From Macklemore to Ed Sheeran: Gaza establishes itself in the international music industry
Something is clearly changing in the global music industry. For a long time, publicly displaying support for Palestine could cost an artist dearly: controversies, pressure, cancellations, lost contracts. Today, positions are multiplying. And they now come from big international stars. The Macklemore affair is one of the most striking examples.
After his statements in favor of Palestine during Ed Sheeran’s American tour, the rapper was sidelined, with several stadiums refusing his presence. But the decision caused a domino effect: Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe and Beoga in turn left the tour, in solidarity with Macklemore.
Then Ed Sheeran himself came out of his reserve.
In front of tens of thousands of spectators in Philadelphia, one of the biggest stars on the planet described the situation in Gaza as “catastrophic and unjustifiable”, while also condemning the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023 and discussing the injustices suffered by Palestinians in the West Bank. And Macklemore and Ed Sheeran are now far from being isolated cases.
More than 1,000 artists and labels are now boycotting Israel
The most spectacular phenomenon is undoubtedly the international No Music For Genocide campaign. Launched in September 2025 with around 400 artists and labels, it now claims more than 1,000 participants having requested the removal or blocking of their music in Israel. The list is impressive: Lorde, Björk, Paramore, Hayley Williams, Massive Attack, Fontaines DC, IDLES, Wolf Alice, Sigur Rós, Paloma Faith, Rina Sawayama, Hot Chip, MUNA, Japanese Breakfast, Primal Scream, Paul Weller, Kneecap and many others.
In other words, the cultural boycott of Israel is no longer carried only by a few activist artists. It now affects artists capable of filling the biggest venues in the world and accumulating billions of listens.
Even Eurovision is overtaken by Gaza
The phenomenon also affects Eurovision. In 2026, Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Iceland and Slovenia boycotted the competition due to Israel remaining in the competition. Alternative concerts in support of Palestine were also organized in several European countries. And the movement continues. On 17 September 2026, Irish public television RTÉ announced that Ireland would also boycott Eurovision 2027 if Israel continued to participate. Even one of the biggest European musical events is now directly affected by the Palestinian question.
Wembley, Glastonbury, Sónar: Gaza is everywhere
In London, Together for Palestine, organized in particular by Brian Eno at Wembley Arena, brought together dozens of major music figures in 2025: Damon Albarn, Jamie xx, Bastille, Paloma Faith, Hot Chip, Sampha, Celeste, Portishead and PinkPantheress. The concert was sold out in front of 12,500 people. In Barcelona, the prestigious Sónar festival was also shaken by the mobilization around Gaza.
More than 70 artists signed a letter challenging the festival owner’s business ties to activities in Israel and the West Bank. Several artists then decided to boycott the event. At Glastonbury, Palestine also imposed itself on the stages and in the public debate.
The positions of Kneecap and Bob Vylan have caused significant controversy in the United Kingdom. Massive Attack, Brian Eno, Fontaines DC and Kneecap then created an alliance to support artists who say they face pressure when they take a stand on Gaza. Even Thom Yorke, the singer of Radiohead, whose concert in Tel Aviv in 2017 caused considerable controversy, declared in 2025 that he would henceforth “absolutely not” perform in Israel as long as Benjamin Netanyahu was in power. And some artists even face losing money.
Swedish singer Zara Larsson explained in 2026 that she had notably lost a multi-million dollar brand contract in the context of her political positions, including her support for Palestine.
A new front for Israel: that of popular culture
This is probably where the change is most significant. For a long time, publicly supporting Palestine in the entertainment industry could pose a considerable professional risk. This risk still exists. The Macklemore affair shows this: stadium owners and pro-Israeli organizations strongly contested his positions, some even accusing him of anti-Semitism, an accusation that the rapper refutes. But something has changed.
There are now many more artists speaking out.
And above all, they are starting to act collectively. An artist is excluded? Others leave the tour. Hundreds of musicians boycott? The movement continues to grow. Countries refusing Eurovision? Others follow. Wembley fills up for Gaza.
Spotify, world tours, festivals, labels, big stages: the Palestinian question is everywhere. For Israel, protest no longer takes place only in demonstrations, parliaments or international institutions. It is now reaching music, festivals, platforms and global popular culture. And that’s a major change. Because this battle is also being played out among millions of young people, in concerts, on social networks and in a cultural universe that no government can completely control.
The symbol is powerful. In Gaza itself, amid destroyed buildings, Palestinian artists painted Macklemore wrapped in a Palestinian flag, his fist raised. With this simple message: “Thank you for using your voice for Palestine. » From Macklemore to Ed Sheeran, from Wembley to Glastonbury, from Spotify to Eurovision, Gaza has now established itself at the heart of the global music industry.
And this time, the movement seems difficult to ignore.
