No Music For Genocide

Last updated

No Music for Genocide is an international cultural boycott initiative launched in September 2025 by musicians and record labels to protest Israel's military actions in Gaza and treatment of Palestinians. The movement calls on artists to remove their music from Israeli streaming platforms through geo-blocking measures. [1] With over 400 initial participants including prominent acts like Massive Attack, Rina Sawayama, and Japanese Breakfast, the movement represents one of the most significant coordinated cultural boycotts against Israel since the beginning of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. [2] [3] [4] [5]

Contents

The initiative describes itself as a response to what it characterizes as Israel's "genocide in Gaza, ethnic cleansing of the Occupied West Bank, apartheid within Israel/'48, and political repression of Pro-Palestine efforts." [1] Organized through a decentralized network of artists and independent labels, the movement employs geo-blocking techniques to restrict access to musical content on Israeli territory, with the dual purpose of symbolically rejecting normalization with Israel and applying economic pressure on the music industry to sever ties with Israeli entities. [6] [7]

History

The No Music for Genocide movement was publicly launched on September 18, 2025, following months of organizing among artists concerned about Israel's military operations in Gaza and the limited response from the international music industry. [1] The immediate catalyst for the movement was the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, particularly images of Palestinian children suffering from hunger amid Israel's continuing attacks. [8] Organizers cited growing global outrage over Israel's military actions, which had been described as genocide by organizations including Amnesty International and the United Nations. [9]

The movement emerged within the broader context of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which was officially founded in 2005 by Palestinian activist Omar Barghouti. [10] While operating independently, No Music for Genocide coordinates with the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI), which oversees the cultural boycott aspects of BDS. [6] The initiative explicitly draws inspiration from the cultural boycott of apartheid South Africa in the 1980s, viewing artistic boycotts as historically effective tools for challenging state policies considered oppressive by the international community. [11]

A key precedent cited by organizers was the music industry's response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Within months of the invasion, major record labels including Sony, Universal, and Warner had either removed their catalogs from Russia or closed operations entirely. [7] No Music for Genocide organizers questioned why similar measures had not been taken against Israel "after decades of illegal occupation and 23 months into Israel's accelerated genocide." [1] This discrepancy in treatment became a central motivating factor for the movement's creation.

Reception and Criticism

Support

The movement has received support from Palestinian artists and cultural organizations. ZOHUD, a Palestinian musician from Gaza, stated: "As a Gazan musician, I have witnessed firsthand how essential music is to people's ability to live, recover, and maintain hope. It is never acceptable to use music to normalise oppression or to hide crimes against humanity". Ahmed Eid, another Palestinian musician, emphasized the need to "amplify Palestinian music" during this period. [6]

The movement has also been praised for providing a "tangible act" that artists can take when they feel "unsure how to use music in this moment". Organizers stated that one of their primary goals was to inspire others to "reclaim their agency and direct their influence toward a tangible act". [6] [7]

Opposition

The movement has been criticized for potentially harming cultural exchange rather than political systems. Some argue that limiting access to music primarily affects ordinary citizens rather than government decision-makers. However, supporters counter that cultural boycotts aim to create a sense of international isolation that pressures governments to change policies. [10]

Another dimension of criticism comes from those who question the characterization of Israel's actions as "genocide," with some arguing the term is inappropriate for the conflict. Movement organizers consistently reference determinations by Amnesty International and United Nations inquiries that have accused Israel of genocide in Gaza. [8]

List of Artists and Labels Who Joined the Movement [1]

The full list of artists who have signed up to the boycott:

