Aerosmith Tells Trump To Stop Using Their Music Without Paying

When Aerosmith attorney Dina LaPolt explained why Steven Tyler had asked her firm to send Trump's campaign a "cease-and-desist" letter in regard to one of the band's biggest hits, "Dream On," she said it had nothing to do with politics and that Tyler has no "personal issues with Mr. Trump." Tyler just doesn't want his song-- he wrote it and Trump has been playing the original performances of it without paying-- used in violation of copyright law. Copyright law entitles Tyler to compensation if the song is used publicly.

Tyler-- and the rest of the band-- were Trump's guests at the first Republican debate in Cleveland. Joe Perry admits he's a Republican but Tyler had always played it cagey about his politics, although he was identified as a "registered Republican" in the press reports about the cease-and-desist letter.

Tyler wrote the song in 1973 and it was the big single from their debut album-- and the first of Aerosmith's mainstream hit when it was re-released in 1976. (They released the song on 11 different albums and box-sets.) Tyler has made a fortune from the song, including when it was sampled by Eminem for "Sing For the Moment," covered by other artists like Kelly Sweet, Blessthefall, Alex Skolnick Trio and ex-Weather Girl Martha Wash, and played in video games, and movies and on TV shows. Adobe used the song for a TV spot for the 25th anniversary of Photoshop. Letting Donald Trump or anyone else use the song without paying could potentially jeopardize the substantial income stream Tyler makes from the song.