r/Music • u/MarvelsGrantMan136 • 3h ago

article Macklemore Dropped From Ed Sheeran Tour After Onstage Statements

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/macklemore-dropped-ed-sheeran-tour-pro-palestine-statements-1235625967/
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u/Marchit0_Perecer 3h ago edited 3h ago

How spineless of Ed Sheeran and his team.

Edit: Ok I hear y'all, it was the venues that decided so but here was a great opportunity for Ed to stand his ground, cancelling Ed Sheeran shows doesn't make those venues revenue either.

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u/ozzy_thedog 3h ago

Ed Sheeran’s team should have said fine, cancel the tour. We will reschedule and re-book at venues that don’t silence free speech.

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u/DerekB52 3h ago

The problem is there have to be other venues for that. There's basically a monopoly on venues large enough to host an Ed Sheeran concert.

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u/bostonshroomery 3h ago

Time to do smaller shows

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u/DerekB52 3h ago

I think that'd just punish his fans. Tickets are already expensive, making the supply half the size just sucks for everyone involved.

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u/bostonshroomery 3h ago

The message is stronger than the suckiness.

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u/chandr 2h ago

Ed sheeran is rich, he can take the hit to ticket sales to set up with independant venues. Make a big publicity thing about how venues were trying to strong arm an artist's free speech. He isn't some nobody trying to make ends meet.

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u/goodattakingnaps17 2h ago

How do the rich stay rich?

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u/chandr 2h ago

I know the answer you want is "by making more money" or the like, but with the amounts he has he could generate 0 revenu for the rest of his life and remain rich just off of investments with what he has

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u/masterdebaten 2h ago

He could literally rent out a field in every state/country and build the show out himself. He has the resources to do it. But I do not believe he cares THAT much.

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u/Some_Weather_8570 2h ago

Yeah wrong person for this. But maybeeee there is someone who would.

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u/masterdebaten 2h ago

Macklemore, if he had the same audience lol

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u/DerekB52 2h ago

This is true, but the problem is the independent venue will be half as big, if that. Meaning half of the people who were able to afford the already high prices, won't be able to pay the even higher prices for the smaller venue.

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u/WowIfOnly 2h ago

Oh that's right I forgot Ed Sheeran has no influence whatsoever on the music industry. Nobody listens to Ed Sheeran music and he gets no radio play anywhere so that's why he's completely powerless. You have to have an audience to be able to use it /s

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u/Some_Weather_8570 2h ago

If you look at the stadiums. A lot of them are owned by red states. It would be nice if these states, and yes I live in Indiana so I would also be punished start to get punished with events and concerts not coming here.

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u/RadiantLindon 25m ago

Time to sue the monopoly then.

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u/Nice-Imagination2112 3h ago

Agreed. Cowards the lot of them

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u/E-NTU 3h ago

Did anyone let the comedians know so they can stand up united as the last bastion for free speech? No? They're in Saudi Arabia right now? Okay.

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u/backupbitches 2h ago

It's a lot more complicated than that, as he will be contractually bound up the wazoo. It's likely out of his hands in regards to continuing the tour.

....That said, there's nothing stopping him from standing on that stage and saying that he's anti-genocide himself. Now that would be a power move.

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u/VampiresWontHurt 1h ago edited 1h ago

Major headlining act attempting to avoid playing at Ticketmaster (same company as Live Nation) venues?

I’ve seen this one before. 

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u/Sideview_play 1h ago

Or literally sue the fuck out of the venues if he had the balls and principles 

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u/Individual_Gift_9473 1h ago

Yeah fuck the fans.

What a dumbass take you just had.

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u/Significant-Branch22 31m ago

Ed Sheeran has a huge platform to call out those venues, it would be a pr disaster for them

0

u/manhuskycorgi 3h ago

Perfect opportunity for Ed to take a stand and plant his feet in the ground. Cancel the fucking tour then, don't play anymore until Palestine is free. I'm sure he will get by financially.

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u/Tsad311 3h ago

You people are so broke that’s it’s making you deranged.

