The SXSW drops the deportation clause in their contract because the language last year had people accusing them of being for the immigration ban, when they have publicly opposed President Trump’s travel ban. According to mxdwn the band Told Slant canceled their performance in the Austin, Texas music festival in March 2017. Other artists such as Downtown Boys, Sheer Mag and Priests withdrew because of the language in the SXSW contract for performers.
SXSW said in the official contract that the U.S. immigration authorities would be notified if an act was doing something to hurt the brand of SXSW such as performing an unsanctioned show in order to protect their brand. SXSW argues that the accusatory tweet by Told Slant was fake and made up in order to bring attention to themselves for their benefit.
According to Pitchfork SXSW changed the performance agreements removing the reference of deportation because of the backlash that the music festival received last year. Language of contacting U.S. immigration authorities has been removed from this year’s contracts. SXSW admitted that with the current political climate that the language used last year was strong.
Leave a Comment