Barclays Suspends Sponsorship of U.K. Festivals Following Backlash
Within the last hour, it’s been announced that Barclays has suspended their sponsorship of all Live Nation festivals in the U.K. This announcement came after days of public scrutiny, pressure, and bands either threatening to or actually dropping out of festivals like Download over the bank’s business dealings with defense companies involved with Israel’s current operations in Gaza.
A spokesperson from Bands Boycott Barclays, one of the main protest groups that was targeting Download and other festivals like the Isle of Wight Festival, Camp Bestival, and Latitude Festival with a boycott, called the bank’s withdrawal a “victory.”
“This is a victory for the Palestinian-led global BDS movement. As musicians, we were horrified that our music festivals were partnered with Barclays, who are complicit in the genocide in Gaza through investment, loans and underwriting of arms companies supplying the Israeli military. Hundreds of artists have taken action this summer to make it clear that this is morally reprehensible, and we are glad we have been heard.
“Our demand to Barclays is simple: divest from the genocide, or face further boycotts. Boycotting Barclays, also Europe’s primary funder of fossil fuels, is the minimum we can do to call for change.”
The bank’s decision doesn’t extend to the entirety of a five-year sponsorship agreement they started with Live Nation last year. Speaking of the decision, a Barclays spokesperson said the bank was asked to back away from the festivals and it agreed. They also said the band would continue working with the defense companies in question.
“Barclays was asked and has agreed to suspend participation in the remaining Live Nation festivals in 2024. Barclays customers who hold tickets to these festivals are not affected and their tickets remain valid. 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.
“They have resorted to intimidating our staff, repeated vandalism of our branches and online harassment. The only thing that this small group of activists will achieve is to weaken essential support for cultural events enjoyed by millions. It is time that leaders across politics, business, academia and the arts stand united against this.”
It should be said that targeting and harassing low-level staff at the bank is not okay if that was actually going on. Other forms of protest as long as no physical harm is done to other individuals however….
In the days leading up to the bank’s decision, bands like Scowl, Pest Control, Ithaca, Speed, and Zulu dropped off of Download and Dying Wish threatened to follow suit unless Barclays was no longer involved with the festival. Last month, more than 100 bands and artists pulled out of the Great Escape festival for exactly the same reasons.
In light of today’s news, Dying Wish issued a statement saying they’ll be performing at Download as a result.
“Download has informed us that that have officially removed Barclays as a sponsor from their festival – we will be playing tomorrow as scheduled. We never wanted to let anyone down and celebrate the news that the boycott was successful. Huge thank you to everyone who was involved in making this possible. We appreciate the understanding and support as we stand by something that truly matters to us. We are so proud to be a part of a community that can come together and create change. That being said – we cannot wait to see you tomorrow at 4:40 pm on the Dogtooth stage. With love, solidarity and free Palestine forever.”
As for the other bands that have pulled out, Scowl, Zulu, Speed, and Pest Control will be playing a sold out benefit show for Palestine in Birmingham tonight.
