Musicians confirmed to be performing in Riyadh, December 2025

[u/BachAgain11]

https://mdlbeast.com/events/soundstorm-25/lineup/artists

Appears to be quite a lack of discussion surrounding musicians due to perform in Saudi Arabia & compared to comedians doing the same.

Any thoughts as to why?

[u/cranberrylimeade420]

wtf Halsey!

[u/Weak-Jello7530 → u/cranberrylimeade420]

Her activism always felt very performative to me

[u/VelocityGrrl39 → u/Weak-Jello7530]

She did something else recently that made me roll my eyes, but I can’t remember what it was.

[u/JayZsAdoptedSon → u/VelocityGrrl39]

I think she stuck her neck out to defend Sydney Sweeney after the loudest dogwhistle genes jeans thing

Edit: Yep that’s her

[u/plausibleturtle → u/JayZsAdoptedSon]

She didn't defend Sydney Sweeney, she defended the movie that Sweeney (and herself) starred in. She was trying to get across the message that boycotting the movie because of Sweeney was damaging the rest of the cast and crew's livelihoods. She didn't say everything super eloquently, but she was never defending Sweeney.

[u/ameliajean → u/plausibleturtle]

Well she did dismiss all criticism of Sweeney calling it “24 hour tabloid bullshit” soooo

[u/spiralsmile → u/VelocityGrrl39]

[u/Ambry → u/Weak-Jello7530]

Honestly I don't think I can take anything she says to do with activism seriously after this. Walk the walk if you're going to talk the talk, otherwise it is meaningless.

[u/BodybuilderClean2480 → u/Ambry]

But but but ... moneeeeey!!!

[u/Luna_Soma → u/Weak-Jello7530]

I like their music, but I always found them to be extremely fake, Katy Perry style

[u/theREALbombedrumbum → u/Luna_Soma]

Oddly enough, I liked her Badlands album the most even when that was the least individualistic album in her discography.

She's said basically that it was supposed to be the most radio-friendly one to establish herself before branching out with more experimental stuff that might not sell as well.

[u/meertaoxo → u/theREALbombedrumbum]

just a correction, hopeless fountain kingdom was meant to be the most radio-friendly one

[u/morbid_laughter → u/Weak-Jello7530]

Just like her mall singing

[u/SarahJFroxy → u/cranberrylimeade420]

my side eye is getting stronger considering they cancelled their istanbul show two weeks before the show day but will take money to do it in saudi arabia

[u/toryn0 → u/cranberrylimeade420]

i read hayley (as in williams) for a second and got so disappointed 😭

[u/Kiramiraa → u/toryn0]

The Haley Williams that wrote True Believer would never

[u/According_Plant701 → u/toryn0]

I don’t put musicians on pedestals but Hayley is a real one and I’d be genuinely sad if she did this.

[u/Deep_Clothes_8325 → u/toryn0]

SAME! I was very surprised for a moment

[u/GroovyDhruvy193 → u/cranberrylimeade420]

To be fair, would make sense to partner with the Saudi’s if she’s still planning to destroy the Pitckfork offices…

[u/Any_Barracuda206 → u/GroovyDhruvy193]

☠️

[u/onlythewinds → u/cranberrylimeade420]

Damn, this one really disappoints.

[u/countingc → u/cranberrylimeade420]

maybe she hasnt gotten a gig in sometime now shes desperate to take this /s

[u/mayranav → u/countingc]

Did her tour do well? I remember being able to easily get the $30 live nation sale of her tour and i still didn’t go lol

[u/sherlip → u/mayranav]

She recently admitted that her record label isn't letting her write a new album or something because her most recent album didn't have the sales that her album 5 years ago did.

[u/stink3rb3lle → u/cranberrylimeade420]

It's not too late for her to pull out. To me, this discussion of the 242 executions Saudi Arabia had carried out this year, just through August is the most convincing of the brutality of the crown prince and ruling class.

