DISCLAIMER: This first part of the article was strictly information gathering. We at ByTheWavs are not attempting to sway our readers one way or another – This section was written simply to compile information.
For those who do not know, Philip Anschutz, owner of Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG), the parent company to Goldenvoice, producer of Coachella, has recently been outed by several news websites as being in support of strong Republican initiatives including anti-LGTQ+ initiatives, anti-climate change initiatives, and anti-union employment. (sources 1 2 3 4 5 6)
According to information gathered from Freedom for All Americans, Anschutz has been connected to anti-LGBTQ+ organizations like Alliance Defending Freedom, the Family Research Council, Mission America Foundation and the National Christian Foundation. These groups have been known to attempt, with extreme prejudice, to take away the rights that LGBTQ+ people have recently acquired in America.
Walden Media, another subsidiary of Anschutz, has funded “Won’t Back Down” and “Waiting For Superman”, films to further political views, which go along with the owner. These movies both attack the current educational system and the teacher-union oriented employees. This, allegedly, go alongside his encouragement of the attendance of charter schools over public schools. (I have not seen these films, and therefore cannot confirm or deny).
Anschutz is connected to anti-climate change groups after environmental protection group, Greenpeace, named Anschutz as a financial contributor to denial groups. Greenpeace also connects Anschutz to the biannual strategy meeting held by fossil fuel moguls, the Koch Brothers, which gives strong support to claims that he is strongly in favor of fossil fuel usage over renewable forms of energy. He even sued the small town of Dryden, NY based off of their regulations on fracking, losing the case.
Anschutz has also been a strong advocate and donator to Republican politics. In the state of Colorado, the organization ProgressNow has targeted the AEG owner by name. The Executive Director of ProgressNow, Ian Silverii, wrote in a 2016 press release that:
“Phil Anschutz’s extensive influence in Colorado politics has been known for years, but the degree of his support for anti-LGBTQ groups that fund extremist hate groups like Gordon Kligenschmitt’s ‘Pray in Jesus Name’ is shocking. At a time in American history when discrimination and violence against LGBTQ citizens is on the rise, support for pro-discrimination groups puts Anschutz on the wrong side of Colorado, and on the wrong side of history.”
On the adverse side of these allegations and the information released by several websites, recent reports have come out that Anschutz has denied these allegations. In a statement to Rolling Stones, Anschutz stated:
“Recent claims published in the media that I am anti-LGBTQ are nothing more than fake news—it is all garbage. I unequivocally support the rights of all people without regard to sexual orientation. We are fortunate to employ a wealth of diverse individuals throughout our family of companies, all of whom are important to us—the only criteria on which they are judged is the quality of their job performance; we do not tolerate discrimination in any form.”
He also stated,
“Both the Anschutz Foundation and I contribute to numerous organizations that pursue a wide range of causes. Neither I nor the Foundation fund any organization with the purpose or expectation that it would finance anti-LGBTQ initiatives, and when it has come to my attention or the attention of the Anschutz Foundation that certain organizations either the Foundation or I have funded have been supporting such causes, we have immediately ceased all contributions to such groups.”
DISCLAIMER: This second part of the article is the opinion of the writer based off of the facts. We at ByTheWavs are not attempting to sway our readers one way or another.
So, what does this mean? It means that every individual can formulate their own opinion. Music festivals are often a place for openness. I, myself, go to festivals and concerts as an escape from the mundane reality of day-to-day life. What does it mean, though, when that sense of freedom and uniqueness that music brings to each individual person is sitting in the shadow of a corporate hierarchy where the “guy-on-top” contributes money to organizations that attempt to limit the freedoms or benefits of certain groups, that attempt to line their own pockets at the sake of others, or that organize events and venues on a global scale that millions of people attend a year?
AEG has stakes in music festivals, event venues, and sports teams. It is difficult to get away from their reach, as it is with many big corporations.
Some well known venue names include:
- The StubHub Center
- The Staples Center
- The Colosseum at Caesars Palace
Some well known sports affiliations include
- LA Kings (NHL)
- Houston Dynamo (MLS)
- LA Lakers (NBA)
- Manchester Monarchs (AHL)
- LA Galaxy (MLS)
- Ontario Reign (ECHL)
- ESPN X-Games
It is up to each person to make the decision of how they will feel about this news coming to light. First, will you believe what he stated or the other news outlets? Some may choose not to support certain teams, attend certain events, or not use certain venues. Others will acknowledge what has come to light, advocate against the views that Anschutz has been connected to but still attend their favorite teams events or see their favorite artists perform at venues and events organized by AEG. There will even be some who either like Anschutz more for his alleged views or not believe them.
I will not tell you which group you should be in. I will, however, say that I think you will not be judged for your choice by me. Music is about acceptance and being human means that you can make your own choices. Who am I to impede upon you? Take this information and roll with it the way you wish.
For those curious how the public is taking this issue, I did a search on twitter, and the overwhelming opinion seems to be a distrust of Coachella as a music festival. Some tweets can be located below.
https://twitter.com/tay_elani/status/817191769255202816
https://twitter.com/jaureguisacutie/status/817191553403731968
https://twitter.com/bbynef/status/817191891485814784
https://twitter.com/moistbreezy/status/817070868153122816
this is great bc most ppl who go to Coachella are def left AF so now y'all gotta decide how much you actually care https://t.co/ljwoTjoC86
— carter “cool girl” cruise (@CarterCruise) January 5, 2017
Feel free to do some research on this yourself, and let us know how you feel about an issue that affects more people than many would like it to.