Power 105 Pulls Reggae Plug

No Clear Channel For Buju

bbbackdown-1.jpg
Clear Channel’s taking a stand against homophobia. The radio conglomerate’s New York-based hip-hop station, Power 105, heeded a GLAAD call and will not be broadcasting this weekend’s Reggae Carifest.

Two of the performers at Saturday’s festival, Buju Banton and Bounty Killer, drew gay activist fire over their continued use of homophobic lyrics.

GLAAD sent out a call to Clear Channel urging them to pull the plug. And the mega company agreed.

Via GLAAD:

Yesterday we issued at GLAAD Alert calling on Clear Channel to withdraw its sponsorship of Reggae Carifest, in light of the fact that two of its featured performers ­ Buju Banton and Bounty Killer­ publicly advocate and promote anti-gay violence in their songs.

Following publication of that alert, Clear Channel quietly but quickly dropped its sponsorship of the event.

The decision, reported today by Newsday, means that Clear Channel joins other companies and venues worldwide that refuse to support these performers’ dangerous messages of violence and hatred. GLAAD hopes that in the future, Clear Channel will be more forthright in condemning violence and hatred in the music and performers they sponsor.

The war against anti-gay performers reached a new pitch earlier this year as activists circulated the Reggae Compassion Act, which urges artists to self-censor their anti-gay sentiments. Banton allegedly signed the act, but then went back on his word. Now his words will reach a smaller audience.

Don't forget to share:

Help make sure LGBTQ+ stories are being told...

We can't rely on mainstream media to tell our stories. That's why we don't lock Queerty articles behind a paywall. Will you support our mission with a contribution today?

Cancel anytime · Proudly LGBTQ+ owned and operated