Major Music Artists Refused Songs for Melania Trump's Documentary
A producer involved in first lady Melania Trump's $75 million documentary, titled "Melania," has disclosed that several prominent music artists declined to allow their songs to appear in the film. The documentary, which has faced critical panning, encountered setbacks as key figures in the music industry rejected requests for their music to be used, according to longtime Trump adviser Marc Beckman in an interview with Variety published on Monday.
Political Hurdles Blocked Music Approvals
Beckman detailed the rejections, highlighting political divisions as a central issue. He explained that Guns N' Roses members were split politically, with one granting permission and the other refusing, leading to the band's overall denial. "We needed everybody's approval to get it in the film," Beckman said. "So Guns N' Roses was definitely a disappointment for us; we all have a lot of respect for Guns N' Roses."
Similarly, Grace Jones reportedly could not overcome political objections, despite Beckman's insistence that the film is not political. "It's disappointing when people put politics so far ahead, and that happened a little bit with the film, for sure," he remarked. Additionally, the estate of Prince blocked the use of his music, with a lawyer stating that Prince would not want his song associated with Donald Trump, even though rights holders had approved it.
Approved Songs and Ongoing Disputes
Despite these rejections, the documentary secured music from artists such as Michael Jackson, Tears for Fears, Aretha Franklin, and The Rolling Stones. However, the production faces ongoing controversies, including a dispute with Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood over the use of orchestral music from "The Phantom Thread" and President Donald Trump's recent settlement of a lawsuit with the estate of Isaac Hayes for unauthorized use of his song "Hold On, I'm Coming" during his campaign.
Beckman expressed frustration over the political barriers, arguing that the film focuses on Melania Trump rather than politics. "But it's not a Donald Trump film! He comes into the movie once in a while, but this is all about Melania. It's not political," he emphasized, calling the rejections "ridiculous." This revelation adds to the scrutiny surrounding the documentary, which has already garnered negative reviews and now faces public backlash over its music licensing challenges.
