Music industry in turmoil: artists boycott festivals because of Israel links!

Music industry in turmoil: artists boycott festivals because of Israel links!

The ongoing conflicts in the Middle East are having a profound impact on the music industry, particularly in Europe. More and more artists are canceling appearances at festivals supported by Israel-affiliated donors. This is evidenced by reports published at the Amsterdam Dance Event. The DGTL festival in particular has lost artists since it was taken over by KKR, which is linked to controversial investments. DGTL director Ellen Evers notes that the first cancellation was received about a week and a half before a festival in April.

The reasons for these cancellations are varied. Pro-Palestinian artists withdraw to protect their moral convictions and thereby show their support for the Palestinian cause. This not only leads to a loss of artists, but also affects the mental health of the team behind the festivals, as Evers reports. This situation is exacerbated by criticism of KKR, which is seen as responsible for investments in companies operating in the West Bank and their links to events in Gaza.

Activism in the music business

As an analysis by the Øya Festival shows, KKR is being criticized for its association with Israeli settlements and activities in Gaza. According to the festival's CEO, boycotts will not change the situation in Israel. Nevertheless, artists and activists protest against the company's involvement during the festival and provide a platform for pro-Palestinian messages.

One example is the Irish band Kneecap, who directed clear words against KKR and the Norwegian government during their performance on August 8, 2025. Their performance included a message addressing over 80,000 civilian deaths in Gaza in 21 months, which was met with widespread approval from the audience. KKR, which operates over 80 music festivals worldwide, is in the crosshairs of the boycott movements.

These protests are not just limited to festivals. At the end of November, the opening of an exhibition by photographer Nan Goldin took place in Berlin, where anti-Israel protests drowned out the speech by the director of the National Gallery. Goldin himself called for the “voices of the Palestinians” to be supported, thereby giving further impetus to the discussion about the connection between art and activism in times of crisis, as was also discussed in the symposium “Art and Activism in Times of Polarization”.

The challenges of the festivals

In this context, several Dutch festivals show dissatisfaction with the change of ownership to KKR. DGTL's Evers highlights that despite the pressure they are under, the takeover has not directly affected day-to-day operations, but has significantly increased the team's emotional burden. Superstruct Entertainment, which is considered a virtual property of KKR, always emphasizes its independence, but operates under the constant pressure of the political and social situation.

The Irish government has responded by compensating artists who were unable to attend the SXSW festival due to such boycotts. This represents a further step towards mitigating the impact of the conflicts on artists. The artistic community continues to face major challenges given the growing global response to the conflicts in the Middle East and the associated social tensions.

Overall, it is clear how close the connections are between culture, economy and geopolitical conflicts. The debates about boycotts, artist integrity and social responsibility are not only topics within the music scene, but also part of a larger discourse about our social responsibility in times of crisis.

For more information about the developments of the situation in the Middle East and their influence on art and music, you can read the articles by Dutch News, P Telegraph and leaves be consulted.