The 2024 edition of Austin, TX's SXSW festival is already well underway at this point, but it feels as though we're hearing about additional musical acts pulling out of their showcases every day in an exodus that began with Squirrel Flower drawing attention to the event's ties to the defence industry last week.
The same day that SXSW issued a statement after a hit-and-run killed one person and left another critically injured, the fest also addressed the boycotting artists for the first time in a Twitter thread prompted by a tweet from Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
The Republican politician shared an article from The Hill yesterday (March 12) about bands pulling out of SXSW after learning the US Army was one of its main sponsors, writing, "Bye. Don't come back."
SXSW took the opportunity to respond, starting simply with sharing that the organization does not agree with Governor Abbott.
"We are an organization that welcomes diverse viewpoints," the SXSW account tweeted. "Music is the soul of SXSW, and it has long been our legacy. We fully respect the decision these artists made to exercise their right to free speech."
The festival continued:
Across the globe, we are witnessing unspeakable tragedies, the rise of repressive regimes, and the increasing spread of violent conflict. It’s more crucial than ever that we come together to solve these greater humanitarian issues.
The defense industry has historically been a proving ground for many of the systems we rely on today. These institutions are often leaders in emerging technologies, and we believe it’s better to understand how their approach will impact our lives.
The Army’s sponsorship is part of our commitment to bring forward ideas that shape our world. In regard to Collins Aerospace, they participated this year as a sponsor of two SXSW Pitch categories, giving entrepreneurs visibility and funding for potentially game-changing work.
We have and will continue to support human rights for all. The situation in the Middle East is tragic, and it illuminates the heightened importance of standing together against injustice.
After over 120 musicians signed an open letter calling for fair pay, SXSW increased payment for performing artists last year — but failed to offer the wage the performers asked for, as well as to meet the rest of their demands.