Massive Attack, Brian Eno and hundreds more musicians sign open letter calling for Live Nation to cut Israel ties

Massive Attack and Brian Eno are among over 600 signatories of an open letter calling for Live Nation to cease all operations with Israel.

The letter was published by Musicians for Palestine, which describes itself as an "international, grassroots network of artists and music workers." Over 600 artists and music industry workers were listed among the signatories, with more encouraged to join.

Other signatories included Amy Macdonald, Declan O'Rourke, Caribou, Downtown Boys, Fiachra Trench, Méabh McKenna, Saoirse, Seán Óg Graham, Síle Ní Dhubhghaill, Gary Powell and Chester Hansen (BADBADNOTGOOD).

"As musicians, songwriters, producers, engineers, and workers, we refuse to be silent as apartheid Israel continues its genocidal oppression against the Indigenous Palestinian people," the letter read.

"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."

The letter demanded Live Nation Entertainment drop its Israeli subsidiary, respect Palestinian-led boycott guidelines and adopt new policies "to ensure its programming and partnerships are not complicit in oppression anywhere."

Signatories also urged any venues and festivals which work with Live Nation to adhere to the same demands.

"We cannot stay silent while Live Nation Israel glorifies the genocidal Israeli military that has killed more than 70,000 Palestinians in Gaza," the letter read.

"We echo long-standing Palestinian calls for accountability over its years of artwashing of Israeli apartheid and now genocide."

The letter added many signatories had worked with Live Nation and emphasised support for "dignified pay for all, respect for local scenes and the end of corporate monopolization."

"We can no longer allow our music to be used to artwash apartheid, genocide or oppression against any people," the letter read.

"Our shared vision of a more just and peaceful world propels us. Join us."

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Musicians for Palestine (@musicians4palestine)

The letter linked to additional demands by the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI), a core pillar of the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) Movement.

Along with the demands mentioned in the Musicians for Palestine letter, PACBI called for any venues and festivals associated with Live Nation to publicly pressure Live Nation to drop its Israeli subsidiary, cut ties with Israel regardless of Live Nation's decision and "publicly condemn the complicity of Live Nation’s investors."

"To artists, we ask you to pressure Live Nation’s festivals and venues to meet the above demands," PACBI said.

"And to fans, festival-goers, and audience members, we urge you to amplify and support our campaign’s demands. We stand with workers at Live Nation’s venues and festivals, and hope you can find meaningful ways to raise our demands internally."

Live Nation Entertainment has faced criticism for its ties to Israel; its largest shareholder is Liberty Media, which is a major investor in Israel's technology and military sectors.

Live Nation also partners with several other corporations tied to Israel including The Vanguard Group and BlackRock, both of which were named in a July UN report mapping corporations aiding Israel in the forced displacement of Palestinians and military violence against civilians in Gaza.

Its subsidiary, Live Nation Israel, has previously held music events at venues such as Hayarkon Park and Live Park in Rishon LeZion, which were built on the ruins of Palestinian villages demolished by Israeli settlers.

Live Nation Israel has also posted in support of the Israeli military and government on social media several times.

Musicians for Palestine previously launched several other open letters and campaigns by music industry workers advocating for cultural boycotts of Israel. One campaign included calls for Maroon 5 to cancel their 2022 performance at Tel Aviv's Hayarkon Park, which was built on the ruins of Palestinian villages.

Earlier this year, Massive Attack and Brian Eno collaborated with several other artists to form an alliance to protect artists speaking out for Gaza.

Brian Eno organised the Together For Palestine fundraising concert in September, which consisted of musical performances, speeches and art at London's Wembley Arena with all proceeds going to Palestinian aid organisations.

Massive Attack also led the No Music for Genocide movement, joined by hundreds of artists and labels pledging to remove their music from streaming services in Israel.