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February 2024

Boy George, Sharon Osbourne, Gene Simmons & More Sign Letter Rejecting Attempt to Bar Israel From 2024 Eurovision Song Contest

Read the original article here.

Mayim Bialik, Helen Mirren, Scooter Braun, Selma Blair and more than 380 others also lent their names to open letter.
By: Gil Kaufman
A wide-ranging group of more than 400 musicians, actors, agents and managers and studio executives signed an open letter to the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest rejecting attempts by some participating countries to bar Israel from participating in this year’s event. Among those lending their names to the letter from the non-profit entertainment industry organization Creative Community for Peace were: Helen Mirren, Liev Schreiber, KISS’ Gene Simmons, Scooter Braun, Boy George, Sharon Osbourne, Emmy Rossum, Mayim Bialik, Debra Messing, Diane Warren and Selma Blair, among many others.
The letter supports the European Broadcasting Union’s commitment to including Israel in this year’s contest amid calls last month from Swedish and Finnish artists demanding Israel’s exclusion from the contest over their belief that including the country “undermines” the spirit of the competition. The letters cited Israel’s ongoing response to the deadly Oct. 7 surprise assault on the nation from Hamas militants in which more than 1,200 Israelis — mostly civilians — were murdered, sexually assaulted and attacked and more than 250 were taken hostage.
“We have been shocked and disappointed to see some members of the entertainment community calling for Israel to be banished from the Contest for responding to the greatest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust,” the letter reads. “Under the cover of thousands of rockets fired indiscriminately into civilian populations, Hamas murdered and kidnapped innocent men, women, and children.”
Artist manager Braun added, “Music is a place for unity not division. It is a language that should always bring us together. Artists should never be discriminated against for who they are, who they love, or where they’re born. These boycott efforts do nothing but distract from the uplifting and unifying power of music – something we need now more than ever.”
KISS’ Simmons, who was born in Israel to a Holocaust survivor mother, wrote, “Music unites people from all backgrounds. It’s the one language that everyone can understand. It’s a beautiful thing and a great way to bring people together. Those advocating to exclude an Israeli singer from Eurovision don’t move the needle towards peace, but only further divide the world.”
Last month’s letter from a group of more than 1,000 Swedish artists — this year’s Eurovision will be held in the the Swedish city of Malmö from May 7-11 — requested that Israel be barred from participating over it’s “brutal” response to the Hamas attack, citing the “humanitarian disaster” in Gaza.
“We who sign this are 1,000 artists who believe in music as a unifying force. The Eurovision song contest began as a peace project with the ambition to unite countries and citizens through music,” read the Swedish letter, whose signers included Robyn, First Aid Kit and Fever Ray. “Allowing Israel’s participation undermines not only the spirit of the competition but the entire public service mission. It also sends the signal that governments can commit war crimes without consequences. Therefore, we appeal to the EBU: Exclude Israel from the Eurovision song contest 2024.”
To date, the 130-day war has reportedly led to the deaths of more than 28,000 Palestinians, the destruction of much of the Gaza Strip’s infrastructure and the displacement of more than one million Gazans. The Swedish letter joined earlier, similar requests to exclude Israel from more than 1,400 artists in Finland and Iceland.
The open letter from Creative Community for Peace — the first public call of its kind from the entertainment industry voicing unequivocal support of Israel’s inclusion in the contest — highlights Eurovision’s ability to unify people from diverse backgrounds and music’s power to effect positive change in the world.
Other signatories to the open letter include: Julianna Marguiles, Ginnifer Goodwin, Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr., Skylar Astin, Atlantic Records Group CEO Julie Greenwald, Universal Music Publishing Group CEO Jody Gerson, Warner Records CEO Aaron Bay-Schuck, Patricia Heaton, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Disturbed’s David Draiman, Tom Arnold, Columbia Pictures chairman Tom Rothman and MRC co-founder/co-CEO Modi Wiczyk.
The letter notes that Israel has a long and storied Eurovision history — including hosting in 1979, 1999 and 2019 and winning in 1978, 1979, 1998 and 2018 — while offering up a diverse group of contestants representing the Palestinian, Ethiopian and LGBTQIA+ communities. “Furthermore, we believe that unifying events such as singing competitions are crucial to help bridge our cultural divides and unite people of all backgrounds through their shared love of music,” it reads.
“The annual Eurovision Song Contest embodies this unifying spirit. Every year, millions of people across Europe and around the world join in a massive display of cultural exchange and celebration of music. Those who are calling for Israel’s exclusion are subverting the spirit of the Contest and turning it from a celebration of unity into a tool of politics.” Click here to see the full letter.

Open Letter – Eurovision

Helen Mirren, Liev Schreiber, Gene Simmons, Scooter Braun, Boy George, Mayim Bialik, Haim Saban, Julianna Margulies, Sharon Osbourne, Debra Messing, Emmy Rossum Support Israel’s Continued Inclusion in Eurovision

Jody Gerson, Julie Greenwald, Ginnifer Goodwin, Selma Blair, Noa Kirel, Tom Rothman, Harvey Mason jr., Skyler Astin, Gregg Sulkin, Patricia Heaton, Diane Warren, Tracy-Ann Oberman among 400+ celebrities and entertainment industry professionals who signed an open letter rejecting attempts to banish Israel from the contest

More than 400+ leaders from the entertainment industry have signed an open letter released by the non-profit entertainment industry organization Creative Community For Peace in support of the European Broadcasting Union’s (EBU) public commitment to include Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest.

