Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’ played at Republican Convention without estate's approval

Leonard Cohen's estate has condemned the use of the late singer's evergreen single, Hallelujah at the Republican National Convention (RNC), reported Variety. The publishing company along with Cohen's estate have issued statements in which they have outrightly denied permission for the song to be used at the RNC, despite of it being played twice after President Donald Trump's speech on Thursday night.

The estate’s attorney made a threat of legal action as part of her statement. “We are surprised and dismayed that the RNC would proceed knowing that the Cohen Estate had specifically declined the RNC’s use request, and their rather brazen attempt to politicize and exploit in such an egregious manner Hallelujah, one of the most important songs in the Cohen song catalogue. We are exploring our legal options,” said Said Michelle L. Rice, the Cohen estate’s lawyer:

Rice went on to take another jab at the RNC as he suggested an alternative. “Had the RNC requested another song, You Want it Darker, for which Leonard won a posthumous Grammy in 2017, we might have considered approval of that song.”

Cohen’s publishing company, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, said it, too, had denied permission. Brian J. Monaco, Sony/ATV’s president and global chief marketing officer said, “On the eve of the finale of the convention, representatives from the Republican National Committee contacted us regarding obtaining permission for a live performance of Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah.’ We declined their request.”

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