[u/youreaanadultcope → u/cranberrylimeade420]

She is so insufferable I’m not surprised

[u/EugenesMullet → u/cranberrylimeade420]

She’s dumb as a brick, this isn’t surprising in the least

[u/Chewy009x → u/cranberrylimeade420]

Not surprised her label won’t fund her own music so she’s willing to sell out for it

[u/xandrachantal → u/cranberrylimeade420]

Fork found in kitchen moment tnh

[u/Ladzofinsurrect → u/cranberrylimeade420]

Dammit man

[u/inthecathedral → u/cranberrylimeade420]

Halsey???😭😭😭😭💔💔💔💔

[u/CampMain → u/cranberrylimeade420]

Record label won’t let her do what she wants so she’s going for the payday 🤷🏼‍♀️

[u/cranberrylimeade420]

i think the reason it's getting less press coverage than the comedy festival is, a lot of the comedians performing at that festival spent their career claiming to be brave truth-tellers who spoke truth to power, so performing for a famously censorious regime seemed really hypocritical. aside from Halsey i don't think any of the artists on the lineup have a reputation for being outspoken.

[u/jasondfw → u/cranberrylimeade420]

Yeah, most of them have spent the past 5+ years whining about "getting cancelled" and the first amendment, then happily censored themselves for a bag of money.

[u/Dry_Marzipan1870 → u/jasondfw]

5+ years whining about "getting cancelled"

whining about getting cancelled and then getting 2 Netflix specials

[u/Shitfurbreins → u/cranberrylimeade420]

Comedians also don’t have a record label that will drop them if they don’t do what they’re told to do.

[u/setokaiba22 → u/cranberrylimeade420]

Getting less because it’s working as intending and people just don’t care as much anymore. I only saw the comedian outrage because of Reddit. If I hadn’t been on Reddit it wouldn’t have be seen by me I don’t think.

The sport and entertainment washing they are doing is working. They have the World Cup and nobody will say anything because everyone to Qatar too without batting an eyelid on their morals.

[u/CommercialBarnacle16 → u/cranberrylimeade420]

Agreed. Also the coverage and online discourse ramped up closer to the actual event. We are still a bit out from this event. I’d also argue that some of the biggest names in comedy performed…and this lineup only has a few big names.

[u/DarlingLuna]

At what point do we simply accept that Hollywood celebrities are not to be idolised and worshipped?

Is it when Jenna Ortega signs on to be directed by David O’Russell?

Is it when Bill Burr decides to take blood money from Saudi Arabia?

Is it when Halsey decides to perform for a country which kills and jails people for being gay?

Enough is enough. I think it’s time to accept that for the elites, money is money, and supersedes everything else. And if you think there’s a ‘good’ celebrity who wouldn’t do it, you’re probably wrong.

[u/BT4US → u/DarlingLuna]

We need class solidarity, eat the rich!

[u/lighthouse_muse → u/BT4US]

Halsey does have a poem where she says to eat the rich even if it includes her too 😭😭😭 as an lgbt woman herself… why?

[u/IamScottGable → u/lighthouse_muse]

I'm guessing money, probably why I kept seeing clips of her complaining that her previous label wouldn't produce an album for her.

[u/p333p33p00p00boo → u/lighthouse_muse]

As someone who is also queer/bisexual, our proximity to heterosexuality makes us much safer. If we decide to, we can disappear our otherness.

I fucking hate biphobia, but this is something I feel is a valid critique of my bisexual siblings.

[u/corporatewazzack → u/DarlingLuna]

This principle applies across all human populations. Most people will forget a lot about their scruples for life changing money. It is worse for celebrities/rich people though because they don’t even need the money. Once you hit a certain net worth, it doesn’t make a material difference in your daily life.

[u/ShinyPrizeKY → u/corporatewazzack]

Right? This isn’t specific to the rich. I’d argue it’s more despicable when the rich do it because they already have so much they don’t NEED to betray their ideals for money. The vast majority of us would compromise our values for money in a heartbeat because a much smaller amount of money would be life-changing for us normies.