The letter comes in response to others who have demanded that Israel be disinvited from the contest. The letter highlights Eurovision’s unique ability to unify people from diverse backgrounds and music’s capacity to effect positive change in the world. The letter states that the annual event, with more viewers than the Super Bowl, is a celebration of unity and should not be used as a tool for politics.

Scooter Braun said, “Music is a place for unity not division. It is a language that should always bring us together. Artists should never be discriminated against for who they are, who they love, or where they’re born. These boycott efforts do nothing but distract from the uplifting and unifying power of music – something we need now more than ever.”

Gene Simmons said, “Music unites people from all backgrounds. It’s the one language that everyone can understand. It’s a beautiful thing and a great way to bring people together. Those advocating to exclude an Israeli singer from Eurovision don’t move the needle towards peace, but only further divide the world.”

The statement is the first of its kind – a call from the entertainment industry unequivocally voicing support for Israel’s inclusion in Eurovision.

Mayim Bialik said, “After a horrendous violent attack on Israeli civilians, calls for boycotts and excluding Israeli artists from international events simply because they are Israeli is abhorrent and shameful. Targeting Israeli musicians in this way tarnishes the unifying spirit that is Eurovision.”

The over 400+ Signatories Include: Helen Mirren (Actress); Liev Schreiber (Actor); Boy George (Artist); Gene Simmons (Artist/Co-founder KISS & multi-hyphenate businessman); Mayim Bialik (Actress); Julianna Margulies (Actor/Producer/Author); Emmy Rossum (Actress); Debra Messing (Actress); Ginnifer Goodwin (Actress); Haim Saban (Chairman and CEO, Saban Capital Group); Scooter Braun (Founder/CEO, Hybe America); Selma Blair (Actress); Harvey Mason jr. (CEO of the Recording Academy); Gregg Sulkin (Actor); Skylar Astin (Actor); Julie Greenwald (Chairperson & CEO, Atlantic Records Group); Jody Gerson (Chairperson and CEO, Universal Music Publishing Group); Aaron Bay-Schuck (CEO/Co-Chairman Warner Records); Dan Rosen (President, Warner Music Australasia); Joshua Malina (Actor); Patricia Heaton (Actress and Producer); Noa Kirel (Artist, Former Eurovision Contestant); Jennifer Jason Leigh (Actress); David Draiman (Disturbed); Tom Arnold (Actor); Tracy-Ann Oberman (Actress); Sharon Osbourne (Manager, TV Personality); Tom Rothman (Chairman, Columbia Pictures); Diane Warren (Songwriter); Sherry Lansing (Former CEO of Paramount Pictures); Rick Rosen (Co-Founder, Endeavor); Ben Silverman (Chairman & Co-CEO, Propagate Content); Alison Kaye (President, SB Projects); Orly Marley (President, Tuff Gong Worldwide); Ynon Kreiz (Chairman and CEO, Mattel, Inc.); Gary Barber (Chairman and CEO, Spyglass Media Group); Raye Cosbert (Managing Director, Metropolis Music); Jacqueline Saturn (President, Virgin Music); John Ondrasik (Artist, Five For Fighting); Emmanuelle Chriqui (Actress); Samantha Ronson (Artist); Colin Lester OBE (Founder/Chairman JEM Music Group); David Renzer (Former CEO/Chairman Universal Music Publishing); Paul Kemsley (Manager, Nixxi Entertainment); Odeya Rush (Actress); Modi Wiczyk (Co-Founder and Co-CEO, MRC); and David Zedeck (Global Head of Music at UTA); Laurent Amir Haddad (Singer/Former Eurovision Contestant), amongst others, which you can see below.

“We have been shocked and disappointed to see some members of the entertainment community calling for Israel to be banished from the Contest for responding to the greatest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust,” the letter reads. “Under the cover of thousands of rockets fired indiscriminately into civilian populations, Hamas murdered and kidnapped innocent men, women, and children,” it continues.

On Eurovision’s impact, the letter states, “We believe that unifying events such as singing competitions are crucial to help bridge our cultural divides and unite people of all backgrounds through their shared love of music.” The letter concludes: “Those who are calling for Israel’s exclusion are subverting the spirit of the Contest and turning it from a celebration of unity into a tool of politics.”

CCFP’s Chairman, David Renzer, and Executive Director, Ari Ingel said, “We join entertainment industry leaders in rejecting the vilification of Israel on the global music stage. After thousands of innocent Israelis were killed, over 360 of them at a music festival as they danced in celebration of life, to see some respond in this fashion is shameful. We hope Eurovision stands firm in the face of this misguided, discriminatory boycott attempt. We want the world to know that the entertainment industry supports the Contest and all this year’s amazing participants, including Israel’s.”

