Although i agree with a lot of that, Europe is not “moving to a war economy footing” IMHO. It is moving to a self reliant defence economy.
As someone once said to me, “buy defence stocks, people are always going to want to kill other other people.
I suppose it’s been that way since the dawn of man.
I am unsure which that one might be?
Seems to me there are smart actors on all sides. That is those who make smart tactical decisions.
Stronger? Certainly one side is richer and better equipped.
Stronger, emotionally, and more resilient? May not be so clear cut.
Well I’m actually all in favour of that, but I’d argue that the speed and focus we are applying to do it puts into a “war economy” classification. But It’s all a matter of opinion I suppose.
As if I needed another reason to hate Ticketmaster (same company as Live Nation)…
Ed Sheeran concerts at risk of being cancelled over support act’s support for Palestinians
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Fixed it for you 
Seriously though, he is the worst.
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Haha, I know nothing about him other than what he looks like. I’m not sure I could even tell you any of his songs 
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Free speech, USA style.
Oh wow, I see what you mean… His comments in this article are pretty outrageous
“I have always used my platform and music to bring people from all backgrounds and cultures together, and this won’t ever change. Those who have been to one of my shows will know that they are about unity, joy, escapism, love, and a place for everyone to feel welcome.”
He insisted that he’s “not complicit” and that he has his own views on “this devastating conflict.”
“Just because I choose not to speak publicly, it doesn’t mean I don’t have them, and it doesn’t mean I don’t care. Nor does it mean I don’t support causes in my own, personal way,” he elaborated.
He further defended his silence on Palestine by saying, “There is a reason I do not use my professional platform for politics - my audience includes young people, often children, of all backgrounds. Those who come to my shows do not expect a political forum.”
“I respect Macklemore’s strength of purpose to stand up and shout for what he believes. However, there is room for multiple approaches to the same end: peace. I choose to use my fame and platform to be a place of safety and sanctuary, to maintain diplomacy and keep conversations open, not closed,” Ed exclaimed.
“If we are only focused on shouting the loudest, nothing will ever change. There are different approaches to being an advocate for change. I have spent this week trying to build bridges, to find a solution, and was unfortunately unable to do so.”
“I know who I am, both as a person and as an artist, and those who know me by heart know my values too,” Ed concluded.
Yeah, I mean genocide is bad and everything, but nobody wants to hear about that when they come to one of my concerts.
Won’t somebody think of the children…?!? No, not the Palestinian children… I mean the other, rich, children.
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Would you support Boy George’s last single on that basis?
Such a spineless loser. Or just a bad person.
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I don’t buy his bullshit, it’s all about the money.
20, 000 dead children is 20,000 dead children, no matter what way you try and spin it. Knocking out a few tunes to an audience of rich kids doesn’t really compare, does it? How many dead children would it take for him speak out? He could maker a real difference and he has chosen not to.
Here though are true artists with real courage and principals putting everything on the line to tell the truth.
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Totally 
Boy George has been a lightweight plonker from day one. Nothing he says is of any relevance.
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Catchy tunes, though
I suspect you and I would share a similar opinion of Macklemore!
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True, and pretty hats if I remember correctly. A surprisingly dab hand with a NY sweeping brush too
Sounds like an instruction from a Scottish rugby coach, "for God’s laddie, you going to have to mackle more.
Nevertheless, his message was balanced and true and he was shutdown 
The momentum is building 
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I’m not sure what people expect Sheeran to do, he is contracted (along with others) to perform concerts in venues throughout the US, should he abandon the US leg of his tour and support Macklemore and if so to what end?
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Well I think I would have more respect for him if he had reacted like the other support act who, in solidarity, has withdrawn from the tour. He would’ve been contractually bound too, right…? And he’s got more to lose by virtue of not already being a multimillionaire.
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He’s not the only one contracted, he says a venue pulled, are they not contracted too?
Calling out a bleeding genocide, that’s to what end. It’s all very casual, isn’t it? Unless some pimply IDF bastard has shot your pregnant wife in the head.
Being the vintage I am, I remember musicians impact on stopping the Vietnam war. The current bunch are only in it for money, as far as I can see. Nice lyrics, no moral substance. 
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Great post Garath.
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This is slightly aside from this specific issue, but there are people in the music business, it doesn’t particularly happen in film and TV interestingly, wildly successful artists, that the industry has the most extraordinary mental freeze on. Everyone knows they’re average, they’re not great songwriters, they’re in many (but not all) cases not great vocalists, they’re not charismatic, there is no way they should be at the level they are, but the industry knows that they’re vital in keeping the money coming in so behaves in some bizarre tight-knit collective delusion with huge amounts of marketing to convince the world they’re something special, something of value, not some barely talented pub singer or shower warbler. Secretly everyone at every level knows what’s happening but some of these people are literally keeping labels afloat, venues afloat, so much depends on the public buying into the delusion, buying being the operative word. As a vaguely sane, rational person it always baffles me to view the spectacle, and yet here we are.
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