KING

On their Web site, singers Ann and Nancy Wilson say Universal Music Publishing and Sony BMG have sent the McCain/Palin ticket a cease-and-desist notice to stop playing Heart's song "Barracuda."

SEATTLE – Although he endorses Barack Obama for president, one of the founding members of the rock band Heart doesn't mind that the Republican party played Heart's song "Barracuda" at the national convention.

Seattle guitarist Roger Fisher says the publicity is "wonderful." He says he'll donate a portion of the royalties from the Republicans playing the song to the Obama/Biden campaign.

"Thereby creating the scenario where each time the Republicans use 'Barracuda' they are supporting Obama," he said. "I felt honored that they would consider it a worthy song to use in such a high profile context. It also gave Ann and Nancy and me an opportunity, a worldwide opportunity, to say who we support."

Reports say the song was played at the Republican National Convention because "Barracuda" used to be a nickname for Alaska Gov. Palin.

Singers Ann and Nancy Wilson say the campaign did not ask for permission to use the song. On their Web site, the Wilson sisters write: "We have asked the Republican campaign not to use our music. We hope our wishes will be honored."

Their Web site says Universal Music Publishing and Sony BMG have sent the McCain/Palin ticket a cease-and-desist notice to stop playing "Barracuda."

Fisher did say an apology would be appropriate.

He told KING5.com: "I think on a personal level, an apology would be appropriate, but on a business level, which is basically what this is, I certainly don't expect an apology ... In my opinion, when some cause or some group use a song, to me it makes it look like the originator of that song endorses that entity, and so based on that assumption, it's kind of indiscrete to use somebody's music when they don’t know."

"This is the ball field we're playing in and major entertainers have to expect things like this," Fisher said.