In an unexpected move, Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) has taken down a political campaign ad from social media that featured Bob Dylan's timeless classic, “The Times They Are a-Changin’.” This decision comes on the heels of Zohran Kwame Mamdani's victory in the New York mayoral election, where his catchy campaign tagline, "New York is a-changin’," capitalized on Dylan’s renowned lyrics.
The ad initially caught fire online, spreading virally until it was abruptly disabled with a notice that stated, “This media has been disabled in response to a report by the copyright holder.” The action was attributed not to Dylan himself, but to UMPG, sparking a dialogue about the intersection of art and politics.
UMPG, the official holder of Dylan’s songwriting catalog since 2020, has long adhered to a policy precluding the use of Dylan’s music in political contexts. In an official statement following the removal, they firmly stated, “As a longstanding policy, we do not license Bob Dylan compositions for projects involving political figures.”
According to sources close to the matter, Mamdani's campaign originally sought permission to use the song but was denied. It remains unclear whether the takedown was a direct order from UMPG or an automated response triggered by electronic detection of copyright infringement.
Despite the controversy, Mamdani's campaign continues to enjoy an online presence, with segments of the ad reportedly still accessible at certain places on the internet. This highlights the challenges and frictions between campaign strategies and copyright laws in the digital age.
The situation underscores a larger trend of musicians and their representatives taking a stand against the unauthorized use of their works in political advertising—a trend observed among numerous high-profile artists in recent years.
Bob Dylan and Zohran Kwame Mamdani (Getty Images)