IRISH RADIO STATION Classic Hits Radio has said it will remove Ed Sheeran\u2019s music from its playlists \u201cfor the foreseeable future\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The announcement comes amid a growing backlash against the British singer-songwriter, after American rapper Macklemore\u00a0said he was removed as a support act on his US Loop tour for advocating for Palestinians in two performances<\/a>.<\/p>\n All of Sheeran\u2019s supporting acts, including Irish acts Aaron Rowe and Beoga, have pulled out<\/a> of the singer-songwriter\u2019s US tour as a means of showing support for the American rapper.<\/p>\n In a statement this morning, Classic Hits Radio said it places \u201cconsiderable importance on its relationship with its listeners and with the Irish music community\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cOver recent days, the station has received feedback from listeners expressing disappointment and concern regarding the events surrounding the tour,\u201d the statement said.\u00a0<\/p>\n The station said it recognises there are differing and strongly held views on the circumstances involved and acknowledged Sheeran\u2019s statement that the decision to remove Macklemore from the tour was not his and that he sought to find a resolution.<\/p>\n \u201cHaving considered the matter carefully and listened to the views expressed by its audience, Classic Hits Radio has made the programming decision to remove Ed Sheeran\u2019s music from its playlist for the foreseeable future.\u201d<\/p>\n Classic Hits Radio is part of Bay Broadcasting Limited, which also operates stations Radio Nova, Sunshine 106.8 and Galway Bay FM. The removal of Sheeran\u2019s music will only apply to Classic Hits.\u00a0<\/p>\n The station broadcasts across Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Kildare, Meath, Wicklow and Clare.\u00a0<\/p>\n Well-known names like Lucy Kennedy, Colm Hayes, Ruth Scott and Niall Boylan feature across the station\u2019s weekday schedule.\u00a0<\/p>\n It\u2019s understood staff were informed of the move before the announcement was made public.\u00a0<\/p>\n Group programme director\u00a0Dave Kelly said in a press release that radio \u201chas always been about more than the music we play\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is about the communities we serve, listening to our audience and recognising the conversations that matter to them,\u201d he said, adding that they have listened carefully to the reaction from listeners in recent days.\n<\/p>\n Our decision to remove Ed Sheeran\u2019s music from the Classic Hits Radio playlist has been carefully considered. It is not intended as a personal judgement on Ed Sheeran, and we acknowledge his own explanation of the circumstances surrounding recent events.<\/p>\n He said that, as an independent Irish-owned radio station, they believe it is important \u201cto listen to our audience and to stand alongside Irish artists who have made what is undoubtedly a significant professional decision based on their own convictions\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cUltimately, our position is a simple one. We believe in peace, humanity and respect, and in the right of people and artists to express and act upon their sincerely held views.<\/p>\n \u201cIn light of the strength of feeling expressed by our listeners and the decisions taken by Irish artists involved in the tour, we believe removing Ed Sheeran\u2019s music from our playlist is the appropriate decision for Classic Hits Radio at this time.\u201d<\/p>\n Kraft donation<\/p>\n Meanwhile, the multi-billionaire stadium owner who would not permit Macklemore to perform at his venues on Sheeran\u2019s tour has pledged to donate $2 million (\u20ac1.73 million) in aid \u201cto the region\u201d.\u00a0<\/p>\n Robert Kraft, who owns Gillette Stadium in Massachusetts, said in a statement this week<\/a> that Macklemore had been \u201cdeeply offensive and hurtful to the Jewish community\u201d when he spoke in favour of the Palestine cause in two performances supporting Sheeran.<\/p>\n On Wednesday, Macklemore said he would donate his $1 million (\u20ac867,000) earnings<\/a> from Sheeran\u2019s tour to Palestinian organisations and invited Kraft to \u201cmatch my donation\u201d to groups providing support to Palestine.\u00a0<\/p>\n Statement from Robert Kraft pic.twitter.com\/as3f4RUKse<\/a><\/p>\n