Rupert Murdoch’s pet right wing ‘news’ outlet Fox has been using an REM song to soundtrack coverage of the US Democratic National Convention, and you can guess they weren’t using Shiny Happy People. No, Fox had been using ‘Losing My Religion’, and REM are so pissed off about this they’d sent a cease and desist letter banning further use.

An official REM statement explained "REM's 'Losing My Religion' was used in the Fox News coverage of the Democratic National Convention last night. REM today, through its music publisher, Warner-Tamerlane Music, demanded that Fox News cease and desist from continuing its unlicensed and unauthorized use of the song." Michael Stipe, whose been involved with Democratic causes, went further "We have little or no respect for their puff adder brand of reportage. Our music does not belong there.” I wonder if they’ll be able to sign up Mr Hudson’s White Lies instead? Or any songs related to Bill Clinton’s penis.