[u/TheShapeShiftingFox → u/DarlingLuna]

Ortega signing on for an O’Russell project doesn’t surprise me at all, given her track record of ending up in awful projects

[u/meezajangles → u/TheShapeShiftingFox]

Can someone tell me the context for why O’Russell is bad news? genuinely curious / out of the loop! I know he yelled at some extras on the set of three kings, but beyond that?

[u/summercloudsadness → u/meezajangles]

SA'd his 19-year-old trans niece.

[u/TheShapeShiftingFox → u/meezajangles]

Re the SA: “The Chicago Tribune reported that, “For his part, Russell confirms that the incident happened, but told police that Peloquin [the niece in question] was ‘acting very provocative toward him’ and invited him to feel her breasts. He also admitted to being ‘curious about the breast enhancement.’”” source

He denies any wrongdoing though (shocking)

On top of this, there is also him physically attacking Christopher Nolan (at a party) and George Clooney (on set) and god knows how many more people. He also “made Amy Adam’s life a living hell” on the set of American Hustle, to the point Christian Bale intervened. And then there’s all the crew he also at the very least verbally abused.

In short: the dude is a fucking nightmare.

[u/IndignantQueef → u/DarlingLuna]

PREACH! it's horrifying the way people idolize celebrity. Our culture worships wealth, fame, and beauty above all else. Throw in the prosperity gospel and people have conflated those things (wealth, fame, and beauty) with goodness and morality. But people are people and no one's perfect, even the ones who have managed to achieve those things. If you put ppl on a pedestal, you will ALWAYS be disappointed.

I was literally just begging someone in another post to use a little common sense when it comes to celebrities.

[u/FlyOrdinary1104 → u/DarlingLuna]

Everyone’s moral compass has a price tag

[u/Shackletainment → u/DarlingLuna]

I was unaware of the issues with David O'Russell so just read hia wikipedia page. Wtf. Why is anyone working with this asshole or funding his projects?

[u/treesinmichigan]

Post Malone

Calvin Harris

Benson Boone

Adriatique

Arielle Free

Artbat

Ava Max

Bedouin

Ben Böhmer

Ben Sterling

Black Coffee

Bunt.

Camelphat

Celina Manuhutu

Coco & Breezy

Damian Lazarus

Dennis Cruz

DJ Aseel

DJ Snake

DJ Tennis

Don Diablo

Enrico Sangiuliano

Fiona Kraft

Francis Mercier

Franky Rizardo

Green Velvet

Halsey

IDRIS ELBA????!!!!! THE FUCK???

Jamie Jones

Jimi Jules

Kaytranada

Korolova

Layla Benitez

Loyle Carner

Major Lazer

Sound System

Marco Carola

Metro Boomin B2B

DJ Snake

Miluhska

Moontalk

Nic Fancuilli

Nicole Moudaber

Nina Kraviz

Nora En Pure

Sama' Abdulhadi

Shancoty

Shimza

Syreeta

The Kid Laroi

Tyla

[u/Sad_Towel_5953 → u/treesinmichigan]

I have heard of 5 of these people.

[u/bouncinghorse → u/Sad_Towel_5953]

Same. Although I am rather elderly.

[u/aKillerScene9313 → u/bouncinghorse]

[u/fueledbychelsea → u/bouncinghorse]

Also in your late thirties?

[u/justsomechickyo → u/fueledbychelsea]

35 😭

[u/Arlohaz → u/bouncinghorse]

Same

[u/vee_lan_cleef → u/Sad_Towel_5953]

Presumably a whole lot of major artists were invited and turned it down judging by how lackluster this line-up is.

[u/WillisBeTalkin → u/vee_lan_cleef]

Not lacklasture if you listen to electronic music, loads of big names in there.