OPEN LETTER

We, the undersigned members of the entertainment industry, are writing to express our support for Israel’s continued inclusion in the Eurovision Song Contest.

We have been shocked and disappointed to see some members of the entertainment community calling for Israel to be banished from the Contest for responding to the greatest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust.

October 7th was a day in which a music festival meant to celebrate life was attacked by Hamas and saw 364 innocent civilians killed, hundreds maimed and brutalized, over 40 festivalgoers taken hostage, and many raped.

Israel is fighting a war against a European Union-designated terrorist group that once again broke a ceasefire that day, and then went on to slaughter over 1,200 people. This current round of fighting is not a war that Israel wanted or started. To punish Israel would be an inversion of justice.

Israel also has a long and storied history in Eurovision. This includes winning the Contest in 1978, 1979, 1998, and 2018 and having a diverse group of contestants representing the country, including PalestiniansEthiopians, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Israel then hosted the Contest in 1979, 1999, and 2019. In fact, Eurovision fans voted “Dare to Dream,” the 64th Eurovision Song Contest in Tel Aviv, the best Eurovision production of the decade.

Furthermore, we believe that unifying events such as singing competitions are crucial to help bridge our cultural divides and unite people of all backgrounds through their shared love of music.

The annual Eurovision Song Contest embodies this unifying spirit. Every year, millions of people across Europe and around the world join in a massive display of cultural exchange and celebration of music.

Those who are calling for Israel’s exclusion are subverting the spirit of the Contest and turning it from a celebration of unity into a tool of politics.

We support all of this year’s contestants as well as your decision to reject the calls to expel Israel from the Contest. We are looking forward to a successful and exciting Eurovision.

SIGNATORIES

(If you are in the entertainment industry and want to add your name, you can do so here: LINK)

Ari Ingel, Executive Director, Creative Community for Peace

Aaron Bay-Schuck, CEO/Co-Chairman, Warner Records

Rakefet Abergel, CEO, Cyclamen films

Jamie Abzug, SVP/Head of Publicity, RCA Records

Stuart Acher, CEO, Stupendous Films inc

Jason Adelman, VP, Brand Innovators Labs

Orly Adelson, Former President of ITV Studios, America

Marty Adelstein, CEO, Tomorrow Studios

Ben Adler, Musician

Shelley Altman, Head of Production, Mophonics

Tom Arnold, Actor

Skylar Astin, Actor

Dalia Auerbach, Vice President, A&R Administration, Epic Records

Nate Auerbach, Partner, Versus Creative

Jordan Bahat, Director

Craig Balsam, Co-Founder, Razor & Tie Entertainment

Gary Barber, Chairman and CEO, Spyglass Media Group

Eve Barlow, Music Journalist

Richard Baskind, Partner & Head of Music, Simons Muirhead & Burton

Mason Bates, Composer, Masonic Music Inc.

Miles Beard, Executive VP of A&R, Republic Records

Karyn Ben-Gal, A&R Coordinator, Disney Music Publishing

Aton Ben-Horin, VP of Global A&R, Atlantic Records Group

Pablo Bendersky, Producer/Artist

Steven Bensusan, President, Blue Note Entertainment Group

Evie Bergson-Korn, Producer, Buffalo Pictures

Adam Berkowitz, Founder and President, Lenore Entertainment Group

Luc Bernard, Director, Voices of the Forgotten

Duff Berschback, EVP, Business Affairs, Concord Music Publishing, Concord Music Publishing

Mayim Bialik, Actress

Sharon Bialy, Owner, Bialy/Thomas & Associates Casting

David Bickel, President, SME

Joshua P. Binder, Partner, Rotherberg, Mohr, and Binder LLP

Neil Blair, Partner, The Blair Partnership

Selma Blair, Actor/Producer

Marti Blatt, Literary Manager, 59 Management

Evan Bogart, Songwriter & CEO, Seeker Music

Boy George, Artist

Scooter Braun, Founder/CEO, Hybe America

Josh Brill, Writer/Producer

Lucy Brin, Musician, Freelance

Hallie Brookman, Agent, United Talent Agency

Benjamin Budde, CEO, Budde Music

Paul Burger OBE, Soho Artists

David Byrnes, Partner, Ziffren Brittenham LLP

Marika Cahn, Music Executive, Bill Silva Management

Sarah Camlett, Talent Agent, Independent Talent Group

Michele Carlisle, Executive Producer, Epiphany Productions

Charlie Carne, Director, Music Managers Forum

Rick Carnes, President, Songwriters Guild of America

Civia Caroline, President, Clic Entertainment

Robin Carus, Casting Director, Robin Carus Casting

Markell Casey, Music Executive

Brian Celler, Founder, Bravo Charlie Management

Pamela Charbit, A&R Manager, Atlantic Records

Cliff Chenfeld, Co-Founder, Razor & Tie

David Chesnoff, Partner, Chesnoff and Schonfeld

Emmanuelle Chriqui, Actress

Lester Christie, Christabel Music

Gary Cohen, Director, Looi Ltd

Tanya Cohen, Partner, Range Media Partners

Rochelle Cole, Filmmaker, Watch Your Back Productions!

