SXSW will no longer partner with the US military or weapons manufacturers, the event announced on Wednesday (June 26).
“After careful consideration, we are revising our sponsorship model,” a statement said was posted on the SXSW website. “As a result, the US military and arms manufacturing companies will not be sponsoring SXSW 2025.”
The development comes after more than 80 artists and attendees pulled out of the annual music and technology event in Austin, Texas, last March because of sponsorships from the US Army and North Carolina-based weapons manufacturer Collins Aerospace.
Among the boycotting artists were the Irish band Kneecap, who He wrote to X that the withdrawal from the event “was done in solidarity with the people of Palestine and to highlight the unacceptable deep ties the festival has with arms companies and the US military that are currently enabling a genocide and starvation against a trapped population. »
Today's news is an issue for SXSW, which initially defended the sponsorships, releasing a statement during the March event that said organizers “fully respect the decision these artists made to exercise their right to free speech. 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 is best to understand how their approach will affect our lives. Sponsoring the Army is part of our commitment to advance ideas that shape our world. As for Collins Aerospace, they are sponsoring two SXSW Pitch categories this year, giving entrepreneurs visibility and funding for potentially game-changing work.”
Advertising signPMC's parent company is the largest shareholder of SXSW and its brands are official media partners of SXSW.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/pro/sxsw-ends-u-s-army-weapons-manufacturer-sponsorships/