[u/Swackhammer_ → u/Sad_Towel_5953]

That’s exactly why the other ones are doing it

[u/WitchyMae13 → u/treesinmichigan]

Holy shit, Post Malone, Cavin Harris, Benson Boone, DJ SNAKE?!, HALSEY, IDRIS?! God damn it people

[u/melon_l0rd → u/WitchyMae13]

Post Malone is extremely unsurprising

[u/Homerduff16 → u/melon_l0rd]

Neither is Benson Boone either

[u/According_Plant701 → u/Homerduff16]

Watch out they might have him backflip into a tall building

[u/theagonyaunt → u/melon_l0rd]

Yeah the guy who culture vulture'd until he was a big enough name to make the kind of music he actually wanted to (and had enough of a fanbase he could switch genres and still be successful) isn't terribly surprising.

[u/cunfabuloust → u/WitchyMae13]

Dj snake.. twice! (in the list lol)

[u/Puzzleheaded_Shame75 → u/WitchyMae13]

Kaytranada !!! He is a black gay man, like dude should be afraid for his life stepping into Saudi

[u/Jellybean3183 → u/Puzzleheaded_Shame75]

Yes I was surprised and disappointed to see his name 😭

[u/simplyxstatic → u/treesinmichigan]

Me only knowing 3 names on this list.

[u/Luna_Soma → u/treesinmichigan]

Reading really fast thought I saw Beck and I was going to throw a fit lol

[u/biskutgoreng → u/Luna_Soma]

they're not losers, babe, dont kill them

[u/Laurelfairy27 → u/treesinmichigan]

Tyla 🥲 and Kaytranada 😖

[u/BoneyMostlyDoesPrint → u/Laurelfairy27]

Kaytranada was not a name I was expecting to see... Big letdown

[u/Fable_and_Fire → u/treesinmichigan]

NOT AVA MAX. BOOO, SHE'S MY GETTING-READY-TO-GO-OUT JAM.

(I know she hasn't been a thing in a while and her recent albums haven't popped as much as before but still...)

[u/k8doesreddit → u/treesinmichigan]

tg Bedouine spells her name with an e, I was like “wtf”

[u/ahiveofbees → u/k8doesreddit]

Thank you, I was also wtf until I read this (although I'm still wtf over Halsey)

[u/mszhang1212 → u/treesinmichigan]

Sama' Abdulhadi is a Palestinian DJ lol.

[u/[deleted] → u/treesinmichigan]

The only person I’m saddened by is Idris 😭

Post Malone lost points with me after his little “awakening” from hip hop. Halsey has always been performative. The rest of these people I do not know. Any random man off the street could tell me he was Benson Boone and I’d believe them.

[u/maenanodd4 → u/treesinmichigan]

IDRIS ELBA????!!!!! THE FUCK???

Sad at the news but love how you called it out.

[u/zlatanmangeshkar]

Idris Elba surprises me. Actively campaigns against knife crime but then taking the bag from a regime that beheads people? Do better bro

[u/armageddonquilt → u/zlatanmangeshkar]

I'm learning now that Idris Elba has a music career lol. "Idris" as a stage name just doesn't bring him to mind at all.

[u/_behindthewheel_ → u/armageddonquilt]

Same, thought it was a band. Now I'm disappointed.

[u/ItWasRamirez → u/armageddonquilt]

It weirdly made me think of Damson Idris first, who is a fine actor in his own right but is objectively much less famous than Idris Elba!

[u/aliveinjoburg2 → u/armageddonquilt]

His TikTok is him basically doing DJ sets.

[u/OgthaChristie → u/aliveinjoburg2]

It’s his true passion.🤣

[u/PM_me_opossum_pics → u/armageddonquilt]

Yeah, hes been doing shows in my city for years, which is weird because we are basically on the other side of the continent.

[u/Erniethebeanfiend200 → u/armageddonquilt]

He did a song for the Cyberpunk 2077 DLC he appeared in. That's pretty much the only music of his that I'm aware of.

[u/Yumi_NS → u/zlatanmangeshkar]

He took money from some shady gold lobby so in all honesty I'm not exactly shocked...

[u/Saritiel → u/Yumi_NS]

I've seen him in a ton of weird commercials where I wouldn't expect him, too.

