Radiohead Demands U.S. Agency Remove Video Using Its Song Without Permission

Post by : Saif Nasser

The British rock band Radiohead has publicly demanded that a video made by a United States government agency be taken down because it used the band’s music without permission. The band said the song was used in a way they did not agree with and that the video must be removed.

The matter involves a video posted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, often called ICE. In the video, a version of Radiohead’s song “Let Down” was used as background music. This song comes from the band’s 1997 album OK Computer, which is very well-known and has meaning for many fans.

Radiohead said the song was used without the band’s permission. In a statement, the band sharply criticized the agency’s use of the music. They said the song “means a lot to us and other people” and that the agency did not have the right to use it. The band added that the video should be taken down immediately.

The video in question showed a series of images that ICE said represented victims of violence attributed to people who are in the United States without legal permission. The song played as the images appeared. Radiohead said this use of their music was inappropriate and wrong.

Radiohead’s statement was strong in its language. The band called the people running the agency’s social media accounts “amateurs” and said the use of the song was not funny. They said that no one has the right to “appropriate” their work without permission.

ICE did not immediately comment publicly on the band’s demand. It was unclear at the time how quickly the video might be removed or whether the agency would respond directly to Radiohead’s statement.

This is not the first time artists have spoken out against government use of their music. In the past, singers and bands have protested when their songs were used in political or promotional material without consent. Some artists say this kind of use goes against their beliefs or the original meaning of the music.

Radiohead’s response also reflects wider conversations about how music and art should be used in public messages. Many artists feel that their work should not be linked to political causes or campaigns without their approval. They argue that creative work belongs to the artists and should be protected.

The song “Let Down” has had renewed popularity in recent years, even charting on music lists decades after its release. For fans, it carries emotional weight and meaning, making its use in a government video particularly sensitive for the band.

The dispute highlights a clash between creative rights and how public agencies use popular culture in their messaging. As the story develops, many will be watching to see whether the video is taken down and how the agency responds to the band’s demands.