Foo Fighters join the ranks of musicians taking a stand against the unauthorized use of their music by political campaigns, as they redirect royalties from “My Hero” to Kamala Harris’ campaign.
The Foo Fighters have turned a recent breach of trust into a bold political statement, redirecting royalties from their song “My Hero” to Kamala Harris’s campaign. This comes in response to former President Donald Trump using the song at a rally without obtaining permission. In a statement reported by PEOPLE, a band spokesperson made it clear that Foo Fighters would never have granted permission for their music to be used in such a manner.
The incident has stirred quite a bit of conversation on Reddit. User InternetAddict104 praised the band, saying, “Is there any way to legitimately dislike the Foo Fighters? Because I don’t see one.”
This isn’t an isolated case; the issue of unauthorized music use by political campaigns is becoming increasingly contentious. The Rolling Stones had also threatened legal action against Trump for using their songs, even working with BMI to enforce the embargo, as reported in a Reddit post by mostaksaif.
Foo Fighters made sure to voice their position clearly on social media too. On X (formerly Twitter), they responded to a user’s inquiry about whether Trump had permission to use “My Hero” with a resounding, “No,” further elaborating, “Let us be clear.”
Many Redditors echoed the sentiment of support for the band’s decisive stand. User silenceiskey93 shared a personal anecdote associated with the song, stating, “When I hear it, I think of my husband and choke up on how good he’s been for me.”
In a political landscape where music often plays a critical role, musicians are increasingly vocal about the use of their work. The band’s decision to donate proceeds exemplifies this shift. According to Far Out Magazine, this move aligns Foo Fighters with other artists like Beyoncé and Celine Dion, who have similarly taken stands against unauthorized use of their work by Trump’s campaign.
To express their discontent and show support for the opposition, Foo Fighters are not just voicing their objections; they’re putting their money where their mouth is. As noted in MyTalk 107.1, the royalties from the song have not only been redirected to Harris’s campaign but also to Gov. Tim Walz’s campaign.
Other musicians have also challenged Trump’s campaign. Swift action by Foo Fighters, as reported by Israelhayom, mirrors a broader resistance among artists, who are increasingly unwilling to let their work be associated with political agendas they don’t endorse.
As the Foo Fighters join a list of artists resisting unauthorized music use for political gains, it remains to be seen how this trend will continue to evolve. For now, we can celebrate the band’s decision to turn a moment of unauthorized use into an opportunity for political activism.