600+ Musicians Urge Live Nation to Cut Ties With Israeli Subsidiary

More than 600 artists and music‑industry professionals have signed an open letter calling on Live Nation Entertainment to end its relationship with its Israeli subsidiary, Live Nation Israel. The letter, organized by Musicians For Palestine and released by CelebrityAccess, argues that the concert giant should adopt policies that prevent its operations from being complicit in human‑rights abuses.

The letter, dated 18 December 2025, lists prominent signatories including Brian Eno, Massive Attack, Caribou (Dan Snaith), Thurston Moore, Nicolas Jaar, Kode9, Josey Rebelle and Stuart Braithwaite of Mogwai. It states that Live Nation Israel “glorifies the genocidal Israeli military that has killed more than 70,000 Palestinians in Gaza.” The authors call on Live Nation Entertainment to divest its Israeli subsidiary, adopt programming and partnership policies that align with Palestinian civil‑society guidelines, and ensure that its events do not support oppression.

Live Nation Entertainment, Inc. is an American multinational entertainment company formed in 2010 from the merger of Live Nation and Ticketmaster. It operates venues, festivals and ticket‑sales platforms worldwide and claims to be the largest live‑entertainment producer. The company has faced criticism for its market dominance and for alleged antitrust violations, and in 2026 a federal jury found it liable on state antitrust claims.

Live Nation Israel is a subsidiary that promotes concerts and operates venues within Israel. The letter’s authors argue that the subsidiary’s activities facilitate the Israeli military’s operations in occupied Palestinian territories, where the United Nations and various human‑rights organisations have documented widespread abuses.

The campaign was launched by the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI), a group that has been active since 2004 and is part of the broader Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. PACBI’s statement, released on 12 December 2025, urges the music industry to pressure Live Nation to change its policies and to encourage venues, festivals, artists and audiences to demand a divestment from Israeli operations.

Live Nation has not publicly responded to the letter as of the time of publication. The letter’s authors note that the lack of a response does not diminish the urgency of the issue.

The open letter is part of a growing trend of artist activism in the music sector. Similar campaigns have targeted other large entertainment companies for their perceived complicity in political conflicts. The letter also highlights the role of the music industry in shaping public perception of geopolitical events, a point that has been raised by scholars of media and cultural studies.

Industry observers note that Live Nation’s decision to divest or alter its Israeli operations could have significant financial implications, given the company’s global reach. However, the letter’s authors argue that ethical considerations should outweigh short‑term profit.

The broader context of the Israeli‑Palestinian conflict includes ongoing disputes over settlements, military actions in Gaza, and allegations of genocide by international bodies. The United Nations and several human‑rights organisations have documented violations in the occupied territories.

In summary, the open letter represents a coordinated effort by a large group of musicians and industry professionals to pressure Live Nation Entertainment to sever ties with its Israeli subsidiary and to adopt policies that align with Palestinian civil‑society guidelines. The company has yet to issue a response, leaving the outcome of the campaign uncertain.