Music in the election campaign: After Grönemeyer’s protest, the CDU deletes a video sequence with a song

The CDU changed a YouTube video of its candidate for chancellor Friedrich Merz’s appearance at the Junge Union after Herbert Grönemeyer banned it from using one of his songs in the election campaign. The video originally showed Merz entering the hall in Halle in Saxony-Anhalt to the music of the Grönemeyer song “Time for something to turn” – moderated with the request: “Welcome with me the next Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany “. Unlike days ago, this scene can no longer be seen in the video of Merz’s appearance. When asked by the dpa, the CDU did not comment on Grönemeyer’s ban.

Not for election advertising purposes, delete previous distribution

Days ago, Grönemeyer’s media lawyer Christian Schertz confirmed the ban to the German Press Agency. In a letter to the CDU and its youth organization, the singer (“Mensch”, “Men”) demands that he refrain from using his song for election advertising purposes, performing it publicly or otherwise distributing it. In addition, the previous distribution online must be deleted. We reserve the right to take further legal steps.

Grönemeyer (68) released the song in 2006 and it became the anthem at the World Cup. Together with the rapper $oho Bani, he reinterpreted the song after years. The rap remix was released this year and climbed the charts during the European Football Championship. This new version was played at the JU meeting.

It happens again and again that stars are against their songs being used by parties. Just days ago, Abba star Björn Ulvaeus complained that songs and videos by the Swedish cult band were being played at campaign events for the now victorious US presidential candidate Donald Trump.

The Society for Musical Performance and Mechanical Reproduction Rights – GEMA for short – takes care of copyrights for musicians and, in response to a dpa request, said that parties are allowed to use music for their events like any other organizer. As soon as the music is used publicly, you have to buy a license for use. When licensing, Gema does not receive any details about what the music will be used for.

A party does not have to ask the artist or band for permission beforehand. “If an author does not want his work to be used at a particular political event, he or his music publisher must take action against it,” it continues. It cannot be said in general terms at what point the use of music constitutes a violation of personal rights and can therefore be attacked by an author. That is a question of the context and the individual case.