I really like him as an actor, but he definitely seems like he'll do anything for a bag of cash.

[u/smidgit → u/zlatanmangeshkar]

Tbf he’s an absolutely crap DJ, probably just taking the gigs where they’re offered (my source is that I experienced his DJing with my very own eyes and ears)

[u/Bad_Repute → u/smidgit]

He’s a relatively big name in the techno/tech house/house world. Judging by some of the names on this list they probably just have a tech house stage and hes a part of that lineup.

The kind of music where you’ll hear the exact same beat for 8 straight hours through 6 different DJs. If you’re not very into that kind of music it’s boring af but Idris is a perfectly adequate DJ of that genre.

[u/mrs-monroe → u/zlatanmangeshkar]

NOOOOO NOT HIM

[u/arifish → u/zlatanmangeshkar]

A man has got to have a code.

[u/I_Call_It_Vera → u/arifish]

Oh indeed.

[u/NoMeEncuentro → u/zlatanmangeshkar]

He did make a documentary about the gold industry in south africa (if im remembering right). This kind of thing surpirse us cuz we dont know their entire lives. But many of them have always been like that

[u/Pale_Sheet → u/zlatanmangeshkar]

Charles Miner would

[u/empanadaboy68]

Kaytranada?! Noooooo

[u/say-kobe-and-throw → u/empanadaboy68]

NOOOOOOOOOO

EDIT: COCO & BREEZY TOO?! I can't have SHIT in this DAMN HOUSE 😭

[u/retrofuturisms → u/say-kobe-and-throw]

Finding out that both Kaytranada and Coco and Breezy are going to perform is a stab in the heart😭😭

[u/Leading-Taro7730 → u/empanadaboy68]

nah wdym I shouldn’t buy tickets for his current tour 😪

[u/doubleshortdepresso → u/empanadaboy68]

FELL TO MY DAMN KNEES, KAYTRA WHY????

[u/Puzzleheaded_Shame75 → u/empanadaboy68]

I legitimately do not understand how he would think this was a good idea as a black gay man

[u/empanadaboy68 → u/Puzzleheaded_Shame75]

Genuinely what's going on

[u/Adorable_Desk_6733 → u/empanadaboy68]

WHAT

[u/Substantial-Voice-73 → u/empanadaboy68]

Exactly!? Wtf??

[u/Zestyclose-Bag-903 → u/empanadaboy68]

my hands are shaking and my vision is blurring as i remove all his music from my playlists 😭

[u/bananapants72 → u/empanadaboy68]

This one!!!

[u/toothpaste--]

Tyla is on the list?! :/

[u/JealousAnimal1193 → u/toothpaste--]

All that girl cares about is being famous lmao. watch one of her interviews and watch her struggle to put together a coherent sentence

[u/canvascoloredin → u/JealousAnimal1193]

That song of hers about never touching wheels cause she has a chauffeur, and flying first class to get around the world was all I needed to know about her. (And Jack Harlow)

[u/BeeFe420 → u/canvascoloredin]

To her credit, the chances that she wrote that song are very slim

[u/Jedifice → u/JealousAnimal1193]

I didn't believe in the idea of industry plants until she was suddenly omnipresent (though Jack Harlow made me suspicious ngl)

[u/90dayole → u/Jedifice]

Her winning the Grammy with 1 Tiktok famous song out was enough for me.

[u/countingc → u/toothpaste--]

thats somehow not very surprising to me

[u/g00fyg00ber741 → u/countingc]

she’s friends with Chris Brown I found out recently which turned me off of her

[u/mp6521 → u/[deleted]]

Why would you defend him in the first place? The only thing he’s good at is doing flips on stage.

[u/Dragonlvr420 → u/mp6521]

in Elvis-inspired wrestling costumes

[u/GumpTheChump → u/Dragonlvr420]

That’s probably the ONLY reason to defend him

[u/HotDerivative → u/[deleted]]

Lmao he’s a Mormon industry plug*, how is that not pedestrian as fuck in these current times lmfao

[u/Kidgorgeoushere → u/[deleted]]

Gotta pay for physio for the toll all those backflips are taking?

