Steven Tyler: Telling Trump Not to Use ‘Dream On’ Was About Copyright, Not Politics
Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler penned an op-ed for Huffington Post on Wednesday, saying that his message for Donald Trump about the hit song ‘Dream On’ was in the interest of copyright, rather than to comment on his political positions.
Earlier this week, Tyler’s attorneys reportedly sent two cease-and-desist letters to the front-running mogul, saying Trump’s use of the song at a campaign event, ‘gives the false impression that [Tyler] is connected with or endorses Mr. Trump’s presidential bid.’ Trump found out about this soon enough, and kept in character with his response on Twitter:
Even though I have the legal right to use Steven Tyler’s song, he asked me not to. Have better one to take its place!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 14, 2015
Steven Tyler got more publicity on his song request than he’s gotten in ten years. Good for him!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 14, 2015
In his article, Tyler outlined how, despite however Trump might feel, his issue with the song use has more to do with licensing rights than anything else.
“My intent was not to make a political statement, but to make one about the rights of my fellow music creators,” Tyler said. “I’ve been singing this song for a while now.”
Tyler went on to describe his interest in how technology has changed the music industry, but also his gripes with how his music and those of other musicians is regulated by politicians and problematic copyright laws. He said that his interest was in putting pressure on politicians to change the laws for the sake of musicians less known than himself.
“Too much government intervention in art and music is a bad thing,” Tyler wrote. “We know you love our music. Now is the time to show us some love by supporting the effort to reform outdated copyright laws.”
[h/t Rolling Stone]
[Image via wikimedia commons]
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