JOSEPH DEBELL: OPINION EDITOR
Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
South by Southwest (SXSW) has lost its integrity. The once exciting Austin Texas music festival is now becoming less of a music festival and more of a billboard on which they platform defense contractors, including Raytheon subsidiaries and the US Army.
SXSW first appeared in 1987 after Austin, Texas, wanted to create more entertainment opportunities. After debating about what to add, Austin settled on SXSW. However, recent decisions from SXSW have forced them to lose credibility by allowing the normalization of militarization inside the entertainment industry.
According to UMAW (Union of Musicians and Allied Workers), SXSW payment for artists is $250 for groups and just $100 for solo artists.
It’s not outrageous to say that when artists choose to play at SXSW, they do it in hopes it brings them some kind of attention.
While SXSW’s compensation decision led countless artists to boycott the festival, even more artists are pulling out of performing at SXSW because of the festival’s sponsorship ties to the American Military and the defense industry.
Part of the defense industry included in this sponsorship is Raytheon, Collins Aerospace and British Aerospace (BAE Systems).
Raytheon manufactures missiles, bombs and other weapons for the Israeli military to use against Palestinian civilians.
Collins Aerospace provides components for military aircraft that the Israeli Defense Forces use.
British Aerospace or BAE Systems has supplied weapons used in the illegal occupation of Palestinian territories.
Quick question for SXSW: Why the hell do you have the military as a sponsor if you are supposed to be a music festival? From an optic, marketing, or even ethical standpoint, it makes no sense for SXSW to do this.
It’s as if SXSW is so greedy and money-hungry that it will take on anyone as a sponsor.
“TheNeedleDrop” (Anthony Fantano) recently made a YouTube video titled “SXSW Is Garbage,” in which he mentions how he has attended SXSW in years past and is currently baffled by the blind ignorance of SXSW not knowing its audience.
“The leftwing, underground, indie music, leftwing type audience that makes up the demographic of SXSW concertgoers don’t vibe with the military-industrial complex,” said Fantano.
Since most of the artists who have been leaving SXSW aren’t necessarily the biggest names in the world, SXSW has been able to sweep this under the rug.
That’s until Greg Abbot, Governor of Texas, had to prove once again that he is “anti-woke” by posting about the artists leaving SXSW.
“Bands pull out of SXSW over U.S Army sponsorship. Bye. Don’t come back. Austin remains the HQ for the Army Futures Command. San Antonio is Military City USA. We are proud of the U.S. military in Texas. If you don’t like it, don’t come here.” Said Abbot on X, formerly known as Twitter.
SXSW responded on X by saying the following:
“SXSW does not agree with Governor Abbot.”
This is not to say SXSW doesn’t agree with Governor Abbot, but their actions suggest they also say, “Bye. Don’t come back,” by virtue of ignoring the situation until Governor Abbot spoke about it.
It’s not as if SXSW is doing anything to change the companies involved in the festival or increase compensation practices that would make festivalgoers and artists change their minds.
debell22@bonaventure.edu