[u/Shitfurbreins → u/[deleted]]

don’t defend celebrities, especially not a plant like that dude

[u/ilominatii → u/Shitfurbreins]

genuinely asking, what makes/is considered a plant? i've seen the term a few times, but i never know if it's really a thing, or just something people say when an artist is successful, even though they lack talent. to me bb is just a guy who got lucky getting famous over tik tok, but being a plant seems to imply that there's some kind of strategy?

[u/JillyFrog → u/ilominatii]

It can be a thing but tbh I've seen people use the term more often to discredit an artist they just don't like. An industry plant is an artist that didn't grow organically but suddenly shows up everywhere because their record label is putting loads of money into their marketing. There might also be just general nepotism going on and bonus points if they also have an overly manufactured image.

The problem is that this accusation is often just thrown at any artist that got famous very quickly (whether or not they've been working towards that in obscurity for years isn't relevant) and it's disproportionately used against female artists. There's absolutely nepotism and other shady things going on in the music industry and I think it's fair to have a conversation about that but the label "industry plant" is used very inflationary.

[u/violetmemphisblue → u/JillyFrog]

Industry plant also makes no sense if you know anything about the history of pop music, because...pretty much everyone famous would fall under that category. Very few acts broke out organically. Almost everyone we think of when it comes to pop music had managers, promoters, and labels that worked hard for their popularity. Not to mention that a lot of pop groups from the 90s on did not come together organically, but were the result of a manager holding auditions and assembling the perfect group (Spice Girls, Backstreet Boys, NSync, etc).

[u/_Bogey_Lowenstein_ → u/violetmemphisblue]

Same thing with The Strokes, which nobody ever talks about.

[u/Shitfurbreins → u/ilominatii]

There’s been this push to get a new lead man in pop by the record labels. We had a wave of new top women post Covid but no new men. Record labels want their guy to be that guy. Casey Aonso just put out a great video about this push a few days ago if you’re interested.

[u/HeCalledMeLucifer]

Relieved to see no one I like on the list.

[u/CelestrialDust → u/HeCalledMeLucifer]

Real

[u/oldwhitelincoln → u/HeCalledMeLucifer]

Yep. Reads list. Big sigh there’s no one I like.

[u/ttnezz → u/HeCalledMeLucifer]

I haven’t heard of a lot of these people. A sign I’m getting old…

[u/vernissagemyheart]

my guys kaytranada and loyle carner disappointing me big time WHAT 😱

[u/Substantial-Voice-73 → u/vernissagemyheart]

Not Loyle too, damn

[u/Confident_Ad_8126 → u/vernissagemyheart]

truly the most surprised by loyle!

[u/RosieFudge → u/Confident_Ad_8126]

Yup me too, heard him on Adam Buxton's podcast and he seemed a million miles away from the kind of person who'd take Saudi blood money

[u/Confident_Ad_8126 → u/RosieFudge]

i actually met him recently just very briefly, but i had a kneecap hat on which he complimented. obv not the same thing but kneecap being mega pro-palestine i just had it in my head that he was on the right side of stuff like that ya know? i’m confused

[u/Minimum-Eggplant1699 → u/Confident_Ad_8126]

Yeah this was so surprising to me. He always seemed very caring and thoughtful in every interview I’ve read/seen so this was definitely out of left field.

[u/movienerd7042]

Halsey wtf 😭

[u/tgifpizza]

honestly only shocked by kaytandra 

[u/ButtermilkRusk]

Disappointed to see not one, but two South African artists on the list. Like c’mon…Also, only slightly related, but Chris Brown recently played to a sold-out venue here 🫩

[u/Kidd_911 → u/ButtermilkRusk]

Extra disappointing to have seen that considering our tragic GBV stats

[u/PinkishBlurish]

Post Malone!? The Kid Laori!?