Wallace Collins, Entertainment Attorney, Law Offices of Wallace Collins, Esq.

Billiam Coronel, CFO, The Coronel Group

Leanne Coronel, President, The Coronel Group

Raye Cosbert, Managing Director, Metropolis Music

Ben Cosgrove, CEO, Leviathan Productions

Nick Cosgrove, Partner, Brunswick Group

Paul Craig, Ceo, Nostromo Management

Avi Dahan, Attorney, Boyarski Fritz LLP

Ian Daly, Head of Brand Strategy, Live Nation

Greg Daniels, Writer, Producer, Showrunner

Robin Davids, SVP Publicity, Sony Pictures Entertainment

Chloé Jo Davis, Music writer, GirlieGirlArmy

Mirelle Davis, Artist Manager, Wind Up Bird Ltd

Hannah Davison, Music Operations Manager, Blue Raincoat Music

Shula Daws, Plum Pictures

Will Daws, Plum Pictures

Danielle Demchick, Casting Director, DPD Casting

Josh Deutsch, Chairman/CEO, Premier Music Group

Avi Diamond, Director, Film & TV Licensing, Warner Music Canada

Kayla Diamond, Producer, Kolossal Records

Kosha Dillz, Artist, Rapper

Craig Dorfman, Partner, ThreeSixZero

David Draiman, Frontman of the band Disturbed

Jeremy Drysdale, bigbamboo

Carly Einfeld, Talent Coordinator

Noam Eisen, Musician & Composer, Sound Hound

Talya Elitzer, Co-Founder, Godmode Music

Craig Emanuel, Partner, Entertainment & Media, Paul Hastings

Wendy Engelberg, Producer, Wengelco.inc

Ilan Eshkeri, Composer

Sharon Eterman, Singer

Ron Fair, Record Producer & CEO, Faircraft Inc.

Sharon Farber, Composer

Daniel Federman, Owner, Maccabi Tel-Aviv

Eric Feig, Founder, Feig Finkel LLP

Sheri Feldman, Tempo Group

Patti Felker, Felker Toczek Suddleson Abramson McGinnis Ryan

Jacob Fenton, Partner, United Talent Agency

Ken Fermaglich, Partner, United Talent Agency

Jamie Fine, Production Tax, Netflix

David Fishof, Producer and Music Executive

Lindsay Flans, Associate Editor, The Hollywood Reporter

Josh Fluxgold, Founder and President, ONEWAY.

Erica Forster, Entertainment Attorney

Gary Foster, Principal, Krasnoff Foster Productions

Sarah Francus, Manager, Roc Nation

Jordan Frazes, Founder, Frazes Creative

Yaniv Fridel, Music Producer

Adina Friedman, Manager, Artist House

Daryl Friedman, Former Chief Advocacy & Industry Relations Officer, The Recording Academy

Neil Friedman, Counsel, Entertainment Law

Roger Friedman, Owner, Showbiz411.com

Marla Friedson, Producer, Freelance

Simon Friend, Producer, Simon Friend Entertainment Ltd

Andrew Fromm, President, Fromm Consulting

Sarah Gabrielli, A&R, SONY PUBLISHING

Siri Garber, CEO & Founder, Platform Public Relations

David Gardner, President, Artists First

Daniella Geller, Netflix

Brett Gelman, Actor

Andrew Genger, Manager, Red Light Management

Gary Gersh, Former President, Global Touring, A.E.G.

Jody Gerson, Chairman and CEO, Universal Music Publishing Group

Rochelle Gerson, VP, Business & Legal Affairs, Original Series, Netflix

Greta Gertler Gold, Composer, Lyricist

Maya Giladi, Business and Legal Affairs, Netflix

Gary Ginsberg, Senior VP, SoftBank Group Corp.

Hana Giraldo, Singer-Songwriter/Actress

Daniel Glass, Founder/CEO, Glassnote Records

Karen Glauber, President, HITS Magazine

David Glick, Founder & CEO, Edge Group

Joshua Glick, Manager, Brillstein

Jordan Glickson, VP, Music & Talent, Vevo

Cathy Godwin, Manager, Rsg Management

Jennifer Goetz, Manager, Singin in the Reign

Harry Gold, Founder and Senior Partner, Talentworks

Iddo Goldberg, Actor, Liba99

Zusha Goldin, Celebrity Photography, Zusha Goldin

Barry Goldlist, COO, 4cCollective

Michael Goldwasser, President/Co-Founder, Easy Star Records

Robert Golenberg, President, Golenberg & Co.

