Isaac Hayes' family settles lawsuit against Trump, vows to keep his music ‘respected’
MANHATTAN, NEW YORK: The family of Issac Hayes has settled their lawsuit against President Donald Trump over the use of his classic soul hit 'Hold On, I’m Coming' at campaign rallies.
The family of the late soul star sued Trump for $3 million on August 11, 2024, after he ignored repeated requests to stop using the singer’s famous song. In September 2024, a federal judge blocked Trump from playing the song at his events.
Hayes family says they are 'satisfied with the outcome' in a statement
The Hayes family and the late musician’s estate announced on Facebook on February 23 that they have resolved their lawsuit against President Trump and his campaign organization. “The lawsuit filed against Donald John Trump and Donald J Trump for President 2024, Inc, regarding their use of 'Hold On, I’m Comin' has been mutually resolved, and we are satisfied with the outcome,” they said.
Isaac Hayes III, the singer’s son, wrote, “This resolution represents more than the conclusion of a legal matter. It reaffirms the importance of protecting intellectual property rights and copyrights, especially as they relate to legacy, ownership, and the responsible use of creative works.” Hayes, a soul legend, died in 2008 at age 65.
The estate added that “as stewards of his legacy, we remain committed to ensuring that his work is respected and properly protected” and to promoting discussion about intellectual property rights and honoring late creatives. “Protecting ownership is not only about the past, it is about preserving dignity, value, and accountability for future generations,” the statement said.
The statement closed with a message of gratitude, “We would like to extend sincerest gratitude to our counsel James L. Walker Jr. and Brittney R. Dobbins, our copyright administrator Liz Garner, and the Walker and Associates team, for their outstanding work and collaborative effort throughout this process. Their diligence, professionalism, and strategic guidance were instrumental in reaching this resolution."
Trump frequently uses Hayes' 1966 song as his exit music at rallies
In September 2024, a federal judge blocked Trump from using the song in the future but refused Hayes’ estate’s request to remove existing videos that feature it. Trump frequently used the 1966 song, co-written by Hayes, as his exit music at rallies, including the Republican National Convention in July 2024.
At the time of the injunction, Isaac Hayes III said, “Donald Trump has been barred from ever playing the music of Isaac Hayes again. I couldn’t ask for a better decision. I want this to serve as an opportunity for other artists to come forward that don’t want their music used by Donald Trump or other political entities and continue to fight for music artists’ rights and copyright."
During the lawsuit, Hayes’ estate claimed that Trump personally chose the song and played it over 130 times without permission, Rolling Stone reported. Trump’s attorney, Ronald Coleman, called the injunction “a wash,” saying the campaign had already agreed to stop using “Hold On, I’m Coming” at events.
“The campaign has no interest in annoying or hurting anyone, and if the Hayes family feels that it hurts or annoys them, that’s fine, we’re not going to force the issue,” Coleman said.
