Sony BMG sends cease-and-desist notice to McCain campaign over 'Barracuda' song

The Republicans played the Heart’s hit song “Barracuda” as a shout-out to Sarah Palin. Only problem is the McCain campaign didn’t ask permission to play the song either from Ann and Nancy Wilson or from their publishers.

Republican VP nominee Sarah Palin earned the nickname “Sarah barracuda” for her competitiveness when she played high school basketball. Her opponents used that name when she was the Mayor of her hometown, Wasilla. At the recent Republican convention, the McCain campaign played the “Barracuda” song of rock band Heart to highlight Sarah Palin. But Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart were not thrilled about playing their song without their expressed permission. The Heart group told CNN that Universal Music Publishing and Sony BMG have sent a cease-and-desist notice to the McCain-Palin campaign for using their song “Barracuda”. The group said in a statement:

We have asked the Republican campaign publicly not to use our music. We

hope our wishes will be honored.

McCain’s technology policy promised that he will protect the creative industries from piracy, yet he breaks the rule again (used Jackson Brown’s song Running On Empty), again (used Myer’s Wayne’s World character), again (used Frank Valli’s Can’t Take My Eyes Of You) and again (used Rocky’s theme song).