CNN
—
On the South by Southwest pageant earlier this yr, dozens of indie artists and audio system cancelled appearances in protest of the occasion’s sponsorship from US navy and protection contractors amid the struggle between Israel and Hamas.
SXSW organizers in March expressed help for the best of artists to precise “free speech,” but additionally defended its US Military sponsorship, describing it as a part of their “dedication to deliver ahead concepts that form our world.”
Three months after the protests, SXSW introduced this week that that they had dropped the US Military as a sponsor forward of the 2025 pageant.
“After cautious consideration, we’re revising our sponsorship mannequin,” learn an official assertion shared on the SXSW website. “In consequence, the US Military, and corporations who interact in weapons manufacturing, won’t be sponsors of SXSW 2025.”
When reached by CNN, a spokesperson for SXSW declined to remark additional on the choice.
In a press release, a spokesperson for the US Military didn’t tackle the separation from SXSW, however stated they’ll proceed to hunt alternatives in artistic industries.
“We appreciated the chance to affix South by Southwest in 2024. With U.S. Military Futures Command headquartered in Austin, we worth any alternative to affix with our group to ignite discovery and make new connections,” Lt. Col. Jamie Dobson, US Military Futures Command spokesperson, stated. “The Military will proceed to hunt alternatives to fulfill expertise innovators and leaders, discover new concepts and insights, and create dynamic business partnerships as a result of tomorrow is value defending.”
Two sources accustomed to the pageant’s change in sponsorship informed CNN that the transfer was not a criticism of the Military, and shouldn’t be seen as a victory for protesters in opposition to the pageant or the US authorities. One supply famous that the change alerts a need to discover a industrial sponsorship accomplice for SXSW’s future.
The Texas-based music and tech pageant has expanded in recent times to incorporate screenings and occasions from main Hollywood studios and networks. The pageant brings greater than 300,000 attendees to Austin for a lineup of conferences, panels, music showcases, movie premieres and exhibitions. Selena Gomez, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and investor Mark Cuban had been among the many individuals at this yr’s pageant. SXSW not too long ago introduced a European growth of the pageant, which is able to host its first London version in June 2025.
Shortly after SXSW’s announcement that the pageant was parting methods with the US Military, one of the vocal bands to boycott the 2024 pageant earlier this yr took to social media to touch upon the change with an inflammatory message.
“US ARMY is OUT of SXSW,” the Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap posted to X on Wednesday, with a handshake emoji subsequent to an emoji of a Palestinian territory flag. “F–Ok ISRAEL,” the publish concluded.
Although Kneecap is only one smaller-known band, their rhetoric in response to SXSW dropping military and weapons manufacturing sponsorship displays the strain felt throughout artistic industries, which has hit an all-time excessive through the Israel-Hamas struggle.
A spokesperson for SXSW declined to touch upon Kneecap’s publish or whether or not the band can be invited again subsequent yr, however a supply indicated that the anti-Israel language displayed within the group’s publish can be in violation of the pageant’s code of conduct.
Identified for his or her provocative lyrics and strident messaging on politics and social causes, Kneecap has a historical past, previous to October 7, of criticizing Israel and flying Palestinian flags throughout their concert events and sporting Palestinian colours throughout public appearances.
Earlier this yr, the rap trio wore pro-Palestine badges on Eire’s “The Late Late Show” – after Irish information shops reported that the performers had been warned by producers that their late-night efficiency can be cancelled in the event that they wore the badges on dwell TV – however they did so anyway. A spokesperson for the Irish broadcasting firm, RTÉ, informed Eire’s The Journal on the time, “Through the dwell efficiency and the following interview, the band selected to not adjust to that settlement.”
The professional-Palestinian motion is widespread amongst some Irish who view Israel’s therapy of Palestinians as analogous to Britain’s historic relationship with Eire. In 2023, The Eire-Palestine Solidarity Marketing campaign (IPSC) introduced that their “Irish Artists Pledge to Boycott Israel” had handed 1,500 signatories, together with Kneecap.
When contacted by CNN, Kneecap supervisor Dan Lambert stated the group stands by their social media publish.
Lambert added that the group has not been contacted by SXSW or requested to carry out at subsequent yr’s pageant, however famous “it’s means too early” and stated if they need to obtain an invitation, they haven’t determined whether or not they would attend.
SXSW isn’t the one music pageant that has seen artists pull out over sponsorships because the Israel-Hamas struggle started.
This previous Could, greater than 100 artists pulled out of The Nice Escape pageant within the UK, as a result of occasion’s sponsorship by Barclays Financial institution over alleged ties to arms manufactures that work with the Israeli navy. Barclays later suspended its sponsorship of all music festivals placed on by Reside Nation, in keeping with Reuters, and says it doesn’t make investments its personal cash in protection corporations supplying Israel in Gaza.
Nonetheless, in contrast to different artists who boycotted The Nice Escape, Kneecap continued their participation in that pageant, providing an evidence that their livelihood is determined by pageant performances.
“It’s straightforward for center class folks with a gentle nine-to-five revenue to put in writing on-line that we needs to be boycotting stuff,” one of many bandmates informed The Irish News in an interview in Could. “However that is our work. Clearly, we pulled out of SXSW as a result of it was actually sponsored by the American military, however we’re not f–kin’ ridiculous both.”
Again in March when artists had been boycotting SXSW, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott took to social media to touch upon the SXSW protesters, prompting the pageant to publicly disagree with the governor.
“Bye. Don’t come again,” Abbott wrote on X on the time. “We’re pleased with the U.S. navy in Texas. When you don’t prefer it, don’t come right here.”
“SXSW doesn’t agree with Governor Abbott,” the pageant’s X account posted in response. “We totally respect the choice these artists made to train their proper to free speech.”
At the moment, SXSW stated it helps “human rights for all,” including that “the state of affairs within the Center East is tragic, and it illuminates the heightened significance of standing collectively in opposition to injustice.”