Lorde and Idles join ‘No Music for Genocide’ geo-blocking campaign targetting Israel
Lorde and Idles are the latest high-profile artists to join the ‘No Music for Genocide’ campaign, geo-blocking their music from being streamed in Israel.
The cultural boycott initiative began in September when 400 names, including the likes of Fontaines DC, Amyl and the Sniffers, MJ Lenderman, Massive Attack, Rina Sawayama, Kneecap, King Krule, and Japanese Breakfast, confirmed their involvement with the campaign.
The number of artists connected to ‘No Music for Genocide’ has continued to grow in the weeks since. Recently, Björk and Paramore became the latest major acts to support the initiative.
Now, with the addition of Lorde and Idles, the campaign has more than 1000 artists and labels attached to the movement. Other new names include Caribou, Muna, and Tokimonsta.
Lorde’s decision to join ‘No Music for Genocide’ comes days after she passionately screamed, “Free fucking Palestine”, while performing ‘Team’ at a sold-out show at Madison Square Garden. Idles have also vocally supported Palestine at their shows in numerous ways, including leading fans through chants of “Viva Palestina”.
In their own words, the mission statement for ‘No Music for Genocide’ is: “Culture can’t stop bombs on its own, but it can help reject political repression, shift public opinion toward justice, and refuse the art-washing and normalization of any company or nation that commits crimes against humanity.”
It continues, “This initiative is one part of a worldwide movement to erode the support Israel needs to continue its genocide. We’re inspired by the escalating efforts in pursuit of that goal, from the recent Film Workers For Palestine pledge to Spain’s ban of Israel-bound ships and planes to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition to Demilitarize Brooklyn Navy Yard to dockworkers in Morocco who’ve refused to load weapons onto vessels ordered by Tel Aviv.”
They also said of those who have joined the initiative, “We are so grateful for all of the artists, managers, and labels who have already committed to this first step, and we’re excited to expand this together. The more of us there are, the stronger we will be. This is just the beginning.”
Never Miss A Beat
The Far Out Music Newsletter
All the latest music news from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.