The estate of soul musician Isaac Hayes has reached a settlement with former President Donald Trump resolving a federal lawsuit over the campaign’s use of the 1966 hit “Hold On, I’m Coming.” The agreement was announced Monday by Hayes’ son, Isaac Hayes III, on the social platform X. Hayes did not disclose the terms of the settlement, but said the family and the estate were “satisfied with the outcome.” His statement was reported in coverage by MyNorthwest.

The dispute began in August 2024, when the estate alleged that Trump’s campaign used the song without authorization in at least 133 campaign appearances and videos spanning the 2020 and 2024 election cycles. The complaint asserted copyright infringement and sought damages for the unauthorized uses. Court filings from Trump’s legal team denied wrongdoing and argued that the plaintiffs had not demonstrated ownership of the copyright or any resulting harm.

In September 2024, U.S. District Judge Thomas Thrash issued a preliminary injunction prohibiting the Trump campaign from further using the recording. Attorneys for Trump said at the time that the campaign had already stopped playing the song. The case continued in federal court until the settlement announced this week.

Sam Moore, one half of the duo Sam and Dave — who originally recorded the song — submitted a sworn statement in the case last fall expressing opposition to the action sought by the Hayes estate. Moore previously performed “America the Beautiful” at an event for Trump in 2017. The longstanding tensions between political campaigns and musicians have been a recurring feature of modern national elections, with artists including ABBA, Celine Dion, and Sabrina Carpenter objecting to the use of their work during Trump’s events in recent years.

While the lawsuit was national in scope, disputes over music licensing and political use resonate locally in Southwest Washington. Campaign events in Longview, Kelso, and across Cowlitz County frequently rely on copyrighted music in public settings, and federal rules governing performance rights apply uniformly regardless of campaign size. When complaints arise, resolutions typically hinge on documentation, publisher consent, and the specific licensing agreements held by the venue or the event organizers.

In this case, the Hayes estate has confirmed that the matter is now closed. No further details on the terms of the settlement have been made public.

Why this matters

Even though the dispute centered on a national political figure, the underlying issue — how campaigns use copyrighted material — affects local political organizations throughout Southwest Washington. Events hosted in public parks, private venues, and rented halls in Cowlitz County all operate under the same federal copyright structure. Unauthorized use can expose campaigns or venue operators to similar claims, including injunctions or financial penalties. The Hayes case underscores how quickly disputes over music rights can escalate once they enter the federal courts.

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