It’s commonplace for musicians to make campaign contributions to their favorite politician. What’s not common is when a politician gives money to a band or musician. The uncommon has occurred in that a politician has been found guilty of illegal use of a protected song, now being required to pay a penalty to that use.
Politician and failed GOP candidate Mike Huckabee is giving $25,000 to the band Survivor after the courts have ruled that he will pay the band. The song was aired through a public sound system at a rally held by the religious right, Kim, and Mike in a protest against same-sex marriage. Kim Davis is the Kentucky clerk who illegally prevented same sex couples from marring in 2015.
The politician was quickly sued by the band’s guitarist, Frankie Sullivan. Any media property and or politician will always pay ASCAP or BMI licensing fees for using protected music property in some limited fashion, but in some cases permission is needed to air the song in a particular intended way.