Barcelona festival Sónar has removed McDonald’s and Coca-Cola as sponsors of the event following engagement with activists working on behalf of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.
Both brands are listed as targets of the campaign due to their activities in Israel, as well as on occupied Palestinian territory. A number of artists have, however, already cancelled their appearances at this year’s event owing to Sónar’s position as one of a number of festivals operated by owner Superstruct Entertainment.
Its parent company, KKR, is alleged to have ties to weapons manufacturers, as well as various Israeli firms operating in occupied Palestinian territory. This has led to calls to boycott Sónar, as well as other Superstruct events such as Field Day, Might Hoopla and Cross The Tracks in London.
More than 50 artists have pulled out of Sónar due to its ownership, including Shannen SP, Juliana Huxtable, ABADIR and Animistic Beliefs. The removal of McDonald’s and Coca-Cola as sponsors of the festival appears to have been approved following calls earlier this week from BDS and the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI) for artists and festival-goers alike to boycott the event.
In a statement issued earlier this week, PACBI said: “Despite at least 59 participants withdrawing already, and more than 150 past and present participants calling on it to meet our demands, Sónar has failed to address its own direct complicity by refusing to drop McDonald’s McFlurry. Nor has it pressured its venue Fira to drop genocidal Israel. According to many artists that PACBI is in touch with, Sónar has also failed to sufficiently engage with artists and organisers to address their concerns.”
The protest group has not yet responded to Sónar’s subsequent decision to cut its ties with McDonald’s and Coca-Cola.
Palestinian DJ Sama’ Abdulhadi has, however, confirmed that she will now go ahead with her scheduled appearance at this year’s festival following the news. Writing on Instagram, she called on the festival to go further, though, and said: “This includes joining Barcelona’s City Council and local political parties in putting the Fira convention venue [where the festival is partially held] under intense pressure to stop hosting conventions connected to military industries.”
She continued: “I say this as a Palestinian who grew up under occupation and has lived this nightmare my whole life – and who has dedicated my career to sharing my culture globally through music. Choosing to continue to take part in this event isn’t easy, and I need more time to process, listen and find clarity on where I stand. As always, free Palestine.”
Addressing its ownership’s own connections to Israel in a previous statement, Sónar eventually distanced itself from KKR. The festival said it firm has “no influence – nor, of course, any control whatsoever – over [KKR’s] investments or decisions”.
Sónar will take place from June 12 to 14, 2025.