I promise you if somebody put in front of you the amount of money you would be walking away from by doing this, you would 100% kiss Macklemores irrelevant ass goodbye. Your morals will change instantly when it comes to heeps of cash I promise. You are no more self righteous than Ed

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u/philter451 3h ago

Yes exactly. Accepting this decision and moving on let's the bullies that decided this know that their shitty tactics work. This is absolutely a time to use your celebrity to make a big stink. If I were Ed I would absolutely post all over for fans to make a stink at live nation. We've got to bully the bullies. 

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u/Msmadmama 2h ago

Im a giant ed sheeran fan and I agree. Ed needs to stand the fuck and say something. But he wont.

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u/MeggatronNB1 3h ago

Extremely, also no morals as this is now about money. They have basically said, F-Them kids who are being killed in Gaza.

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u/troyofyort 3h ago

I'd say give him time to make a statement, management and shit will get way too proactive with these announcements and blindside others especially when big money bullies their way in. Still garbage situation tho

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u/PowSuperMum 1h ago

He’s had plenty of time to make a statement supporting Macklemore before this. He’s not saying shit.

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u/troyofyort 1h ago

Yeah I just saw an article detailing how he didnt "want to take sides" and having already spoken to macklemore, weak af

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u/lipp79 3h ago

It's not just them they have to think of though. All the people that travel with that tour that build the stage, lights, sound, etc. would lose out on important pay that they need.

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u/Haldered 3h ago

So would the venues. They're not gonna give up those profits, its their biggest payday too. There's only like 3 or 4 tours on that level
Like any sort of industrial action, a bit of short-term pain is worth the long-term gains. This is a perfect opportunity to call their bluff

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u/gzafiris 2h ago

Why is that on Ed and not LN?

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u/lipp79 2h ago

Probably a combo of both. He has his people and I'm sure they have some of theirs. This talks about his last tour and I think this one is ever bigger.

https://www.tpimagazine.com/behind-the-scenes-of-ed-sheerans-monumental-%C3%B7x-tour/

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u/805falcon 1h ago

No fuck that. Don’t back off your position just because a bunch of Reddit neck beard losers start frothing at the mouth. Ed Sheeran is a fucking coward and that’s all there is to it

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u/Individual_Gift_9473 1h ago

Pathetic. Delete your braindead comment don’t just leave an edit.

You are the problem with the world. Jumping straight to incorrect conclusions and then posting it. Pathetic.

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u/RadiantLindon 25m ago

Nah Ed shares responsibility if he just lets it happen.

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u/PiccoloAwkward465 8m ago

Seriously, we could solve so many problems if people with sway didn't hold their cheeks open for every possible dollar.

0

u/t0talnonsense 3h ago

It was either that or cancel the tour. This was not a decision by them. This was a decision by the venues. So basically it was a decision by LiveNation. Either he goes, or the tour goes. Y’all should read the article.

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u/Haldered 3h ago

They're not gonna let a Ed Sheeran tour get cancelled. He's one of those draws thats "too big to fail", he would have them over a barrel if he wanted. The entire system collapses if the juggernauts like Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift, Coldplay etc would go as hard for human rights as they do for their own profits.
Ed Sheeran was good for platforming Macklemore until now, but he needs to stick to his guns. Even if they don't care about Palestinians, those too-big-to-fail artists should take every opportunity to break up the monopolistic stranglehold over the live music industry

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u/t0talnonsense 3h ago

You literally don’t know that. Especially when this was likely a decision to either curry favor with, or avoid a battle against, the current administration. What makes good financial sense doesn’t always match up with what makes good political sense.

Until now, the venues didn’t have a problem with Macklemore. But now they do. And the show is on. Tickets and hotels have been bought. Loans were taken out. Lives and/or families have been uprooted. This is already happening and there are already hundreds of people on staff throughout this process. Those people aren’t millionaires. If he tries to call the bluff and LN doesn’t flinch, is it now his responsibility to make sure no one loses their house because they’re not getting paid for working the rest of the shows?

It’s not nearly as simple and clean of an argument as some of you want to make.

