Rapper Eminem has demanded that Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy stop using his music on the campaign trail. Music publisher BMI, writing on behalf of Eminem, sent a cease-and-desist letter to Ramaswamy’s lawyer last week. Days earlier, during a campaign stop at the Iowa State Fair, Ramaswamy was captured on video performing Eminem’s 2002 hit “Lose Yourself.”
Attorney Daniel R. Gutenplan, a partner at EPG Lawyers, who is not involved in the agreement, said the letter “confirms that Mr. Ramaswamy contracted with BMI to license certain music that BMI controls,” including Eminem’s song. “Now, having received an objection from Eminem, BMI has informed Mr. Ramaswamy that it will consider any continued use of Eminem’s music to be a breach of the agreement,” which likely includes a clause “to address situations just like this,” Gutenplan said. Ramaswamy “smartly chose to comply” rather than pick a fight with a popular artist. Gutenplan continued to add that,”Mr. Ramaswamy has already gained enormous publicity from the use of Eminem’s music, and if anything, BMI’s cease-and-desist letter only increased that publicity and Mr. Ramaswamy’s burgeoning popularity.”
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