Why are more Spaniards quitting music festivals over Israeli ties?

If you're readying to be a music show successful Spain this summer, you mightiness wonderment who cashes successful nan money you walk connected nan tickets and drinks. Gone are nan days of unrecorded euphony sessions erstwhile nan only interest was getting a bully spot connected nan creation level to bask your favourite band.

This year, an expanding number of artists and a important sections of nan nationalist are voting pinch their feet by refusing to return portion connected ethical grounds successful immoderate of Spain's awesome taste events, specified arsenic Viña Rock, Sonar, Resurrection Fest and Monegros Desert Festival.

The logic for this is nan nexus betwixt Superstruct Entertainment, nan organisers of these festivals, and nan Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co (KKR) fund, which carries retired real property investment developments successful areas recognised by world rule arsenic Palestinian and which person been illegally occupied by Israel.

KKR, together pinch nan nationalist constricted institution CPP investments, is nan mostly investor successful nan classified businesses of Germany's Axel Springer Group. One of these classified businesses is Yad2, which advertises lodging successful East Jerusalem, Gaza and nan West Bank.

The Superstruct Entertainment group was taken complete by KKR successful 2024. The Spanish nationalist was first made alert of nan implications pursuing reports by 'Eldiario.es' and 'El Salto' successful January and May 2025, respectively.

Sonar and Viña Rock festivals declare their independence

The Viña Rock festival, renowned for nan contentious quality of nan artistsin its programme, went up from 1 to 3 May without nan bands Reincidentes, Fermín Muguruza, Porretas and Sons of Aguirre, and contempt nan harsh disapproval nan arena received connected societal networks.

"We person decided not to participate again successful nan Viña Rock show nor successful nan remainder of nan festivals acquired by KKR until it changes hands", declared Sons of Aguirre, aft joining nan communiqués of nan different bands, successful support of Palestine.

Following nan pressure, nan show responded pinch a connection successful which it said of a "defamation campaign" and "assured its "independence" pinch respect to its links pinch KKR, since "it is basal to make it clear that (KKR) has nary power whatsoever connected nan functioning and overmuch little connected nan identity, programming aliases values of nan Viña Rock festival", says nan matter released by nan organisation. However, nan consequence was not capable for net users, who described it arsenic hypocritical and incoherent.

Sónar, Spain's biggest physics euphony celebration, held earlier this month, near a heavy belief connected nationalist sentiment for each nan incorrect reasons.

At slightest 50 artists and collectives, including Pompeu Fabra University, refused to participate successful nan event. In response, nan show issued a connection successful which it expressed its solidarity pinch nan Palestinian civilian organization and stressed its independence.

"We person nary interference or, of course, immoderate power complete their (KKR's) investments aliases decisions. Our independency remains intact successful each areas that specify Sónar's identity", nan organisation said successful its communiqué.

An progressively captious public

However, nan effort grounded to person its intended audience. The antagonistic consequence of tens of thousands of group connected societal media forced nan show organisers to committedness refunds to anyone who didn't want to be arsenic a matter of principle.

One Instagram personification wrote: "Me dancing knowing wherever my summons money is going? No thanks."

"There's a spot of a connection successful your euphemisms. Unfortunately, nan disengagement we request is nan financial one," added another.

"A twelvemonth agone we were not buying KKR's ticket, why should I now beryllium obliged to person my money stained pinch blood?" said 1 commentator.

Now a increasing number of festivals are facing akin calls to act. This week's Resurrection Fest (25-28 June) and Monegros Desert Festival (26 June) person besides been deed by creator boycotts.

Other events linked to nan KKR money see Arenal Sound (30 July to 3 August), Granada Sound (12 and 13 September) and FIB Benicàssim (17 and 19 July), arsenic good arsenic up to 30 festivals successful Spain that are owned by Superstruct Entertainment together pinch awesome nationalist performance promoters.

Gaining power and neutrality successful Europe

Outside Spain, Superstruct has besides extended its networks. In January 2025, it bought UK unrecorded euphony events level Boiler Room, whose workers were speedy to sound their concerns astir its caller owner. In Finland, a corporate of workers astatine nan Flow Festival, Helsinki's main festival, organised a onslaught to incite audiences and artists to enactment distant from nan event.

After its latest business operations, Superstruct has gained cardinal power complete nan elephantine Live Nation, a starring US institution that besides operates on European soil.

The Superstruct takeover contention was heightened by nan statement over Israel's information successful Eurovision and nan European Broadcasting Union's (EBU) threats to Spain for issuing a pro-Palestinian connection during nan past version of nan contest.

While galore large names stay connected astir bills and line-ups, artists and bands pinch a smaller effect aliases pursuing tin possibly ballot pinch their feet and make their feelings clear precisely because they person nan slightest to lose, but nan nationalist is intelligibly becoming much demanding.

The statement arsenic to whether creation tin stay detached from world conflicts aliases whether, connected nan contrary, it should beryllium a level for governmental protest, is much live than ever.