Ginnifer Goodwin, Actress

Michael Gordon, Partner, Creative Artists Agency

Victoria Gordon, Performer and Writer

Andrew Gould, President, Music Publishing, Roc Nation

Matt Graff, Managing Director, Zig Zag Productions

Cary Granat, Co-Founder and Partner, Destiny Media, EMH Media

Malcolm Green, Director and Writer, Green AFM Ltd

Trudy Green, Trudy Green Management/HK

David Greenbaum, Music Producer

Scott Greenberg, Manager and Partner, LBI Entertainment

Steve Greenberg, Founder and President, S-Curve Records

Julie Greenwald, Chairperson & CEO, Atlantic Records Group

Jonah Grinberg, Musician, Numb Tongues

Jeremy Gruber, Friends at Work, Head of Artist Marketing

Sarah Halioua, Producer, Visionaire Films-Spain

Vicky Hamburger, SliderTV

Nili Harary, A&R Administration, Atlantic Records

Ronnie Harris, Partner, Harris & Trotter LLP

Sam Harris, Actor/Singer, Funky Pants Productions

Toby Harris, 100% Records

Patricia Heaton, Actress and Producer

Marilyn Herman, Composer

David Hershon, VP, MGM

Avi Hirshbein, A&R Coordinator, Electric Feel Ent.

Linda Howard, President, Edell Howard Enterprises LLC

Richard “BournRich” Ingram, Artist/Creative Director

Nicole Isaacs, Producer

Steve Jablonsky, Composer, Arata Music

Neil Jacobson, Founder of Hallwood Media

Max Jacoby, Producer

Jennifer Jason Leigh, Actress

Jordan Jay, Director, Karma Artists Management

Jim Jermanok, Producer, Command Performance Productions

Nathan Kaminski, Songwriter

Zach Katz, Former President, BMG

Alina Kaufman, Actor

Allison Kaye, President, SB Projects

Jonathan Kellerman, Novelist

Dorit Kemsley, Designer

Paul Kemsley, Manager, Nixxi Entertainment

Charlotte Kendall, Harris and Trotter LLP

Ketura Kestin, Serendipity Prod.

Ilan Kidron, Artist & Musician

Noa Kirel, Artist, Former Eurovision Contestant

Scott Kluge, President, Tremendous Entertainment

Rebecca Kneubuhl, Composer, Bourbon & Bubblegum Music, Inc.

Amanda Kogan, Manager, Aaron Kogan Management

Keetgi Kogan Steinberg, Writer/Producer, Self

Sharon Kornmehl, Literary Manager, Sharona Fae Management

Zoe Korsner, TV Production

Bettina Kramer, President, Creative Effects Inc

Ynon Kreiz, Chairman and CEO, Mattel, Inc.

Rick Krim, CEO, Krim Music + Media

Dana Landman, Big Life Management

Gabz Landman, Music Executive

Sherry Lansing, Former CEO, Paramount Pictures

Sanaz Lavaedian, SVP of Music, MOCEAN

Nicholas Lazarus, Content Creator Studios

Marsha Lee, Filmmaker, Definition Films

Jackie Len, Senior Counsel, Netflix

Peter Lenkov, Film and Television Writer, 101st Street Entertainment

Colin Lester OBE, Founder/Chairman, JEM Music Group

Loretta Levinson, Consultant, Starvox Entertainment

David Levy, Co-CEO / Founder, Horizon Sports & Experiences and Former President of Turner/WarnerMedia

Michal Levy, Writer, February Fifth Productions

Sharon Lieblein, Casting Director, Sharon Lieblein Casting

Sean Liebowitz, Agent, Creative Artists Agency

Cory Litwin, Managing Partner, Music, Range Media Partners

Danielle Livesey, Partner, Push Music Management

David Lonner, CEO, The David Lonner Co.

Gustavo Lopez, CEO, Saban Music Latin

Ben Maddahi, SVP A&R, Columbia Records

Sepideh Makabi, Director and Producer, NewMil Media

Shannon Makhanian, Casting Director

Gabrielle Malek, Marketing Manager, Universal Music Canada

Joshua Malina, Actor, Busy Izzy Productions, Inc.

Gabriel Mann, Composer/Producer

Deborah Marcus, Executive, CAA

Julianna Margulies, Actress/Producer/Author

Alex Markovitz, Producer

Orly Marley, President, Tuff Gong Worldwide

Harvey Mason jr, CEO of the Recording Academy

Nancy Matalon, VP of A&R, Spirit Music Group

Ann Mcelhinney, Producer, Unreported Story Society

Barry McPherson, Partner, Executive Vice President, Talent, Independent Artist Group

William Mercer, Partner, Thruline Entertainment

Debra Messing, Actress

Hilary Zaitz Michael, Co-Head & Partner, Literary Packaging at William Morris Endeavor

Altara Michelle, Actress

Marigo Mihalos, Celeb Talent, SIRIUSXM

Helen Mirren, Actress

Amie Mitchell, Producer, ASAM PRODUCTIONS

Robert Mor, Producer, Tallboy Agency

Patrick Mushatsi-Kareba, CEO, Germany, Switzerland & Austria, Sony Music Entertainment

DJ Nash, Executive Produce/Showrunner/Director, Next Thing You Know, Inc.

Guy Nattiv, Filmmaker

Gabrielle Neimand, SVP, Current for Streaming, CBS Studios

Jason Newman, Partner, Untitled Entertainment

Sharona Nomder, Owner, Morse Artists

Lisa Nupoff, Manager, IMIN Music

Tracy-Ann Oberman, Actress

John Ondrasik, Artist, Five For Fighting

Sharon Osbourne, Manager, TV Personality

Scott Packman, Founder and Managing Member, SSP Partners LLC

Ravi Parsan, Director, FV Films

Donald Passman, Partner, Gang, Tyre, Ramer, Brown & Passman, Inc.

