New York (AFP)

Music stars are solemnly demanding that Republican and Democratic candidates in the US election seek permission before using any of their tracks at campaign rallies, in an open letter published Tuesday.

Many artists have complained, since the previous presidential campaign, that some of their songs were performed at public meetings with Donald Trump.

Asking for permission from interpreters and authors "is the only way to protect your candidates from legal risk, unnecessary controversy or moral quagmire," argue the authors of the letter addressed to the main party bodies Democrat and Republican.

Among them are the Rolling Stones, who again threatened Donald Trump with legal action at the end of June if his campaign team continued to use the song "You Can't Always Get What You Want" during his public meetings.

"The problem is not new, or linked to a political party" and arises again during each election campaign, remind the authors, including the group Pearl Jam, the singers Sia and Lorde or the group REM

"To be involuntarily drawn into politics in this way can go against the personal values ​​of an artist while disappointing or irritating his fans", insist the artists gathered under the banner of the Artists Rights Alliance, association of defense of the rights artists.

The authors claim that the laws and their spirit would allow them to bring offenders to justice with a chance of success.

In addition to the Rolling Stones, the heirs of Prince, but also Adele, Neil Young, REM, Pharell Williams, Rihanna, Aerosmith or Queen have also denounced the use of their works during Republican rallies.

US politicians can obtain licenses from copyright societies (such as Ascap) which exempt them from seeking explicit permission from the singers or groups concerned.

US law nevertheless provides for the possibility for an artist to request that his music not be used by arguing that campaign officials are implying "mistakenly that the artist (...) supports the candidate", according to the American Recording Industry Association (RIAA).

American justice has not yet been brought to a decision on the issue since the start of Donald Trump's campaign in 2015.

© 2020 AFP