BBC DJ Liz Kershaw has slammed protesters targeting Barclays’s sponsorship of summer music festivals, warning their woke opposition will be “potentially devastating for our culture”. The Mail has the story.
Ms. Kershaw, 65, said that wrecking such financial deals would place many musical and cultural events under threat.
She spoke out after Barclays suspended sponsorship of music festivals staged by promoter Live Nation, including Download, Latitude and the Isle of Wight.
The bank, which puts in six-figure sums to help stage the events, pulled out after several acts refused to appear in protest at Barclays’s financial services for defence firms supplying Israel.
Live Nation held crisis talks with Barclays after artists such as country singer CMAT, metal band Ithaca and comedian Joanne McNally withdrew from planned slots this summer.
Ms. Kershaw posted on X: “Now our entertainment is under attack. No sponsor = no festival. Bullying of bands – no festival.
“This is really sinister and is potentially devastating for musicians, music lovers and our culture.”
Other music industry insiders said they fear for the future of festivals if they lose sponsorship fees that help cover shortfalls after ticket sales. …
Last month more than 100 artists boycotted Brighton’s Great Escape Festival over ties to Barclays. …
Barclays said: “We have agreed to suspend participation in the remaining Live Nation festivals in 2024. …
“The protesters’ agenda is to have Barclays ‘debank’ defence companies, which is a sector we remain committed to as an essential part of keeping this country and our allies safe.”
Worth reading in full.
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