The friction surrounding "My Hero" peaked during recent election cycles. In August 2024, the song boomed through arena speakers in Glendale, Arizona, to introduce Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at a Donald Trump campaign event. Clips traveled quickly across social platforms, prompting users to ask if the band endorsed the appearance.
The band’s response came swiftly on social media: "No," followed by an official representative statement confirming that Foo Fighters were neither asked for permission nor would they have granted it. Crucially, the group announced that any performance royalties derived from the play would be diverted straight to the opposing campaign.
This clash exposed the mechanics of music copyright in public political forums. Campaign committees typically purchase blanket public performance licenses from performing rights organizations (PROs) like ASCAP and BMI. These licenses give organizers broad access to millions of compositions played inside commercial venues.
While blanket licenses protect venues, PRO agreements include specific political campaign licenses that let artists pull their catalogs out of political rosters. When an artist formally excludes their works, campaigns must remove the songs or risk direct claims of trademark infringement, false endorsement under the Lanham Act, or violation of publicity rights.
