47 Comments
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Robert's avatar

Great Reporting Judd…keeping the lights shining on these crazies. My hope Peter…

They just didn’t know.

Now they should.

Let’s see what they Do!

Peter's avatar

So you have to ask - do they not know or do they not care? In other words, does principle walk when money talks?

Mike McCabe's avatar

I think we are asking a little much of these people. They have already spoken out inviting the wrath of MAGA world. They are performers and this is their profession.

Apple has given money directly to Trump. Has everyone on this board gotten rid of all Apple products?

There was a laundry list of things Sabrina Carpenter had done to help people and oppose Trump, let's cut her a little slack. She has done far more than most of us to help those that this Administration is attacking.

SeekingReason's avatar

Mike I didn’t get the impression Judd was bad mouthing Sabrina but rather pointing out, even though she does so much good, payments can inadvertently have her supporting the people she’s against. If I’m wrong, maybe Judd can clarify. I have a 401k but I don’t know the political leaning of them all. We need to make sure no one monopolizes the air waves the way the oligarchs have! Long road ahead. 🙁

Ed Nuhfer's avatar

This article wasn't aimed at Sabrina and other artists like her. It was aimed at artists being used. And everyone who purchases tickets from Ticketmaster should know that monetizing parasites like them are using and abusing artists every day, and proceeds likely in the same ways. You can choose to support groups who manage themselves and use small venues while boycotting those who employ the exploiting monopolizers and their giant stadium and coliseum venues. That is more on target than advocating readers here dump Apple products.

Joseph Mangano's avatar

This is a good reminder that just because someone "supports the arts" in Anschutz, it doesn’t mean their politics are any good. Like most billionaires, he treats these musicians as a means to an end.

Marci Lait's avatar

It’s so sad to hear these stories. Although I can’t believe the artists have no idea of the money trail, they are giving their audience what they want and speaking out against the policies of the Trump regime and MAGA/project 2025 playbook .

Hopefully, Judd, your reporting leads to new sponsors of big events like Coachella who are funneling money to more democratic causes.

Beach Bum's avatar

It is deeply challenging to disengage from Fascist/Capitalist structures. Criticize these artists and then examine your own consumption patterns. Fly recently? Visit Disneyworld? Drink a Coca Cola? Shop at Walmart? Fill-up at Chevron? Etc.

John Cook's avatar

The reason it’s so hard to disengage is the lax policing of consolidations and mergers. In many industries there are a small number of businesses that control the market (oligopolies). If you want that product or service it is almost impossible not to do business with them. The industries argue that “producing to scale” lowers cost but it does that by reducing resilience. The result is that Carpenter and others have few alternatives to dealing with the devil. Consumers are not innocent. If purchasing decisions are largely based on price, the producers to scale win.

TC Hardenbergh's avatar

I agree. It's complicated. A laissez-faire attitude and exercising first amendment and other rights keeps most people from trying to "slit the throats" of the people they disagree with. However, other performers have founded and performed at music festivals that are better aligned with their political positions.

Terry's avatar

No to all, except Walmart. We have 3 grocery stores in my small town of 7600. We had 2, Aldi's recently opened. However, being late night shoppers, Aldi and the other don't work because they both close at 8 PM. Plus, prices on paper products at Walmart can't be beat. Getting ready to pay more in taxes than we did in 82' for our first home, every nickel counts.

Jim Carmichael's avatar

Another bank-busting exposé, Judd. Whatever Anshultz’s denials, he certainly can afford some due diligence to appearances. Thank you as always!

GingerLee's avatar

what's left to do? where are the oligarchs who are not the raging fascists who believe only white straight males define as 100% human for them. The rest of us are less human who do not deserve sitting at the table with them. We keep the government operating, not multi-millionaires or billionaires who gleefullly feed at the trough that we keep filling by dutifully paying taxes....imagine 400 oligarchs have destroyed this country of 330,000,000+ people...ironically making us too poor to pay the taxes that they feed from... yes, i am pissed

SeekingReason's avatar

GingerLee, world wide, very few multi billionaire oligarchs are destroying the world! And you are correct that literally hundreds are destroying this country. And NEVER FORGET Republicans could have removed not just trump, but the admin, one by one, after trump threatened an entire civilization.

Katy Bolger's avatar

Do the artists know that the money coming into the box office under their banners is going into the Republican coffers? If not, wise up. If so, then horrifyingly hypocritical.

SeekingReason's avatar

I’m guessing these performers didn’t know this. But now you, Judd, have uncovered it. It seems these Far Rt-wing thugs have their money and hands in everything! This is why the US is so damn slow to take action. It’s difficult to shop in any major store, pharmacy, big box anything without giving to the Rt wing REPUBLICAN thugs. The world is sick of them…let Orban’s fall put them on notice!

Eddie's avatar

Dark 💰💰💰constantly "plays" both sides.

Bill Flarsheim's avatar

It’s hard. Rather than buy a corn hole set from Amazon, we bought a set from a guy in town who makes them. More expensive than Amazon, but much sturdier, so happy to buy local. While picking them up, we were making small talk and mentioned that my wife is from Texas. The seller said he really likes Texas Gov Abbott. Oh well, what are you going to do.

Jeanie's avatar

From what I understand, it was Anschutz who played a significant part in getting Justice Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. (https://newrepublic.com/article/178163/billionaire-poised-see-return-investment-neil-gorsuch)

Anschutz owns hundreds of acres land where he has proposed building wind turbines (https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/philip-anschutz-environment-coachella-windfarm-wyoming).

Whatever it takes to make a buck, the guy has enough to literally move mountains.

Marliss Desens's avatar

Another reminder that we also need to vote by how we choose to spend our money.

BTAM Master's avatar

How depressing...

Great reporting! How did they not know? The promoters must be laughing all the way to the bank.

Becky Daiss's avatar

Shine a light. Its what you do best.