Today’s episode is a discussion with writer and journalist Una Mullally about artist boycotts, Kneecap, solidarity, Palestine, Israel, protest, cancellation, capitalism and the music industry.
We talk about how Israel’s genocide of the Palestinian people has become a flashpoint of awareness about how modern music festivals work, specifically how private equity which invests in Israel operates in the live music industry.
We chat about why Kneecap’s recent actions have drawn so much ire and anger in the US and the UK, leading to the expedited terror charge of Mo Chara upcoming in court on June 18th in London, and calls (often successful) for cancellation of their shows.
Festivals owned by global events company Superstruct who own 80 festivals and brands like Sonar, Sziget, Boiler Room, Oya, Field Day and Mighty Hoopla have had artists cancel in boycott of Superstruct’s owner KKR, the second largest private equity firm in the world, who have documented ties to both weapons manufacturers and Israeli companies developing data centres and advertising real estate on illegally occupied land.
It feels like an unprecedented time for the visibility of protest and boycott by artists in recent years. A generational shift is happening – Artists and DJs are showing moral opposition in this complicity in the face of political inaction. Lines are being drawn.
Listen to the episode or via the Podcast platform links below:
A timeline of Kneecap’s Coachella and pro-Palestine controversies
Kneecap member charged with terrorism offence in UK
The Murder Capital’s German shows cancelled over Palestine flag display
Barclays no longer sponsoring The Great Escape Festival
A Lankum gig in Germany was cancelled due to their support for Palestine
Nialler9 Podcast: MayKay on Fight Like Apes & Palestine
Róisín El Cherif is singing for Palestine and Ireland (Nialler9 Podcast)
All Irish bands have now cancelled their official SXSW performances
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Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005 . He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Cara Magazine, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, founder of Lumo Club, club promoter, event curator and producer of gigs, listening parties & events in Dublin.
