Eminem to GOP Candidate Vivek Ramaswamy: Stop Using My Songs
Renowned rapper Eminem has raised objections to Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy for utilizing his songs during campaign events. The incident occurred when Ramaswamy, an entrepreneur in the biotech sector from Ohio and a Republican contender, spontaneously performed Eminem's hit track ‘Lose Yourself' at a campaign event in Iowa earlier this month.
It seems that Eminem has taken issue with Ramaswamy's usage of his music in his campaign activities, as confirmed by a representative from Ramaswamy's campaign. The situation gained attention when Ramaswamy performed a rendition of Eminem's iconic 2002 song “Lose Yourself” on stage at the Iowa State Fair, alongside Governor Kim Reynolds.
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The matter escalated when BMI, a music licensing organization, sent a letter to one of Ramaswamy's campaign lawyers. The letter indicated that Eminem's compositions were removed from their music licensing agreement after a direct request from the rapper himself. A spokesperson for Ramaswamy's campaign, Tricia McLaughlin, stated, “Vivek just got on the stage and had some fun. Regrettably, we'll have to leave the rapping to the real Slim Shady.”
Recent weeks have witnessed a notable surge in Ramaswamy's popularity in national polls for the 2024 Republican presidential primaries. He is currently maintaining an average of approximately 10.1%, according to FiveThirtyEight. While former President Donald Trump continues to lead in the polls, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Ramaswamy closely follow suit.
In specific polls within Iowa, Ramaswamy secured 4% in a recent survey conducted by the Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom. This places him behind six other contenders, according to the Daily Mail's report.
The incident highlights the complexities of using copyrighted music for political campaigns, as artists and their representatives may have differing opinions on the political associations made with their work.
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