: Leading figures including Mick Jagger and Keith Richards (The Rolling Stones), and Steven Tyler and Joe Perry (Aerosmith) joined a list of over 50 artists such as Pearl Jam, Green Day, Elton John, and Lorde.
This 2020 initiative followed years of individual protests against unauthorized use, particularly during Donald Trump's campaigns.
The petition highlighted several risks and moral issues associated with current campaign practices:
: The artists argued that unauthorized music use is "dishonest and immoral," as it falsely implies a candidate has the creator's support.
: The artists claimed this practice "undermines the campaign process" and "distorts elections" by confusing the voting public about where artists actually stand.
: Repeatedly objected to the use of "You Can't Always Get What You Want" and "Start Me Up" at rallies, eventually threatening legal action through BMI to exclude their songs from blanket licenses.