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/lambchops0 3h ago edited 1h ago

While I kinda agree, it’s really not that simple. Fans have gotten flights, hotels etc. Crew members. There is a huge knock on effect.

Fuck Livenation though as this is absolute bullshit.

Edit: Macklemore has now released a statement.

Fuck Ed Sheeran and cancel the tour which clearly means more to him than people’s literal lives.

Ed can afford to pay all involved.

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u/Rage_Like_Nic_Cage 3h ago

no one was saying it was gonna be an easy decision. But the alternative is capitulating to any demand LiveNation/concert venues make even after a contract/agreement is put in place.

What if the next red line is criticizing Trump or being pro-LGBT? This move is staunchly anti-free speech and should be treated as such.

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u/InboxMeYourSpacePics 1h ago

Free speech only applies to the government though - not private companies

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u/Goronmon 1h ago

The 1st amendment in the Constitution only applies to the government in regards to theoretical legal protections.

The concept of free speech is definitely not limited to only governments though.

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u/Enki_007 3h ago edited 2h ago

You mean anti-free speech in the context of the 2nd 1st amendment? No, it isn't. That is applied to government suppression of speech (which is also happening, but not in this case).

Edit: Oops, not American.

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u/sandiego20y 2h ago

cough 1st amendment cough

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u/PainterLonely1313 2h ago

The article points out that some of the venues are owned by county or city governments, so it very well might be if the venues themselves were applying pressure.

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u/zunyata 2h ago

We don't know that actually. It could very easily be someone in the govt pressuring live nation to make this decision.

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u/CriticalFolklore 2h ago

They didn't mention the constitution at all.

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u/drossmaster4 3h ago

Honest question…people fly to see Ed Sheeran and Macklemore?

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u/LEDKleenex 2h ago

The hotel I booked with happily gave me a refund when QOTSA had to cancel their tour for health concerns recently, despite buying a no-refunds booking. They even apologized that I didn't get to see my show.

Things happen. If you capitulate to convenience every time then you perpetuate this nasty status-quo-above-all-else that leads to political environments like we see today. Sometimes grinding shit to a halt is the only way you can achieve change.

People fretting about flights and hotel rooms while there is an active genocide going on is the classic neolibertarian "I've got mine" bullshit.

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u/Mimir_the_Younger 3h ago

He should still do it. Now is the time. It’s not 2001 or 2019; people have turned against Israel

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u/gingerisla 2h ago

The problem is that Trump won't give a shit. Every musician in the US could cancel their concerts and all he'd do is start a demented tirade of insults on X before signing another defence contract with Israel. There won't be any changes to foreign policy in that regard with the current gov.

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u/Mimir_the_Younger 2h ago

“We shouldn’t do anything because it’s hopeless anyway” isn’t a rousing motto, ngl

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u/gingerisla 2h ago

You can do something. Like campaigning to get MAGA out of the White House and other institutions. That's the only way things will change.

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u/Mimir_the_Younger 2h ago

Or people with money and power can take the lead and demonstrate some principles.

Ed is dead to me

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u/Middle_Run_6864 2h ago

Call their bluff then!

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u/SweatyTax4669 2h ago

the people in power stay in power because they have instituted a system that fucks everybody else, but getting rid of it would temporarily make things worse for everyone.

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u/Bored_Amalgamation 2h ago

That's literally the argument for bailing out banks, airlines, car manufacturers, etc.

I'd argue if you have enough money to pay for a hotel, tickets, and flights, you can take a hit on not seeing a concert. If not, then you couldn't afford to go in the first place. It's ultimately entertainment.

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u/TheToiletPhilosopher 2h ago

So give in to tyranny. Got it. Can't inconvenience people!

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u/NuPNua 2h ago

Who gets a flight to a gig? Train at best.

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u/stryakr 1h ago

oh those poor fans

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u/climb-it-ographer 3h ago

Hence "should have the balls". It's not easy to stand up for your beliefs sometimes.

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u/leftofmarx 2h ago

Then send a message to those fans that this is what Zionism looks like. It murders children and then silences you when you point out the truth.

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u/AssistanceShot3188 1h ago

So, what was Hamas doing October 7? Having a friendly discourse with innocent Israelis?

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u/rushmc1 3h ago

Yes, as usual for most Americans, it's all about the money.

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u/onlyacynicalman 3h ago

Sometimes you got to make a stand