Would it surprise anyone to know that Hollywood is a blue city? Of the $1.4 million in individual political contributions from the recording industry this election cycle, 80 percent have gone to support Democrats, according to OpenSecrets.
Many major music companies also lean heavily to the left. For example, Warner Music Group has given $112,000 this election cycle, most of that going to Democrats. WMG’s chairman and CEO have each given $30,000 to the Democratic National Committee.
Lawrence Brown, who holds an unidentified position at Jay-Z’s Roc Nation, has given $35,800 to Democratic causes this election cycle, though Jay-Z himself has not donated any money yet for the upcoming election.
Will.i.am of the Black Eyed Peas is another supporting Democrats, writing checks for $30,800 to the Democratic National Committee and $5,000 to Obama’s re-election campaign.
The Democrats also have high-profile rock star couples supporting them in this election cycle: Will and Jada Pinkett Smith have given a total of $71,600 to Democrats, with the Fresh Prince himself shelling out $30,800 to the DNC and $5,000 to Obama’s campaign. Jada Pinkett did the same.
Another music couple, Mike and Corky Hale Stoller, have given over $170,000 to Democratic candidates and organizations since the start of 2011. Mike Stoller, who co-wrote “Stand by Me” with Ben E. King, gave $21,600 to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC). He’s donated $35,000 this election cycle. Corky Hale, a jazz musician and Stoller’s wife, has given $135,000 this cycle, including $40,000 to the DSCC, $38,500 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) and $25,000 to the liberal Majority PAC.
Corky has been active in politics for many years. In fact, Corky Hale Productions, Hale’s company, ranks second in political donations in the recording industry.
Two longtime Democratic supporters, Don Henley and Barbara Streisand, have both continued their tradition of giving to Democrats this election cycle.
Henley, lead vocalist and guitarist of the Eagles, contributed a total of $46,100 to Democratic causes. Most of this money went to support Democratic senators such as New Yorks’ Kirsten Gillibrand and Missouri’s Claire McCaskill.
Streisand, known for her portrayal as Mecha-Streisand on the TV show “South Park,” contributed $30,500, backing the same senators as Don Henley, but also giving $2,500 to Elizabeth Warren — the candidate who is running to unseat Massachusetts Republican Sen. Scott Brown. She has also given $10,000 to the DSCC and $5,000 to the DCCC.
Though music industry may appear solidly Democrat, there are some holdouts who support Republican candidates.
The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP), favors Republicans over Democrats 55 percent to 45 percent, and the Recording Industry Association of America saw 61 percent of individual contributions go to Republican candidates. Country star Toby Keith gave a single donation of $2,500 to Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s now-finished presidential campaign.
One of the most notable critics of President Obama and the Democratic Party, rock star Ted Nugent, hasn’t contributed any money to politicians yet this election cycle. Nugent was recently in the news for his comments to the National Rifle Association, where he said that if Obama was re-elected he’d either be “dead or in jail.”
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