Leo Pearlman, Managing Partner, Fulwell 73

Shelly Peiken, Songwriter, Shellayla

David Pick, CEO, Real Music TV

Mark Pinkus, President, Rhino

Jonah Platt, Singer/Actor

Wendy Plaut, SVP, Celebrity Talent, MTV/Paramount Global

Alla Plotkin, Co-Founder, Birch Public Relations

Monique Powell, Lead Singer, Save Ferris

Mike Praw, Music Executive

Steven Price, Film Composer, GSA

Michal Prywes, Sky with Stars Music

Sylvie Rabineau, Co-Head, Book to Film/TV, WME

Golan Ramraz, President, EGX Film Factory

Dani Reis, Artist Manager, Artist House

Remedy, Artist

David Renzer, Former Chairman/CEO, Universal Music Publishing

Bruce Resnikoff, President & CEO, Universal Music Enterprises, UMG

Jade Reuben, Music Manager, Bold Management

Leeron Revah, Film Producer

Allan Rich, Songwriter, Gefilte Fish Songs

Frederic Richter, Senior Development Consultant, Tradition Pictures

Matt Ritter, Screenwriter

Lindy Robbins, Songwriter

Hanna Rochelle, Founder, Purple Productions LLC

Samantha Ronson, Artist

Dan Rosen, President, Warner Music Australasia

Rick Rosen, Co-Founder, Endeavor

Aaron Rosenberg, Partner, Myman Greenspan Fox Rosenberg Mobasser Younger & Light

Ben Rosenberg, Head of Distribution, BBC

Emmy Rossum, Actress

Michael Rotenberg, Partner, 3 Arts Entertainment

Tom Rothman, Chairman, Columbia Pictures

Joshua Rothstein, Partnership Marketing Manager, Primary Wave Entertainment and CEO, Ice Cream For Dinner

Autumn Rowe, Singer/Songwriter

Gavin Rudolph, President, Audio Chateau Records

Odeya Rush, Actress

David Russell, Manager, Crush Music

Haim Saban, Chairman and CEO, Saban Capital Group

Rochel Saks, Manager, SAKS&

Jacqueline Saturn, President, Virgin Music

Anna Savage, Artist Manager, Fullstop

Leslie Schapira, Writer/Producer, Max

Colin Schaverien, Prolifica Management

Ayelet Schiffman, SVP Head of Promotions, Island Records

Steve Schnur, Worldwide Executive & Music President, Electronic Arts

Liev Schreiber, Actor

Jordan Schur, CEO and Chairman, Mimran Schur Pictures and Suretone Entertainment

Eddie Schwartz, President, Music Creators North America

Sam Schwartz, Co-Principal, Gorfaine/Schwartz Agency

Nicki Seifert, Silverstone Music Group

Camila Seta, Executive, Brand Consulting

Stefi Shabashev, Songwriter

Ofer Shabi, Director, Soho Sonic Ltd.

Guy Shalem, Producer, Fox

Riki Shasha, PGI

Hillary Shaw, MD, Shaw Thing Management Ltd

Carly Shear, Hat Trick

Simon Shelley, Chief Commercial Officer, BBC Studios

Doniel Sherman, Solutions Architect, Netflix

Noah “Westside Gravy” Shufutinsky, Artist

Jeremy Silver, Producer/Songwriter, Paradiso Music

Ben Silverman, Chairman and Co-CEO, Propagate Content

Gene Simmons, Artist/Co-founder KISS & multi-hyphenate businessman

Ralph Simon, Chairman & CEO, Mobilium Global Limited

Tamar Simon, Owner, Mean Streets Management

Marty Singer, Attorney, Lavely and Singer

Brad Slater, Agent, WME

Reginald Smith, Director, Wesson Enterprises

Yehuda Solomon, Lead Singer, Moshav

Jeff Sosnow, EVP A&R, Warner Bros. Records

Donna Spievak, VP of Strategic Marketing, Interscope Records

Halle Stanford, President of Television, The Jim Henson Company

John Stark, Musician, Sony Music

Jonathan Steinsapir, Partner, Kinsella Holley Iser Kump Steinsapir

Harriet Sternberg, President, Harriet Sternberg Management, Inc.

