Live Nation, AEG cancel Buju Banton shows (UPDATE)

GLN IN THE PRESS

Live Nation, AEG cancel Buju Banton shows (UPDATE)

News update Friday, Aug. 28, 2009

Windy City Times - LINK

GLN permalink posted August 28, 2009

Concert promoter Live Nation is canceling all of its concerts with Jamaican musician Buju Banton, who has called for the killing of gay people in his songs, according to a press release from local group Gay Liberation Network ( GLN ) .

In addition, PR Newswire has reported that AEG Live/Goldenvoice ( producer of the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival ) has also canceled its Banton concerts.

In early August, GLN launched a campaign for Live Nation and other promoters to cancel Banton's shows. Bob Schwartz, a member of GLN, had written Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino.

Banton had been scheduled to perform at House of Blues venues in Chicago ( Oct. 2 ) , Las Vegas ( Oct. 15 ) , Dallas ( Oct. 20 ) and Houston ( Oct. 22 ) .

"Live Nation, owner of four House of Blues locations at which 'kill gays' singer Buju Banton was scheduled to appear, has done the right thing and canceled the hate monger," Schwartz said in a statement. "These cancellations show the power of protest to deliver the goods."

GLN and other groups, such as Sankofa Way, have protested so-called "murder music" shows over the years.

"I hope this victory sends a deafeningly loud message to other promoters and concert venues, that singers who glorify violence against LGBT people, or any group of people, should never be welcomed," said L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center Chief Executive Officer Lorri L. Jean, according to PR Newswire. "It shouldn't be necessary for us to pressure promoters to do the right thing; people like Banton should never have been booked in the first place."

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