Marc Hogan Campaign

“Here’s How Candidates Can Use Songs in Their Campaigns, Even If Songwriters Don’t Like It” goes into depth on exactly what the title states. It was written by Marc Hogan for Pitchfork, “the most trusted voice in music.” Pitchfork is an online magazine covering music news, reviews of new releases, and interviews with musicians. Hogan explains how politicians must receive the right approvals for the use of songs within both their campaign rallies and videos. In terms of rallies, politicians are at risk for more than just licensing legalities; artists can sue candidates under state-specific “right of publicity” laws. He gives plenty of examples of such cases yet also includes cases in which politicians received the musician’s blessing. This factual article examines the interactions between candidates and the music world and acknowledges the dissonance found between the two. In this context, music functions as a vehicle for artists to share their views and beliefs with the world. If a campaign’s use of a song suggests that the performer is a political supporter, musicians can sue for “false endorsement” under the Lanham Act; since these lawsuits are expensive, individuals are more likely to go to social media for confrontation. There have been instances where one song may be …show more content…
Hogan’s article reminded me of how important it is to stand up for what you believe in, and how even if you might be the “little guy,” you should not just be stepped all over. Music has always been a large part of political campaigns, creating excitement and a sense of unity between those in attendance. I understand how and why politicians use certain songs to convey certain messages, I just wonder why they haven’t “learned their lesson,” per se. All it takes to resolve this issue is to simply ask for permission from the artist and accept whatever their answer may