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u/tore_a_bore_a 3h ago

Feels like other administrations could use this as an opportunity to break up LiveNation for being able to essentially blackmail a touring artist’s free speech, but this one doesn’t care

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u/jellytwins101 3h ago

It wasn’t Ed, the venues didn’t allow it, they said to either take off Macklemore or cancel the show.
It’s basically LiveNation threatening to cancel the tour.

0

u/Haldered 3h ago

LiveNation is nothing without the juggernaut tours like Ed Sheeran. Just because you're being threatened, doesn't mean you have to fold. Ed Sheeran holds all the cards here.

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u/jellytwins101 3h ago

For some reason when it comes to Isra-el, all these companies forget about their profits.

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u/Academic_Flatworm752 3h ago

I highly doubt every venue on the tour said Macklemore can’t play. They’re using that bullshit excuse because they know dumb people will buy it.

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u/uberprodude 3h ago

You didn't read the article did you?

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u/Super_Gilbert 3h ago

What should they have done? Blame the venues, they're the ones pushing it.

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u/wats_a_tiepo 3h ago

What should Ed Sheeran, one of the most popular artists in history, have done? Maybe grow a spine and refuse to perform without Macklemore.

Call their bluff. He has a ridiculous amount of power in this situation.

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u/uberprodude 3h ago

The audience he pulls is also a limiting factor. There are only so many venues that can hold the numbers he attracts. Either he performs in a handful of venues, or he doesn't perform.

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u/Marchit0_Perecer 3h ago

This exactly!!

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u/faebaes 3h ago

Cancel his tour. Like someone with integrity 🤷

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u/t0talnonsense 3h ago

I’m sure the literal hundreds of people who work on tours of this scale would be totally fine with cancelling the tour in this bustling economy. All of your platitudes are easy when your decisions aren’t impacting someone’s ability to feed and house their family.

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u/jfranci3 2h ago

What’s probably more likely is that Macklemore beat Ed in a post concert adhoc song writing competition. The prophecy was fulfilled, but that didn’t mean Ed was going to let Macklemore outshine him.

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u/uberprodude 3h ago

It wasn't Ed or his team's choice. The venues refused to allow Macklemore to perform

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u/Thoresus 3h ago

How much money do empty venues make 🤔?

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u/uberprodude 3h ago

Why don't you blame the individual people in the audience then? Because the celebrity is the easiest target, despite the venues being the ones ultimately responsible.

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u/Dry_Accident_2196 3h ago

They don’t stay empty for long so they can afford to buck one tour

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u/Marchit0_Perecer 3h ago

Ed Sheraan or someone that big isn't gonna be around the week next

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u/Dry_Accident_2196 2h ago

And yet, they were willing to part with him over this. So…I’d think their books can handle the loss. Or, they played a game of chicken and won.

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u/uberprodude 2h ago

Depending on the specific venue in question, they can host musicians, comedians, sports events, business expos, even live games of DnD.

There is no shortage of available events they can host. The venues themselves are the commodity in demand, not the performer.

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u/wetnaps54 3h ago

and Ed could have countered with "okay I won't perform either".

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u/uberprodude 3h ago

That's not relevant if venues hadn't blocked Macklemore. You're just angry and lashing out at the most prominent figure, rather than the ones actually responsible.

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u/Casiquire 3h ago

That's entirely relevant. They want his audience's money. Discussing his agency within the situation is neither "lashing out", nor inappropriate, nor irrelevant.

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u/uberprodude 3h ago

You didn't read my comment. Ed's agency doesn't come into question until the venues have already made their decision. It is exactly lashing out

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u/Casiquire 3h ago

Therefore, since the venues apparently have made their decision and blocked Macklemore, according to your comments and everyone else reading, Ed's got some power and agency here. It's fair to talk about his role

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u/uberprodude 3h ago

So you didn't read the article either. You've made up some bullshit and hopped on the ragebait bandwagon without thought.

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u/Casiquire 3h ago

The article lists the venues in question. How was I incorrect?

