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Mellencamp writes the songs he sings, and also owns the publishing company that licenses the use of his songs. He owns performance rights as the songwriter and publisher, and this ownership allows him to allow or deny the use of his material.
There are separate copyrights for performing, writing, and publishing.
Performers who do not write their songs are licensed by the publishing rights, which are separate and different than the performance rights. The publishing rights include the use of recordings used in public events and other public activities. Permission has to be granted to use them, and denial means the unauthorized use is breaking the law.
That's why Reagan quit using Born in the USA and why Walker ceased using Mellencamp's song. Governors are sworn to uphold the laws of the United States.
Ownership of writing and publishing is very common, and has been for over 60 years. Ownership of these rights, which all pay separate royalties, can often pay a songwriter more than the writer's performances, as it's common for other singers to make a bigger hit of the song than the songwriter's version.
When you sell your music(make a profit), those that buy it, own it to do as they please.
Not true.
All usage is granted through permission, and permission can be denied. Only public domain material can be used by anyone.
Usage is conducted through the music publisher. Some songwriters own their publishing company, and others sell their songs to a publishing company they don't own.
Buying music allows private use, but not public use. Using a song in a radio or TV ad, a public political rally, or any public appearance is considered public use, and all are under the restrictions of permission.
The copy rights were written to protect all intellectual property, not just songs. Unauthorized use is a crime.
Mellencamp is very political and plays a lot of free and benefit concerts for his causes and fans, and his music is passionately associated with the working man. If he is publicly saying he'd like Walker to stop using the song because he finds Walker's policies offensive, and Walker acts like a dick and says no, it will not reflect well on Walker. Nobody likes a jerk who does not respond graciously. Pretty sure McCain and Reagan both stopped playing the songs when requested by Bruce and Jackson Brown.
Yep, when a multi millionaire tells you to stop you had best stop.
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Pretty sure McCain and Reagan both stopped playing the songs when requested by Bruce and Jackson Brown.
