Do you think it is OK for politicians running for office to use musicians' songs as part of their campaigns without getting permission from the artist, his or her estate (if they are deceased) or their music label?

Of course it isn't. And the law says so.

Nope. Political rallies are as useless as any other artistic performance and so should have to follow the same rules.

Why reinvent the wheel newly from scratch? If they want or need an already existing song to underline their message, why not? Do they now have to compose a similar song by their own? They are politicians and working for the country and people, so they have no time to compose a fitting campaign song. That is complete nonsense to demand or expect that. Of course they should feel obliged to pay for bringing a song in public if there is still a copyright on it (70 years, artist still living or inheriting family available)

If the candidate or their political party has paid for the rights through a publisher to use the song, either individually or as one of many songs in a bundle as often done, then the artist should have no right to object based on personal opinions. If they don't like that, then the artist can always remove that song from the catalog of music available for purchase for public use.

politicians should always model rallies after professional wrestling, music and all.

they’re both fake, but spectators think it’s real.

Why reinvent the wheel newly from scratch? If they want or need an already existing song to underline their message, why not? Do they now have to compose a similar song by their own?

Completely misread the question

Sorry mate but "They are politicians and working for the country and people" LOL if you think so. Who really cares and it easy to get around just ask AI to come up with something like the song but better.

In nearly every case, the politician using the song has obtained the legal right to use it, even as the artist publicly complains.

Artists’ recordings are owned by publishers, who license song rights out to anyone willing to pay. Every major political campaign has paid for the same rights to a bundle of songs that includes thousands of artists.

Artists can complain, but they have no legal standing. They’ve sold their music. Campaigns paid for the music.

Don’t want other people to play your songs? Don’t sell them.

They need to register to JASRAC.

It's kinda ridiculous to play songs for which the original meaning or nuance was diametrically opposed to the motivations and policies of the politician though. But the audience is possibly stupid enough not to notice or know. And the politician too.

Performers actually do have a right to object to performance rights organizations allowing their works to be played - and often they do. Blanket licenses allow for large numbers of tracks to be played but there are restrictions and artists do protest and in many cases to keep things smooth with performers, the rights organizations will comply with the requests.

But also in many cases the campaign organizers just go ahead and deal with any flak later.

They know that the extremely lengthy and costly process for the artist to apply a cease and desist claim puts them in the superior position.

2 famous recent cases were Trump's use of Celine Dion's song / video "My heart will go on" and Isaac Hayes "Hold on I'm coming". In both instances copyright was breached esp playing the video, but the bully attitude of "Whacha gonna do?" often wins.

And as Moonraker stated - It's weird to hear songs played that have no bearing or meaning in context to the rally / crusades theme.

Like Trump playing Creedence's "Unfortunate Son". What a belly-ache of laughter. An anti rich boy, anti war protest song. A Joke!

John Fogerty's words :

"Back in those days we still had a draft, and something I was very upset about was the fact that people of privilege, in other words rich people or people of position, could use that to avoid the draft and not be taken into the military. I found that very upsetting that such a thing could occur.”

Not only is not OK, but also is not OK to sound pollute the whole neighborhood with their noisy propaganda since very early in the morning.

Seems like the unwritten nuisance laws don't apply to politicians at all.