Many Spanish music festivals are financed by an Israeli fund. And some are already distance

After the recent one Eurovision Festivalthe presence of Israeli capital in events around the world begins to be discussed by activists and even by certain governments, as in Spain. Israel has become a uncomfortable presence For certain cultural events and many music festivals, such as Sónar, they are checking it in recent weeks.

Sónar takes a step. He Sonar Electronic Music Festival He has distanced himself from the KKR Investment Fund, current owner of the festival through an intermediary company, in a movement that culminates a few days scrambled in the Spanish scene of large festivals. Public opinion and many groups have been contrary to the interference of the company, with pro-Israeli interests, at several festivals. Sónar has expressed With a statement its “solidarity with the Palestinian civilian population trapped in the humanitarian catastrophe that is lived in Gaza.” It is the second one that broadcasts in a few days, after one that He was criticized for his excessive warmth. This statement is a simple declaration of intentions, since Sónar will continue to be the property of KKR.

What is KKR? An American investment fund whose acronym corresponds to Kohlberg, Kravis and Roberts, surnames of its founders, and which has established itself as one of the world’s largest private capital companies, with assets of more than 400,000 million dollars. Among the most criticized kkr activities There are real estate investments in Palestinian territories occupied by Israel, such as Jerusalem Este, Gaza and the West Bank. KKR also controls Guesty, an Israeli platform for real estate property management, which reinforces his presence in the country’s housing sector.

KKR has also invested in Israeli technology and cybersecurity companies, As Optivwhich was founded by former intelligence ex officers of the Army of Israel. Finally, Henry Kravis, KKR co -founder, is an acquaintance donor of cultural and political initiatives promoted by Israel and has financially supported US politicians aligned with Israeli interests. Within your team there are Figures like David Petraeusformer director of the CIA and president of the group in the Middle East, which makes clear their interests in the region.

Festival intervention. A week ago, the newspaper El Salto He published an article About how KKR had acquired in 2024 Supersruct Entertainment for 1.3 billion euros. It is a company that organizes some eighty festivals worldwide and that in Spain is behind events as known as Sónar, Arenal Sound, or are Do Camiño, Love The 90s, Resurrection, Viña Rock, FIB, Monegros, Brava Madrid, Tsunami Xixón or Granada Sound, among many others until they add about twenty of them. At the moment, Sónar is the only one that has been unmarked from the policy of the investment firm, ensuring that he had no “control” on the company’s investments or decisions.

Groups that protest. Although the festivals have not been unmarked from the presence of KKR, many groups have done so, especially those linked to social causes. Some of them They are repeat offenders, Fermín Muguruza, Non Servium, the last Ke Zierre, Sinkope, Kaos Urbano or Porretas. And the Spanish case is not unique: the London platform Boiler Roomwhich broadcasts live music sessions throughout the world, has also been acquired by KKR. The DJ and Producer Ikonika and the DJ Beatrice M are two of the artists who have announced their withdrawal from the festival that the company planned to organize in summer. Boiler Room has issued a statement In which he says that the sale has been a decision of his current owners, in which the team has not been able to influence.

More festivals. The movement of the groups (and the Very visible action of civil movements such as the known as BDS movement of Boicot, divestments and sanctions against Israel) has encouraged several festivals to join Sónar, as Eldiario.es. This is what Sharemusic!, Organizers of the 90’s, love the twenties or i love reggaeton (“we want to express our total condemnation to the violence that the Palestinian people”), and Rock vineyard (They condemn “without nuances the massacre that the Palestinian people are suffering”). Both, such as Boiler Room and Sónar, clarify that despite the fact that the festivals are owned by KKR, this does not influence the programming or convictions of the teams.

Government support. That the music festivals have become a center of attention for their relationship with Israel’s policies are framed in a much narrower observation of different cultural manifestations, with which it seems no longer to serve That “apolitical entertainment”. To the rejection of the bands to the festivals and the dust that has raised the result of Eurovision, the government positions are added. Last Saturday, the Minister of Culture, Ernest Urtasun, said the KKR fund “It’s not welcome” in Spain and commented on the “penetration” at music festivals. After Eurovision, Pedro Sánchez himself requested the Exclusion of Israel from international cultural eventslike the festival itself.