Newt Gingrich has received a cease-and-desist order regarding his usage of the song "How You Like Me Now?" He uses it in campaign appearances and may even be using it in commercials, and its publishers and composers object. The song was a big hit in '09 by a British band called The Heavy.
Is it my imagination or does this happen every single time a politician uses a recent hit song this way? Seems to me they never get the permission of the publisher or composer and the publisher and composer always object. Then the politician has to stop using the song because even if they have some legal "fair use" right, they don't want to be playing that tune while the composer is out there saying, "This guy is ripping us off and we hate him."
You'd think by now campaign managers would know enough to get permission. Or maybe they just plain don't care.