Roger Stevens, Lighter Entertainment

Gary Stiffelman, Founder, GSS Law

Lee Stone, Lee & Thompson

Victoria Stone, Vilee Media

Rachel Strassberger, Manager, Grassroots Music

Bryan Subotnick, Attorney, Business Affairs, Visionary Entertainment and Media

Gregg Sulkin, Actor

Gary Sumray, ABC

Aaron Symonds, Film Composer

Traci Szymanski, President, Co-Star Entertainment

Nina Tassler, CEO, Tassler, Inc

Adam Taylor, President, APM Music

Lou Taylor, CEO, Tri Star Sports and Entertainment Group

Noa Tishby, Author/Producer

Niv Toar, Composer, Noise Maker LLC

Fred Toczek, Partner, Felker Toczek Suddleson Abramson LLP

Alisa Traskunov, Script Supervisor, Freelancer

Paul Trijbits, CEO, Magical Society

Harry Tschebiner, Composer, Freelance

Gabriela Tscherniak, Film & TV Director, Cohensisters Entertainment

Eric Tuchman, Writer, Producer

Michelle Tucker, Manager, Mon T Corp

Oded Turgeman, President, The Operating Room

Ronli Tzour, VP, Marketing, FAE grp

Anna Van Grimbergen, Music Producer, Freelance

David Ventura, Sony Music Publishing

Michèle Vice-Maslin, Music Producer/Songwriter/Publisher

Alex Voihanski, President, Paramount Business Group

Serene Vtn, Singer/Songwriter, Planet Studios

Jeremy Vuernick, President of A&R, Capitol Music Group

Diane Warren, Songwriter, Producer

Joshua Washington, Artist/Producer

Gregory Watton, Songwriter, Wemusicllc

Kevin Weaver, President, West Coast, Atlantic Records

Jon Weinbach, President, Skydance Sports

Guri Weinberg, Actor, Destiny’s Saloon

Nola Weinstein, Entertainment Executive

David N Weiss, Fat Dancing Productions Inc.

Debbie Weiss, President, Wonderful World of Animation

Philippe Weissberg, Boost

Adam Wells, Photographer and Filmmaker, Freelance

Ilana Wernick, Writer/Producer, Bonnie Meadow Road Productions

Shawna Wexler, Head of Talent, Sugar23

Russell White, Radio Presenter, Delite Radio

Nicole Wichinsky, Talent Agent, Stewart Talent

Modi Wiczyk, Co-Founder and Co-CEO, MRC

Evan Winiker, Managing Partner, Range Media

Ori Winokur, Musical Artist

Michele Woods, Sound Editor, Shaboogamoo Ltd

Craig Wyckoff, Talent Manager and Rabbi, Craig Wyckoff& Assoc. INc.

Summer Xinlei Yang, Producer / Founder, Summery Productions

Alicia Yaffe, SVP, Content Development and Marketing, Warner Music Group

Seth Yanklewitz, Casting Director, Yanklewitz/Pollack Casting

Sharon Tal Yguado, Founder & CEO, Astrid Entertainment

Melanie Yudolph, Right On Track

Sebastian Zar Esq., Attorney, Sedlmayr & Associates

David Zedeck, Global Head of Music, UTA

Jennifer Zeller, Promotion, Interscope Records

Rachel Zevita, Singer

Additional Signers:

Montana Tucker, Influencer

Noel Ashman, Producer

Jordan Glickson, VP, Music & Talent, Vevo

Joel Severino, Manager of Latin Programing, Vevo

Stephanie Liss, Playwright/Artistic Director, American Jewish Theatre Company

Courtney Hardin, Publicist, Paramount Global

Adam McCallig, Eurovision Influencer, AllThingsAdam.ie

Limor Gott Ronen, Producer, Gott Films

Millie Dweck, Video Production, Atlantic Records

Elisheva Herrera, Executive Director, American Jewish Theatre Company

Michael Kaplan, Writer/Producer

Noah Lehrman, Musician/Songwriter, Art Kibbutz

Lee Trink, CEO, RISE

Joachim Tromark, Musician, Faithland Music

Richard Svensson, Artist, YouKnow Richard

Anne-Marie Asner, Co-Founder, Animation Israel

Brett Greenberg, Music Business Affairs, United Talent Agency

Simon David, Partner, Confirmed360

Natanya Torn, Singer

Brett Gursky, Writer/Director/Producer, Magic Hour

Jonathan Rubenstein, Producer, Crystal City Entertainment

Laurie Klugman, Filmmaker/ Producer

Jennifer Chauvin, Propmaker

Moses Mah, Concert Producer, Moses Airlines/Moses Presents

Sammy Scher, Producer

Greta Gertler Gold, Composer-Lyricist, Performer, Producer

Mitch Tenzer, Attorney, Ziffren Brittenham LLP

Thomas McDaniel, Producer, Kodiak Pictures

Liana Brener, Actor/Singer/Creative Business Owner, Open Ocean Enterprises Pty Ltd

Olaide Ajewole, Singer/Actress, Open Ocean Enterprises

Jack Barton, Opera Singer, Opera Australia

Nancy Banks, Acting Coach, Nancy Banks Studio

Audrey Genevieve Holland, Actress

Steven Schub, Actor/Musician/Writer, Creative Ventures Agency (CVA)

Keaton Shyler, Actress

Robert Cowan, CEO & Founder, Point Blank Music School

Madelaine Cusick, Associate Producer, Entertainment Advertising

Anna Ruben, Actor

Brian Nabney, Musician, Criminal Records

Laura Saiter, Artist

Judie Aronson, Actor

Hadassah Weinreb, Artist/Actor

Fredrik Vogel, Media Producer, Vogel Media

Ashley Brucks, President, Screen Gems

Laurent Amir Haddad, Singer, Former Eurovision Contestant

** Note – The signers of this statement do so as individuals on their own behalf and not on behalf of their companies or organizations. All organizations and companies listed are for affiliation purposes only.

