When politics strikes the wrong chord

Donald Trump's presidential announcement made headlines for many reasons, including alleging unauthorized use of his song "Rockin' in the Free World."

Trump's aides deny the charges, telling Fox they paid for usage via the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.

Still, it's not the first time that music and politics have created sour chords.

For some other instances, click ahead.

—By Marguerite Ward, special to CNBC
First posted 18 June 2015

This version updated with a denial from Trump's campaign.

When Sen. Marco Rubio announced his candidacy in April, the song "Something New" by Axwell and Ingrosso played as he walked off state. After the incident, the duo released a statement that read, "Axwell ^ Ingrosso didn't give their permission for this song to be used and don't want to be affiliated with a particular party during the upcoming presidential race."

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker shared a tense moment with John Mellencamp in 2012. After using Mellcamp's song "Small Town" during his recall election, the Republican received an from Mellencamp's publicist. The email said that Mellencamp supports collective bargaining and union rights. Walker also had another incident in 2005. When the American Celtic punk band Dropkick Murphys learned that Walker used their song "I'm Shipping Up to Boston," they tweeted to Walker saying, "@ScottWalker @GovWalker please stop using our music in any way...we literally hate you !!! Love, Dropkick Murphys"

In 2012, Newt Gingrich was sued by Survivor band member Frank Sullivan over the use of the band's song "Eye of the Tiger." The case was later settled.

Cyndi Lauper and Sam Moore of Sam & Dave asked President Barack Obama to stop using their songs. Lauper's song "True Colors" was used in commercials mocking Mitt Romney in 2012. "I wouldn't have wanted that song to be used in that way," Lauper tweeted. "Mr. Romney can discredit himself without the use of my work." During 2008, Sam & Dave's "Hold On! I'm Coming" was used at some Obama rallies. In response, Moore wrote a letter saying he had not agreed to the song's use.

A number of bands were not fans of Mitt Romney's alleged use of their music without permission. Romney's use of Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger," K'naan's "Wavin' Flag," and Silversun Pickups' "Panic Switch" have all gotten the former presidential candidate in trouble. Silver Sun Pickups released a statement in 2012 that said, "Seems as if the GOP is once again whimsically ignoring our great nation's laws to do whatever it wants to do, and shooting itself in the foot in the process."

In 2011, Michelle Bachmann played Tom Petty's 1977 song "American Girl" while walking on state at a rally. Petty immediately sent Bachmann's campaign team a cease and desist letter.

Sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson of the band Heart released a statement after learning that Sarah Palin had used their hit song "Barracuda" without their permission. Their 2008 statement read, "We have asked the Republican campaign publiclynot to use our music. We hope our wishes will behonored."

Sen. John McCain also upset Mellencamp when he repeatedly used the songs "Our Country" and "Pink Houses" at political rallies in 2008. Some said that Mellencamp's request put McCain in a political bind as he was left, for a time being, without a campaign song. Mellencamp, on the other hand, had performed his music at a John Edwards rally during the same election cycle.

Former President George W. Bush had to back down from using Petty's 1989 song "I Won't Back Down." Bush was given a cease and desist letter by Petty's crew after Bush used the song on his campaign trail in 2000.

In 1984, President Ronald Reagan name dropped Bruce Springsteen's song "Born in the USA" during a rally in New Jersey. Springsteen was not happy, later telling Rolling Stone magazine, "I think people have a need to feel good about the country they live in. But what's happening, I think, is that that need—which is a good thing—is getting manipulated and exploited. You see in the Reagan election ads on TV, you know, 'It's morning in America,' and you say, 'Well, it's not morning in Pittsburgh.'"