Leadership / 03.02.22

'Lay Down Your Arms, Let There Be Peace': Industry Stands United in Ukraine Crisis

Access Staff

Pollstar (02/28/22) Gottfried, Gideon

The global music community has issued messages of support and solidarity in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, with Oak View Group halting all business activity with Russia while the Portuguese music export office has offered help to all Ukrainian musicians in Portugal. Yourope, which represents more than 100 festivals in Europe, released a statement expressing the need "to take a stand for Europe," pleading for a ceasefire and for peace. In addition, Pohoda Festival in Slovakia hosted a benefit concert in Bratislava, while the Union of European Football Associations has barred Russian clubs' participation in its tournaments. Meanwhile, the organizers of London's International Live Music Conference (ILMC) issued a statement that the war "will impact all of us, not just those in Ukraine: our friends and colleagues in Russia whose lives are dedicated to promoting culture; the neighboring countries assisting refugees; the artists and venues around Europe affected by the sanctions and restrictions that will follow; and thousands more throughout the global business for whom this assault on peace itself is so hard to witness. While many of us may feel helpless right now, the role of music and culture in times like this is crucial. Or, to quote Rock Werchter's Herman Schueremans, 'Politics and religions divide, but music unites, and we all contribute to it.' And it's music that has the power to inform and influence as much as any economic sanction." The ILMC team arranged a list of services to help Ukraine directly, including ways to donate to the Ukrainian Red Cross, the Nova Ukraine nonprofit, the Voices of Children charity and United Help Ukraine.

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