Barclay’s suspends sponsorship partnership with Live Nation for all UK music festivals in 2024

Mark Holloway/Redferns

Barclays has bowed to pressure from several music acts and an ad hoc movement and suspended its sponsorship of all music festivals organised by Live Nation in the UK in 2024.

Festivals not currently supported by Barclays include popular events such as Download, Latitude and the Isle of Wight Festival, according to Business Matters.

Barclays’ decision came after several artists complained about the financial company’s investment relationships with defense companies that trade with Israel.

Country artist CMAT, metal band Ithaca and comedian Joanne McNally have canceled their scheduled performances this summer.

Barclays signed a five-year sponsorship deal with Live Nation through 2023, but Business Matters reported that the suspension in 2024 does not cover the full term of the contract.

In May, more than 100 artists boycotted the Barclays Group at the Great Escape Festival in Brighton. Barclays was accused of increasing its investments in arms companies with links to Israel.

A Barclays spokesperson confirmed the suspension to Business Matters and assured that customers with festival tickets would not be affected.

“Barclays has been asked and has agreed to suspend participation in the remaining Live Nation festivals in 2024.” The bank reiterated its commitment to the defence sector as essential to national and allied security and said there had been cases of intimidation and vandalism towards staff.

Several bands, including Pest Control, Speed, Scowl, Zulu and Ithaca, have cancelled their participation in this weekend’s Download Festival. Pest Control stressed that they would not sacrifice their principles for personal gain, while Ithaca called on festival organisers to think more carefully about who they accept funds from.

Protest group Bands Boycott Barclays also celebrated the suspension and thanked the artists for using their platforms to condemn Barclays.