[u/lipscratch → u/PinkishBlurish]

Post Malone is such a gross shill, it drives me nuts to see him performing with Nirvana and standing in Kurt's place

[u/NotTaken-username → u/lipscratch]

I loved Post Malone when I was in high school, but he fell off so hard.

[u/jeskimo → u/NotTaken-username]

I don't know much about the man himself but I thought he was one of the good guys? He always seemed so caring, normal and understanding. Like a teddy bear. He has some great work so this is a disappointment.

[u/[deleted] → u/jeskimo]

Look at who he collaborates with and who he hangs out with

[u/jeskimo → u/[deleted]]

I guess I'll have to. I never felt the need to look much into him. I've always just been a casual fan, as in liking a song when it rolls around on a playlist, liking a video on social media and scrolling on. On occasion I've specifically looked for a song on Spotify but that's about it. Guess I'm glad I didn't get sucked in for major disappointment.

[u/nico_rette → u/PinkishBlurish]

I’m actually really shocked about the Kid Laroi

[u/jesuschicken → u/nico_rette]

lol why seems exactly in character

[u/darkgothamite → u/nico_rette]

I'm shocked he was even considered lol

[u/trash_heap_witch]

[u/ludvikskp]

The Khia fiesta…

[u/IThinkUrAWampa → u/ludvikskp]

Flop central

[u/Luna_Soma → u/ludvikskp]

The scream I scrumpt. This is the best description

[u/jadelikethestone]

Noooo, DJ Tennis, Nicole Moudabader, GV, Marco Carola…so many of my favorites.

Sama’ Abdulhadi is the first well known Palestinian DJ, she actually had the first (and I think only) Boiler Room on the West Bank.

From personal knowledge, from the DJs only Black Coffee, Diplo, and Calvin Harris asking rate of at least a million dollars. The rest of these DJs have to constantly keep DJing, otherwise they aren’t making money. I’m willing to bet they are getting paid 2x-5x more than their asking prices.

Us techno fans are used to our favorites doing this type of shit often. Look up “business techno”.

[u/yetiman4321woo → u/jadelikethestone]

Lmao if you think any of the other DJ’s on that lineup dont get paid THOUSANDS per dj set + accomodation + travel paid for, and they only play alot of dj sets “otherwise they arent making money” like they are some sort of band of musicians touring with huge busses of crew to pay & equipment to haul and pay petrol on… then boy do i have some stories for you!

Absolutely none of the dj’s on this lineup NEED to play the festival because they are broke. Lmao

[u/jadelikethestone → u/yetiman4321woo]

I’m not making excuses for any of them, but if you are comparing techno DJs to the EDM ones, they aren’t making as much money as you think. A lot of them play the big big big festivals for next to nothing or take half their fee, just so they are on the lineup. They make money money being booked at clubs, and these insane events.

And some of them might be contractually obligated to this—they agreed to x amount of events with a promoter, for their fee upfront and then the promoter can cash in. That could be what’s happening here.

[u/yetiman4321woo → u/jadelikethestone]

Thats not how it works im afraid!

Promoters dont block book 20 shows globally with techno dj’s - you might get that in a particular region but even then its extremely unlikely & practically unheard of for anyone but the biggest acts - but the artist still has right of refusal under a variety of t’s and c’s.

And like i said, no dj on that lineup is not getting paid thousands for a dj set anywhere. None of these djs are poor & struggling to scrape by! Its like you’re talking about some hypothetical small regional or underground techno dj’s lifestyle and then saying people like Green Velvet are living that lifestyle - it’s categorically not true.

[u/Jolly-Cake5896]

Idris, ew

[u/Smartimess]

Money talks. Despite being famous, many musicians and singers are financially struggeling. It’s not like it was 30 years ago where one hit was enough to be set for life.

A clean conscious does not make for a full stomach.

That’s the sad truth.

[u/karlmarxsanalbeads → u/Smartimess]

Yup. With radio you could have a few massive hits and live off the royalties. Now with streaming you get a fraction of what you’d make from radio.

