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MU Statement on Musicians Wishing to Boycott The Great Escape Festival 2024

The MU stands in solidarity with members and non-members who are boycotting this year’s Great Escape Festival due to sponsorship concerns, and reiterate the importance of getting in touch with your regional office should you need support and/or advice.

Published: 03 May 2024 | 1:29 PM
View of the Victorian Brighton Pier and the Brighton wheel at sunset.
The MU is here to offer guidance to any member wishing to boycott this, or any other event. Image credit: Shutterstock.

We will always support our members who choose to withhold their labour, whether that be to fight for better pay, better working conditions or in this case, a better world.

The boycott is an act of solidarity with the people of Palestine, and one of the few instruments that freelance musicians have to call attention to practices that they disagree with.

At the request of our members, the MU have been in touch with The Great Escape and Live Nation to discuss their relationship with Barclays Bank, and whether their sponsorship is being reviewed because of artists’ concerns.

The Council of Music Makers (CMM) - the umbrella organisation representing the Ivors Academy, FAC, MMF, MPG and the MU - will present a full day of talks, discussions, case studies and insights as part of the Great Escape industry conference. We plan to discuss the boycott as part of these discussions.

Any members who have boycotted The Great Escape and need advice on their rights should contact their regional office for support.

The MU is here to offer guidance to any member wishing to boycott this, or any other event. We will also provide support to musicians who have been targeted due to their political activism.

View our advice and full statement

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