3Phaz - ٣فاز · 81355 · (j)ula · Aaron M Olson · Abbey Blackwell · Abyss X · AceMo · Adam Harding · Adder · Adeline Hotel · Advance Base · aja monet · AJRadico · Alena Spanger · Alex Szotak · Alta Vista · Aminé · AMORE · Amyl and The Sniffers · amr* · Ana Tijoux · Annahstasia · Annie-Claude Deschênes · Anysia Kym · Arca · Asher White · Astronauts, etc. · Automatic · Avec le soleil sortant de sa bouche · BADBADNOTGOOD · BADER - بدر · BAE BAE · Baths · Bea Troxel · Beach Fossils · BEBÉ YANA · Being Dead · Bellbird · Ben Howard · Ben Shemie · Benét · Bickle · Black Country, New Road · Bloomsday · Blue Ranger · Body Meat · Bogdan Raczynski · boylife · Brandon · Caleb Giles · Camille Keller · Carla Bozulich · CARLIÁN · Carlos Niño · Carlos Truly · Carmen Quill · Casiotone for the Painfully Alone · Cecile Believe · cehryl · Chanel Beads · Charlie Havenick · Charlie Osborne · Cheflee · Chris Keys · Christian Sean · Chromesthesia · Chuck Strangers · ciarán · Clarissa Connelly · Clarity · Cleo Reed · Coco O. · Cola · Cole Pulice · Colin Miller · Colin Self · computer data · Contacto · CTM · dagmar zuniga · Danakil · Dave Vettraino · David Holmes · deBasement · Deerhoof · denis biblioni · Dinamarca · Dirt Buyer · Dorian Electra · Downtown Boys · Drezus · duendita · Dumb Numbers · Eartheater · Edith Judith · Edging · Eddington Again · Eerie Wanda · Efterklang · Elisapie · ELOQ · Elujay · Enter Shikari · Erika de Casier · ernest rareberrg · Eurohead · Extra Small · Fat Tony · Faye Webster · FELP · Finom · Flavien Berger · flirty800 · Fontaines D.C. · Forager · Frànçois & The Atlas Mountains · Frank Meadows · Frankie Cosmos · Gaika · Gambletron · Gianna · Grizzly Bear · Hand Habits · Harry and the Potters · Headache · Hekt · Hélène Barbier · Heno. · HorsegiirL · Hotline TNT · Hyd · Ian Wayne · Ivy Knight · J. Ludvig III · Jackie West · Jadasea · Japanese Breakfast · jasmine.4.t · Jerry Paper · Jespfur · Jockstrap · Joe DeGeorge · John FM · John Glacier · Jonah Yano · Jonathan Personne · Jordan Playfair · Josephine Moriko · Joviale · JOYFULTALK · Julia Holter · Julian Cubillos · June McDoom · Jura · JWords · Kamoun - عبد الرحمن · Kayla Janowitz · Kee Avil · KeiyaA · Kelela · Kelly Moran · Kelsey Lu · kelz · Kevin Krauter · Kiefer · King Krule · Kinlaw · Kiss Facility · Kitba · Kneecap · Kyle Chase · Laced · La Neve · Laurence-Anne · Lankum · Les Breastfeeders · Les Louanges · Le Ren · Letjoux · Liim · Lilah Larson · Lionmilk · Lipstick Music · Lina Tullgren · Little Moon · Lionlimb · Liv.e · Lolina · Loraine James · Low Leaf · Lucky Cloud · Luke Schneider · LUMIÈRE · Luna Li · Lysistrata · Maia Nelson · Maiya Blainey · Malportado Kids · Mannequin Pussy · Manuka Honey · Markus Floats · The Mary Wallopers · مريم صالح - Maryam Saleh · Massive Attack · Matt Gold · موريس لوقا - Maurice Louca · Mechatok · Meftah - مفتاح · Mega Bog · Mei Semones · Mermaid Chunky · Merna · Meth Math · M(h)aol · MIKE · Mila Culpa · Minor Moon · MISOGI · MJ Lenderman · Mndsgn · Model/Actriz · Mogwai · Mol Sullivan · Molly Nilsson · Moon Mullins · MSC · Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band · MØ · N.Y.P.D. · nabeel - نبيل · ندى الشاذلي - Nadah El Shazly · Nadine Shah · Nathan Bajar · New Orthodox · New York · Nick Kuepfer · Nick León · Nico Hedley · Niontay · Noise Diva · nomi · Nourished by Time · Numa Gama · NZE NZE · Office Culture · Okay Kaya · Oklou · Oli XL · Osquello · Ought · Ouri · Palace Winter · Palmistry · Pat Kelly · Paul Maxwell · Peder Mannerfelt · Pink Must · Population II · Primal Scream · Prison Religion · Prof. Stranger · The Psychotic Monks · Qazi & Qazi · Qi Ming · Quarterly · Qur'an Shaheed · R&D · Raghd · Rain From Heaven · Rat Section · Ratchopper · Rebecca & Fiona · redLee · Redveil · Reymour · RIBBON STAGE · Rina Sawayama · Rip Swirl · Rockie Rode · RUSSELL! · Ryan El-Solh · Samora Pinderhughes · SANAM - صنم · Sandy Chamoun - ساندي شمعون · Sarah Khatami - سارا خاتمی · Sarah Goldstone · SASAMI 사사미 ササミ · Saudi Oil · Saul Williams · salute · Scarlet Rae · Scree · Sega Bodega · Shaina Hayes · Sheridan Riley · Shigeto · Show Me the Body · Shun Ikegai · Sideshow · Sima Cunningham · Slauson Malone 1 · Sleaford Mods · SLIM0 · Sluice · Smerz · Smut · Soccer Mommy · Soft Glas · Sophia Bel · SOPHIETHEHOMIE · Sound of Ceres · Spectres · Squirrel Flower · Sudan Archives · Sword II · Tama Gucci · تامر ابو غزالة - Tamer Abu Ghazaleh · Taphari · Tasha · Television Overdose · Thank You Thank You · The Big Net · The Dark Shed · The Early · The Dwarfs of East Agouza · The Growth Eternal · Thoom - ثوم · Thor Harris · Tlim Shug · Triathlon · TRISHES · Vegyn · Venus Anon · Verraco · Vilde Tuv · Water From Your Eyes · Wednesday · Whatever The Weather · Will Stratton · William Tyler · WTCHCRFT · Wu-Lu · Xin Lie · X & Yde · Yaeji · Yahyel · Ydegirl · Yeule · Young Fathers · Yung Morpheus · Zach Fogarty · Zack Villere · زيد حمدان - Zeid Hamdan

