Leonard Cohen’s Estate Responds To Use Of ‘Hallelujah’ At RNC

The Leonard Cohen Estate is exploring legal options after the singer-songwriter’s song “Hallelujah” was apparently played twice at the Republican National Convention. Both Pitchfork and Sony/ATV Music Publishing have said that the use of the song was not authorized.

The song came after Donald Trump’s acceptance speech for the Republican nomination as well as songs performed by Tori Kelly and American tenor Christopher Macchio. The Estate of Leonard Cohen issued a statement.

Read it below:

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.

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.” Statement from Brian J. Monaco, President, Global Chief Marketing Officer, SONY/ATV Music Publishing:

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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