Sebastian (Loud) Kereti is asking fans if he should take action against Donald Trump. Photos / Alex Burton, AP
Sebastian (Loud) Kereti is asking fans if he should take action against Donald Trump. Photos / Alex Burton, AP
A Kiwi music producer has been shocked to discover his music has been used to introduce US President Donald Trump at a conservative rally.
Sebastian Kereti, from Manurewa, says he's now considering suing over the unauthorised use of his work, at a rally in Washington DC hosted by right-wing student group Turning Point USA on July 23.
The 22-year-old wrote the track Thoughts several years back when in his first year at Mainz (Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand).
Sebastian (Loud) Kereti is asking fans if he should take action against Donald Trump. Photos / Alex Burton, AP
It's an instrumental electronic hype track with a "catchy melodic line" and a bass drop that has proven hugely popular, with some 13 million YouTube views even before the Trump event.
Kereti's music is published on platforms like Soundcloud and Bass Nation, an MTV-like YouTube channel. He says he earns several thousand dollars in royalties each month for his music and is fine with requests to use the track.
But the first he heard that a section of it had been used at a Trump rally was when people started tagging him in videos from the event.
The footage starts with a campaign highlights reel before the track starts to play, building up to a bass drop before President Trump steps on to the stage.
Kereti, who goes by his production name Loud, said at first he thought the people tagging him were joking - "It was the last place I'd expect to see it being used."
The new seal included a two-headed eagle resembling Russia's coat of arms, and a bundle of golf clubs in place of arrows. The Latin motto "E Pluribus Unum," - which means "from many, one" - had also been replaced with "45 es un títere,", the Spanish for "45 is a puppet".
Kereti said he was seeking input from fans on whether to sue the rally's organisers for unauthorised use of his track.
Under copyright law, politicians are able to use music unless there is any legal action banning their use. But, like any other public performance or an artist's music, royalty payments are required.
The music label for Thoughts, US-based Lowly Palace told the Herald on Sunday they understood the video played at the rally was created by Trump's campaign team.
South Auckland musician and producer Sebastian Kereti - aka LOUD - was shocked to discover his track Thoughts used to introduce Donald Trump at a student rally in Washington DC. Photo / Alex Burton
They have contacted his campaign team over their "payment concerns".
Turning Point USA did not respond to a request for comment from the Herald on Sunday.
Earlier this year Warner Bros. acted to take down a video posted on social media by Trump over copyright issues.
The video - promoting his 2020 election campaign - featured a section of the soundtrack from the movie The Dark Knight Rises.
Late last year chart-topper Rihanna also had a go at Trump for using her music at a rally, tweeting: "Not for much longer ... me nor my people would ever be at or around one of those tragic rallies."
Ozzy Osborne has also banned Trump from using any of his music to promote his political career after the US President made a video which featured parts of the 1980 rock classic Crazy Train.
Pharrell Williams and the Rolling Stones have also repeatedly asked Trump to stop playing their music at rallies.
Last thing you'd expect to see, my song being used for the President lmao. Not a fan of him but just seeing how far this song has gone ( over 18 mill streams ) is surreal. Oh and new song out tomorrow w @hronsky2002
#Ł #donaldjtrump #USA #nz