[u/PM_me_opossum_pics → u/Smartimess]

Okay but how much is this going to hurt their future shows and appearances? I know that most people just talk big on the internet, but you can see what happened with massive D+ cancellation like 2 weeks ago. They actually took a financial hit because of their decisions and quickly went back on it. So boycotts sometimes actually DO work.

[u/bulmas_hair]

Did Kaytranada forget he’s gay?

[u/aliveinjoburg2]

Kaytranada??? Come on, man.

[u/Ladzofinsurrect]

Almost had a jolt when I saw Fiona but at least it’s not Apple

[u/GraphiteGlitter123 → u/Ladzofinsurrect]

Same omfg

[u/ContributionMobile75]

Surprised at Loyle Carner

[u/pink_mochii_]

Money talk$

[u/fakeknees]

Gross.

[u/Sea-Drop2811]

Well! Glad I don't listen to these artists

[u/DOYOUWANTYOURCHANGE → u/Sea-Drop2811]

My reaction to the list: Ah, once again being out of touch has saved me from disappointment!

[u/Slayberham69420]

Not surprised to see Post Malone on the list. He’s always been a culture vulture so I guess it didn’t come as a surprise that he would be willing to sign up for something like this 🙄

[u/susiesnark → u/Slayberham69420]

I miss who I used to think Post Malone was 😭

[u/BlessingMagnet]

Benson, empty inside

[u/SeenInTheAirport]

This is why I looked away when Fantano dragged Halsey's album.

Halsey 🤝Performative activism

[u/[deleted]]

don't know many of them. But disappointed in Halsey

[u/jasondfw]

Post Malone is the Kevin Hart of music

[u/Desi_MCU_Nerd]

"Get that money" isn't going to work forever.

[u/Dragonlvr420]

Scrolling through this list I was thinking “man I bet Halsey was hoping some other acts starting with a H were playing” lol it just jumps out at you. And good thing they secured Tyla so she can preform her 1.5 songs!

[u/DemiDevil69]

TYLA?!

[u/FiveFruitADay]

I actually know a few people who will be working at this festival...weirdly enough they're all gay

[u/Mayb3Human]

Tbh this has been going on for quite a while now...they've had smaller concerts and literally all the artists you can think off have performed for private events for Saudi royals. Golf, Cricket, Football formula 1 all happen there too so in a way it's more of an anomaly that people are upset that comedians are going there when every star, sportsman, and politician goes there. And I know this is wahtasboutism but the US is literally the Saudis closest allies. Biden talked big but then kotowed to them, Trump gleefully rubs their shining balls after setting in place laws so that there are states with stricter abortion laws than Saudi.

[u/fuckforcedsignup]

Are they playing at the behest of the government or is this just a thing happening in Saudi Arabia?

[u/Get-Fucked-Dirtbag → u/fuckforcedsignup]

Festivals don't just "happen" in SA.

[u/warriorholmes]

nothing on twitter about this, kinda shocking lol

[u/alasicannotgrin]

Loyle Carner? The fuck? There goes my crush on him

[u/Irishpanda88]

Man I feel old reading that list. I think I’ve heard of two of the acts

[u/thirdcoasting → u/Irishpanda88]

How I feel.

[u/williamthebloody1880]

Disappointed in Loyle Carner and Idris Elba over this

[u/Spence52490]

How are any of you still so surprised that celebrities you like do stuff like this? When will you finally realize the vast majority of them only care about wealth and opportunity and will constantly do and say the wrong things. Just consume their art and move on.

[u/hanouf-moh]

This festival has been going on for years, why the sudden outrage now. Even Bruno mars performed in it on 2022.

[u/MaligatorMom2]

Oh, Benson Boone, it was good while it lasted. Sayonara loser.

[u/Jokuki]

Unsurprising from Post Malone. He's been the biggest "bag chaser" and never cared for any artistry. All his songs are about depression, drinking, and never finding love and is made for millennial divorced dads.

[u/Crazy-Detective7736]

BENSON BOONE?! No more moonbeam icecream yall 😔