Cover photo: Asset ID 1643769724 KYIV, UKRAINE – FEBRUARY 08, 2020: Scene with Logo Eurovision during national selection during the Eurovision-2018 from Ukraine

Montana Tucker, Annie Lennox, Recording Academy CEO Make Israel Statements at the 2024 Grammys

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The Jewish community had a lot to process following the 66th Annual Grammys on Sunday night.

The Jewish community had a lot to process following the 66th Annual Grammys on Sunday night. There were moments to cheer, and moments to cringe.

In his remarks, Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason, Jr. gave a three-minute speech about the uniting capabilities of music. Halfway through, he called out the horrific examples of terror attacks perpetrated deliberately on music fans around the world—including those of the October 7th attacks in Israel.

“Every one of us, no matter where we’re from, is united by the shared experience of music,” Mason, Jr. said. “It brings us together like nothing else can, and that’s why music must always be our safe space. When that’s violated, it strikes at the very core of who we are. We felt that at the Bataclan Concert Hall in Paris. We felt that at the Manchester Arena in England. We felt that at the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival in Las Vegas. And on October 7th, we felt that again when we heard the tragic news from the Supernova Music Festival for love, that over 360 music fans lost their lives, and another 40 were kidnapped. That day, and all the tragic days that have followed, have been awful for the world to bear as we mourn the loss of all innocent lives.”

Video clips of Mason’s words have been shared across social media by some of the most active defenders of Israel. Still, some people were irked that Mason called out the Paris, England, and Las Vegas terror attacks geographically, but neglected to say the word “Israel” when calling out the Supernova Music Festival.

Still, Mason continued about music and unity, as a string quartet played a somber tune.

“We live in a world divided by so much, and maybe music can’t solve everything. But let us all agree: Music must remain the common ground upon which we all stand together in peace and harmony. Because music has always been one of humanity’s greatest connectors. Think about it. Every song that we’re honoring or hearing tonight moved someone, no matter where they were from or what they believed, that connected them to others who are moved in the same way.”

Take the string quartet as individuals, Mason continued. “They sound really good. But together, they achieve something beautiful they could never do apart. These musicians of Palestinian, Israeli, and Arab descent are here playing together.” The crowd at the Crypto.com Arena erupted in applause. As of press time, the identities of the string quartet members were not readily available.

“Now is the time for us, for humanity to play together, to come together with empathy and with Love,” Mason concluded.

In 2021, Mason was honored as an Ambassador of Peace by the entertainment industry-focused pro-Israel nonprofit, Creative Community for Peace.

Montana Tucker
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

As the program continued, photos circulated of TikTok star Montana Tucker on the red carpet wearing a giant yellow ribbon affixed to her dress with the words “Bring Them Home” across the top. Yellow ribbons are to create awareness and support for the 132 hostages held captive in Gaza by terror group Hamas for the past 120 days. Tucker’s dress was made by Israeli fashion designer Ortal Mizrahi’s MadeByILA.

Tucker has been one of the most (if not the most) active pro-Israel influencers for the under-30 crowd.

Tucker has been one of the most (if not the most) active pro-Israel influencers for the under-30 crowd. In 2022, she put her singing and dancing content on pause for several weeks as she posted a ten-part TikTok documentary about retracing her grandmother’s Auschwitz concentration camp survival story.

Also on the red carpet were pro-Palestinian fashion statements by several Grammy nominees. The three members of the band boygenius — Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus — wore “Artists4Ceasefire” pins on their suits. Poet Aja Monet came to the event with a watermelon-adorned clutch purse. The watermelon is a symbol of Palestine as its red, green and black are stand-ins for brandishing a Palestinian flag. Bassist and singer Esperanza Spalding wore a traditional Palestinian keffiyeh to the ceremony.

Annie Lennox
Kevin Winter/Getty Images for The Recording Academy

Later in the Grammys broadcast, singer Annie Lennox drew ire for shouting “artists for ceasefire” after singing a tearful rendition of “Nothing Compares 2 U” in honor of the late singer/songwriter, Sinéad O’Connor. Still, Hamas rejected a hostage and ceasefire deal with Israel yet again over the weekend.

At the end of the evening, there were several Jewish Grammy winners:

Jack Antonoff
Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Producer of the Year, Non-Classical
Jack Antonoff
“Being Funny in a Foreign Language” by The 1975
“Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd” by Lana del Rey
“Midnights” by Taylor Swift

Best Musical Theater Album
Marc Shaiman – “Some Like It Hot” co-producer, composer & lyricist
Charlie Rosen – “Some Like It Hot” co-producer

Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media
Mark Ronson – “Barbie the Album” co-producer

Best Engineered Album, Classical
David Frost – “Contemporary American Composers,” co-engineer

Best Classical Instrumental Solo
Teddy Abrams – “The American Project” – conductor of the Louisville Orchestra

Dr. Dre Global Impact Award
Lenny Kravitz, co-recipient

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