want at his rallies.