The full list of labels that have signed up to the boycott:

10k · 15 love · 29 Speedway · 3 X L · All Centre · All Saints · Amniote Editions · Angels Records · Arbutus Records · b4 · Bayonet Records · Black Acre Records · [BLOC] C تسجيلات بلوك سي · City Links Recordings · Constellation Records · Dance Data · Dark Skies Association · Dear Life Records · Double Dare · Éditions Appærent · Escho · glint music · GoodTalk Records · Homo-Centric Records · Human Pitch · In Real Life · INDEX:Records · Intrepid Skin · Knekelhuis Records · LEAVING RECORDS · light-years · LoveTent · Memorials of Distinction · Minaret Records · mnjm · Motion Ward · Mtn Laurel Recording Co. · N.A.A.F.I · Night School Records · NTS · odyxxey · PAN · PARTICIPANT · People's Coalition of Tandy · Phantom Limb · Poesy · Presto!? Records · Relaxin Records · Ruination Records · Ruptured Records · SAWNA · Shopping Records · تسجيلات سمسارة Simsara Records · Sketchy Lines Records · SLINK · STAYCORE · STUDIO94 Records · Sure Thing · Tambourhinoceros · Tijolo Records · Topshelf Records · TraTraTrax · Voluminous Arts · xquisite releases

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "No Music For Genocide". nomusicforgenocide.net. Retrieved 2025-09-20.
  2. ↑ AFP (2025-09-20). "British group Massive Attack join over 400 musicians in No Music for Genocide campaign". Images. Retrieved 2025-09-20.
  3. ↑ "Hundreds Of Artists Back "No Music For Genocide" Campaign To Geo-Block Israel". Stereogum. 2025-09-18. Retrieved 2025-09-20.
  4. ↑ "More Than 400 artists sign petition to remove their songs from platforms in Israel". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 2025-09-19. Retrieved 2025-09-20.
  5. ↑ Dailey, Hannah (2025-09-18). "Kneecap, Faye Webster & 400 Other Artists Remove Their Catalogs From Israel: 'No Music for Genocide'". Billboard. Retrieved 2025-09-20.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Gee, Andre (2025-09-17). "MIKE, Faye Webster, Japanese Breakfast, and More Join Israel Streaming Boycott". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2025-09-20.
  7. 1 2 3 Tessel, Omer (2025-09-19). "Artists launch cultural boycott campaign urging music platforms to block access in Israel". Ynetglobal. Retrieved 2025-09-20.
  8. 1 2 "Over 400 artists and labels block Israel from streaming their music". The FADER. Retrieved 2025-09-20.
  9. ↑ "Israel has committed genocide in the Gaza Strip, UN Commission finds". OHCHR. Retrieved 2025-09-20.
  10. 1 2 Graves, Wren (2025-09-18). "More Than 400 Artists Pull Music from Israeli Streaming Services in Protest of Gaza". Consequence. Retrieved 2025-09-20.
  11. ↑ "Over 400 artists and labels announce Israel streaming boycott · Noticias ⟋ RA". Resident Advisor (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-09-20.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.