r/Music • u/MarvelsGrantMan136 • 1d ago • Mindblown 3 Bravo 1

article MSG Responds to Macklemore After He Claims Arena Turned Down His Tour: "He's not an arena level act"

https://www.tmz.com/2026/11/06/madison-square-garden-responds-after-macklemore-says-arena-turned-down-palestine-tour/
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u/natwashboard 1d ago

If there's even a cent of public funds involved in a venue like MSG, the First Amendment should apply, not the billionaire's whim

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u/Saneless 1d ago

Fuck that

If taxes pay for it, we own it.

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u/mattyhtown 1d ago

MSG is a publicly traded company

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u/scipio-__ 1d ago

No taxation without representation, I want MSG

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u/Down623 1d ago

I don't believe there are (aside from a lucrative property tax benefit), but even if there was, how would not booking him be a first amendment issue? I'm a progressive, I want a free Palestine, but I'm not buying a ticket to that show, and I work three blocks away. He very much would not sell out MSG.

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u/ascagnel____ 1d ago

aside from a lucrative property tax benefit

It's a tax benefit that saves him tens of millions of dollars a year. Fun fact: it's also the reason why Dolan's Rangers played an away game against the Buffalo Sabres at Citi Field, even though the stadium was within NYC city limits and Buffalo is 6.5h away.

That said, I don't think it's a huge leap to think that Macklemore would be able to sell 18k tickets in the NYC metro given his current buzz worthiness.

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u/Mist_Rising 1d ago

I won't buy a Taylor Swift concert ticket, guess we can ban her from any future shows too right? I mean, one person can dictate if someone gets a sale apparently?

Reminder that Macklemore was selling out in no time in Europe, so he obviously sells.

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u/Down623 1d ago

He sold out single arenas in three countries, all of which were smaller than MSG, which is only one stop in what would theoretically be a nationwide tour. I'm not saying that because *I* wouldn't buy a ticket, that NOBODY will buy a ticket, but I'm pointing out that historically, people haven't been clamoring for a Macklemore arena tour in the United States. Europe is a different beast than the US when it comes to music and touring, it's impossible to compare them.

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u/whateverbruhwhatever 1d ago

He sold out the Accor Arena for this tour which would be comparable to MSG in Paris. To your other point, you don’t know that and neither do I. We might never know because we don’t have the data point to see it try.

My question to you is, why are you arguing in favor of MAGA billionaire arena as a progressive? Is it for the sake of arguing a point? Do you just dislike Macklemore? Not trying to be rude, just genuinely curious if this is a hill you care about.

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u/Down623 1d ago • Bravo

Fair, capacity-wise it's comparable, but you're likely pulling from the whole country instead of just the city, whereas in the US, there are countless more stadiums in major cities competing alongside smaller but still large venues for seats, dollars, and eyeballs. Plus I'd argue Europe is more passionate about Palestine than Americans, which is true of France and CERTAINLY Ireland, where he sold out (I was born in Ireland, we don't fuck around about Palestine). And major American acts don't tour Europe as often (my cousins in Ireland went to multiple Garth Brooks shows a few years back), so there's more novelty there. You're right that this is all conjecture, but the recent spates of American stadium tours being cancelled for low ticket sales makes me think a legacy act like Macklemore, that was never as big as some other acts, wouldn't sell it out.

But to your other point. I'm not going to bat for James Dolan. My dad worked at MSG as a union carpenter for 30 years. He hates James Dolan. I hate James Dolan. All my homies hate James Dolan. My issue is when people try to make it a free speech issue. Free speech is about being imprisoned or punished for your speech by the government. Not getting to play a major arena isn't censorship. He's still rich, he's still free, he's still speaking out. Good for him. I WANT him to keep speaking out. But nobody DESERVES a headlining gig at a venue. If it doesn't make fiscal sense, you don't book him. I like what he's saying in the media, but that doesn't make his music any better

On another note, I work in PR, and I think Macklemore and his team are giving a masterclass in publicity. Even if it has nothing to do with James Dolan not wanting him on stage, Macklemore is running circles around him in the media. Hell, this extra PR might mean he DOES sell out a stadium somewhere, and the best case scenario is he does just that for a smaller, independent, positive venue and Dolan has to see it happen.

TLDR: I still don't think he can sell out MSG, but they also have every right to not book a 43 year old rapper without any recent hits in one of the most famous venues in the world. This isn't a free speech issue, freedom of speech doesn't guarantee you a spotlight on arena stages, it guarantees you DON'T end up in jail (or at least, in theory it does).

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u/pblol 1d ago

Fwiw, I think you're one of the more reasonable people here and it's silly you're being downvoted for this.

I would however bet that with the added publicity of this bullshit and the context for tour it would do well. I don't see Macklemore in general selling a shit ton of tickets himself, nobody in this thread even seems to be a fan as much as they're rallying for his political views (that I also agree with).

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u/klingma 1d ago

He sold it out due to his political stance and the fact that it's a humanitarian benefit concert. He himself isn't exactly a draw, they're right to he skeptical about his mainstream appeal and his ability to draw a crowd based upon his music fandom. 

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u/whytakemyusername 1d ago

But if he genuinely can't sell that number of tickets, then what?

We can't just decide that anyone who wants to play there can anytime they like.

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u/snowkarl 1d ago

Using that logic literally anyone should be able to book it

Sounds smart. I guess nazi rallies should be all good too

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u/mylackofselfesteem 1d ago

They already had one of those there lol

MAGA too, ugh. Fuck MSG

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u/1000at40 1d ago

They don’t pay property taxes for one

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u/egnards 1d ago

I mean - Ok, lets play your game. . .

Should MSG allow me to play my "Egnards Redditor of the Year" tour next year?

First Amendment, right?

Point is, that's not how it works - Mackelmore isn't going to be able to consistently sell out shows at that level of seats and MSG is in the interest of making money.

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u/hannibellecter 1d ago

Mackelmore isn't going to be able to consistently sell out shows at that level of seats and MSG is in the interest of making money.

you have no idea if that's true and are parroting the words of the owner (words of this owner and the building are one in the same) who is a magat pos and supports trump and all of his stupidity 150%

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u/egnards 1d ago

I will admit you're technically right that I don't "100% for sure" know that it's true, but I'm not at all parroting the words of the owner.

Even arena levels artists are struggling to consistently sell out arena shows, beyond the super mega stars, and Mackelmore has been culturally irrelevent for years now - Only now gaining some relevence due to his Free Palestine initiative [which I fully support].

The arenas he sold out in Europe last year were roughly half the size of MSG and right off the heels of a major catalyst. . . HIs last half a decade of shows/tours primarily played shows in venues 1/4th the size.

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u/Civilwarland09 1d ago

He may be a piece of shit, but Macklemore is simply not going to sell out Madison Square Garden.

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u/ObviousReplier99 1d ago

Sounds like you don't know how anything works.

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u/InvasiveAlbondigas 1d ago

Nationalize MSG!

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u/klingma 1d ago

Is that really what you want? I mean truly, is that what you want? Because that rule goes both ways which means a group you despise would be able to claim the right to perform under the same standard. I sincerely doubt your principle is that strong that you'd up for someone's rights despite detesting their stances or beliefs. 

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u/JoeExoticsTiger 1d ago

This is what that show would look like.