Posted on 09/06/2008 10:39:05 AM PDT by markomalley
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The rock group Heart, angry that its '70s hit "Barracuda" is being used as the unofficial theme song for Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin, is taking aim at the Alaska governor.
The song, a nod to the "Sarah Barracuda" nickname Palin earned on the basketball court in high school, was dusted off for her appearance at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul on Wednesday.
Heart singers Ann and Nancy Wilson said a "cease-and-desist" letter has been sent to the Republicans asking them not to use the song.
"The Republican campaign did not ask for permission to use the song, nor would they have been granted that permission," according to a statement issued late on Thursday on behalf of the sisters.
There was no immediate comment from the Republican camp.
Last month, rocker Jackson Browne sued Republican presidential candidate John McCain, the Republican National Committee and the Ohio Republican Party, accusing them of using his 1977 hit "Running on Empty" in a campaign ad without permission.
Copyright law may not be on the Wilsons' side as the song is licensed for public performance under a blanket fee paid by the venue to ASCAP, the firm that collects royalties on behalf of composers and copyright owners.
Despite the Wilson sisters' objections, one of the song's co-writers said he was "thrilled" that the song was used.
In an e-mail to Reuters, the band's former guitarist, Roger Fisher, said it was a win-win situation. Heart gets publicity and royalties, while the Republicans benefit from "the ingenious placement of a kick-ass song," Fisher said.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
And based on his numerous posts in the past week steve-b appears to be fully on board with the Obaminators.
Read the FBI warning on a DVD sometime. You can't just buy one copy at WalMart and show it to ten thousand people.
Their both in their 50s. They'd better start thinking about some extra retirement income.
If Heart feels so strongly about this, they can withdraw from ASCAP, forfeiting any future ASCAP royalties.
If I was running the McCain/Palin campaign, I'd blast that song at every rally and let the Wilson sisters squeal.
Exactly! This is just a political stunt on their part so they can keep their Hollywood bona fides.
“Friday afternoon, we heard back from the McCain campaign, which issued the following statement: “The McCain campaign respects intellectual property rights. Accordingly, prior to using ‘Barracuda’ at any events, we paid for and obtained all necessary licenses.”
http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2008/09/05/mccain-campaign-to-go-heart-less/
Your post was Amateur Hour!
they were greedy when they sold the song. Just shut up and pay your taxes.
The only thing fishy is that the letter was sent after it was played one time. Clearly the members of Heart were sitting around waiting for it to happen so they could complain.
It doesn’t sound like anyone screwed up. I think Heart just wanted a little more of their 15 minutes, and they didn’t want their liberal buddies to imagine they supported *gasp* a Republican!
susie
It was perfectly legal and created a buzz. Respecting the artists’ wish henceforth is classy.
Plus, there's a reason you don't hear the song on the radio much anymore.
Now, when people do hear the song they will think of Palin instead of thinking of Heart when they see Palin.
Correct. Chrissy Hynde of the Pretenders a few years ago, tried to stop Rush from using the first part of "My City is Gone" for his theme song. She couldn't stop it because Rush pays the fees.
BTW, Chrissy's parents are Ditto heads.
My understanding was that permission could be revoked, regardless permission was previously sought, fees paid, more or less for just this kind of situation, the owner provides permission but the song, in this case, is not used in a manner he approves. Any copyright lawyers around to clarify for me? Is this permission non-revocable once the fee is paid?
Side note-request: If you would, please assure me that I am correct in earlier assertions made on another site re: a completely different situation, that the artists who perform the songs used, their *personal* permission is not sought each and every time someone wishes to use a tune in a commercial ad, for example, the ad agencies are not calling rock boys to ask "Is it okay?" each time a hit is thought to be useful in selling. The permission is granted from the songwriter, the owner of the rights to the tune, not the band/singer, correct?
Exactly!
Boo! Hiss! to the hard Hearted.
Reeks of the ditzy shhhhh*it's* ness.(dixie chicks)
“Fat and Goth is no way to go through life”
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