Macklemore isn’t going anywhere quietly. After being removed from Ed Sheeran’s US tour over pro-Palestine comments and a performance of his protest track“Hind’s Hall”at MetLife Stadium, the rapper announced his own Free Palestine Tour, hitting Dublin, Paris and London in late October. Every dollar in proceeds goes to 12 organisations providing medical care, humanitarian assistance and advocacy for Palestinians, on top of the $1 million he’d already pledged from the Sheeran dates.
The fallout didn’t stop with Macklemore. Sheeran’s remaining support acts and backing band reportedly withdrew in solidarity, Pink shared criticism of the situation, and Tom Morello praised Macklemore’s stance. It’s turned one stadium moment into a full-blown music industry conversation about free speech, money and who gets to decide who performs. Macklemore’s take:“What happened to me is bigger than one artist or one stage.”
Artist presale begins September 28, with general sale on September 30, and US dates are expected to follow. So now we want to hear from you: do you think artists should use their stage for political statements, or should concerts stay politics-free? Sound off in the comments.
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Local Lawton
Local Lawton is a contributor to LocalBeat, covering local news and community stories.