Hundreds of artists including Massive Attack have signed an open letter calling on Live Nation to end its operations in Israel.
Hundreds of musicians have signed a new open letter calling on Live Nation Entertainment to end its operations in Israel, with Massive Attack, Brian Eno and Caribou among the most prominent names to publicly support the demand.
The letter is part of the ongoing Musicians For Palestine campaign and is addressed directly to the multinational live music company, which has longstanding business interests in the region.
Many of the artists backing the statement have previously worked with Live Nation through tours, festivals or venue partnerships. In the letter, signatories position themselves not only as performers but as workers within the music industry, arguing that they have a responsibility to speak out collectively.
“As the artists and workers that power the industry, we support principled initiatives that demand dignified pay for all, respect for local scenes and the end of corporate monopolisation,” the letter states.
The document goes on to directly criticise Live Nation Israel, accusing the company of promoting and normalising violence through its activities. “We cannot stay silent while Live Nation Israel glorifies the genocidal Israeli military that has killed more than 70,000 Palestinians in Gaza. We echo long-standing Palestinian calls for accountability over its years of artwashing of Israeli apartheid and now genocide.”
The artists urge Live Nation Entertainment to take decisive action by severing ties with its Israeli operations. Specifically, the letter calls on the company to “uphold all the authoritative demands of Palestinians, by dropping Live Nation Israel” and to implement safeguards that prevent future complicity. These include “adopting policies to ensure its programming and partnerships are not complicit in oppression anywhere, and respecting the guidelines of Palestinian civil society.”
Responsibility is also extended beyond the corporation itself. The letter appeals directly to festivals and venues operating under the Live Nation umbrella, stating, “Live Nation’s venues and festivals: please echo and adhere to these demands.”
“We can no longer allow our music to be used to artwash apartheid, genocide or oppression against any people. Our shared vision of a more just and peaceful world propels us. Join us.”
The letter further acknowledges what it describes as past failures within the industry. “We know that true solidarity starts with confronting complicity. Parts of our industry have too often failed to stand up for Palestinian liberation. We demand that this moral failure come to a decisive end. In this, we speak out together for life, dignity, and the end of impunity.”
Among the 600+ signatories (which include Massive Attack, Brian Eno, and Thurston Moore from Sonic Youth) are musicians, as well as composers, producers, promoters, and others working in the music industry. The full list can be found on the Musicians for Palestine website alongside the full open letter.
Musicians and music workers who wish to add their names to the statement can do so here.
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