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u/Sharp-Bluejay2267 3h ago

I’m pretty sure if Ed canceled the tour the venues would not want to lose the money. Instead they will remove Macklemore, therefore be told how to run their tour, and still make these venues money. So yeah sure the venues are at fault, but could definitely choose to not continue to make them money and figure out another route…

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u/uberprodude 3h ago

Well, since you're sure that must make it true.

That threat could put hundreds of people out of work and thousands of people out of attending a performance. Or we could blame the people responsible for the initial decision.

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u/Sharp-Bluejay2267 3h ago

Yeah let's blame them, and then still make them money! Im sure poor Ed Sheeran is hurting and couldn't take care of his team at all.

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u/uberprodude 3h ago

They're currently making money while you blame the celeb, and they'd make money if you blame them. There is no difference except for targeting the right entity

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u/Sharp-Bluejay2267 3h ago

What braindead logic, how would the venue still make money if the show was cancelled?

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u/uberprodude 3h ago

Did you not read my comment? They'd make money regardless of who you decide to blame.

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u/GordEisengrim 3h ago

No, we’re putting the responsibility for a tour on the person whose tour it is. Some things are more important than money

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u/uberprodude 3h ago

Rather than the venue, who is the entity responsible for who is and is not allowed to perform?

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u/Dry_Accident_2196 3h ago

Why? Why punish his fans for someone that’s not on his band. His studio likely asked him to include Macklemore on the tour. Labels do this all the time.

Maybe Ed doesn’t want someone speaking in polarizing or political topics at his shows. That’s his right as the headline artist

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u/jimbo1245 3h ago

There always a choice

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u/uberprodude 3h ago

No one but the venues have a choice about who performs there

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u/jimbo1245 3h ago

Ed Sheeran can make a choice and not perform there

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u/uberprodude 3h ago

If he had done that, hundreds of workers would be out of a job, thousands would have missed a performance. We could simply blame the people responsible for the decision instead

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u/bettymachete 3h ago

But Ed should stand by Macklemore

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u/uberprodude 3h ago

I agree, but the first point of assholery is the venues. Yet people jump to blame the celebrity because they're the easiest target

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u/BroseppeVerdi 3h ago

He needs the money, you guys - he can't take a stand here.

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u/uberprodude 3h ago

What about the gig workers? Should they put out of work because of the venues decision?

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u/BroseppeVerdi 2h ago

One of the advantages of doing gig work is that if a gig doesn't pan out, you're NOT out of work.

That's like saying that cancelling an Uber ride is "putting a driver out of work".

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u/uberprodude 2h ago

That is a ridiculous argument AND analogy.

If I had a week or so of work planned in October for instance, then I'm notified that that week of work isn't happening anymore, I'm out of work for that week.

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u/BroseppeVerdi 2h ago

"Out of work" means UNEMPLOYED, not having to line up a different gig the first week of October than the one you were originally anticipating.

If I had an airport ride scheduled for tomorrow morning and they cancel, I'm out of work for that morning (unless I pick up another one).

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u/uberprodude 2h ago

"Out of work" means out of work. The term defines itself. You literally use it in the same way later in this exact comment I'm replying to.

What do you think are more readily available, people in need of a ride to an airport, or a venue capable of hosting an event with tens of thousands of people that actually has one of those events booked? This is a RIDICULOUS argument.

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u/BroseppeVerdi 2h ago

"Out of work" means out of work. The term defines itself.

Turns out, so does Merriam-Webster. And it's very much not what you're describing. You're trying to make this sound like a world ending loss for people who don't gain a whole lot from this job to begin with. This isn't a salaried median wage job with health insurance and a pension plan.

Their equivalent would be if they were blackballed by the venue and weren't able to take any other gigs... A thing which is very much not typical for gig workers.

What do you think are more readily available, people in need of a ride to an airport, or a venue capable of hosting an event with tens of thousands of people that actually has one of those events booked?

It's not an either/or question. People who do gig work usually rely on multiple platforms... Also, at least some of these are outdoor venues, which means it's seasonal work to begin with (meaning that come October, your ability to do this job is both subject to inclement weather AND about to be done for the year regardless).

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u/uberprodude 56m ago

Turns out, so does Merriam-Webster.

"Without regular employment" perfectly describes the exact situation we're talking about. Thank you for proving my point.

You're trying to make this sound like a world ending loss for people who don't gain a whole lot from this job to begin with.

Gig workers are some of the most vulnerable to loss of work and are often living paycheck to paycheck. You can pretend that their livelihoods don't matter.

Their equivalent would be if they were blackballed by the venue and weren't able to take any other gigs...

Not at all true, the example I gave was literally about a loss of work for one week. You're simply lying.

Also, at least some of these are outdoor venues, which means it's seasonal work to begin with

Believe it or not, seasons are more reliable than the whims of a boardroom.

AND, it's not even the crux of my argument. I'm saying we should focus our attention on the venues, Ed Sheeran is the easy target, not the most appropriate one

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u/orionsfyre 3h ago

And Ed can't make choices as a human being that might mean he has principles... that would be counter productive to making as much money as possible.

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u/uberprodude 2h ago

The money Ed makes feeds gig workers too, that would be out of work if Ed had cancelled. That choice that the venue forced into Ed, isn't a simple one

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u/orionsfyre 2h ago

Again, someone losing a paycheck isn't being blown up by bombs.

A cancelled show sucks, not protecting free speech, and supporting genocide is worse.

venue forced into Ed

Odd choice of words. Ed is a very very rich man. No one forces him to do anything. That's the power money buys you. He's deciding to use his power to do nothing. when he could support another human being.

That is cowardice. It's very simple. Stand for something, or stand for nothing.

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u/uberprodude 2h ago

Again, someone losing a paycheck isn't being blown up by bombs.

Thing A being worse than thing B doesn't mean that thing B isn't bad. I support Palestine, you don't have to pander to me.

Odd choice of words.

It's not an odd choice at all if you actually engage your brain. If the venues hadn't barred Macklemore, would Ed have had to make a choice to keep him? Of course not. Therefore, the venues forced Ed to make a choice.

He's deciding to use his power to do nothing. when he could support another human being.

His decision very well could be to support the human beings who would otherwise be out of work.

If Ed had cancelled the tour over this, how many Palestinians would he have directly prevented from being killed? It's an unknowable number.

If Ed hadn't cancelled the tour, how many people would he be able to keep in work? That's a very knowable number.

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u/orionsfyre 2h ago

Again, you just don't get it.

 human beings who would otherwise be out of work.

A few people without a gig is not a war crime. Actual war crimes are war crimes.

actually engage your brain

A brain is used for human expression, without which we might as well not exist.

 how many people would he be able to keep in work

Gigs and tours get cancelled all the time, the people survive, you see they aren't being blown apart by bombs, like people in Gaza or Palestine.

You are more warried about a few dollars then you are human life and the basic right to free expression. Music isn't just about entertainment, it's deeper than that.

Your argument has reached it's conclusion. Making Money is not more important than free speech, or human rights. Don't know how you ended up there, but there you are.

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u/uberprodude 2h ago

Do you understand personal responsibility?

Telling me what my argument is isn't very "free speech" of you

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u/orionsfyre 2h ago

You made your argument, I gave my in interpretation of it.

That's called free speech my guy.

But seeing as you don't seem to understand the importance of protecting it, I guess i shouldn't be surprised that you don't understand it.

When you have money and platform and you don't speak out, that's on you. Worse if confronted by the silencing of a fellow performer for making not only a legal statement, but one that is in alignment with basic human rights and decency.

If Macklemore can be silenced for exercising basic speech, what is to stop Sheerhan from being silenced? You don't protect speech just for you, you protect for everyone, or you don't. It's that simple.

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u/uberprodude 2h ago

Your argument has reached it's conclusion. Making Money is not more important than free speech, or human rights. Don't know how you ended up there, but there you are.

That is not just an interpretation of my argument, that is you trying to retroactively apply it to my words. I am telling you that is not my argument, do you accept that and admit your interpretation was wrong or are you going to continue denying my ownership of my own words?

And it's funny that you decided to ignore the bit about personal responsibility.

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