An Open Letter from the Music Industry to Congress: Stop Gun Violence Now

Billboard

As leading artists and executives in the music industry, we are adding our voices to the chorus of Americans demanding change.

Music always has been celebrated communally, on dancefloors and at concert halls. But this life-affirming ritual, like so many other daily experiences—going to school or church or work—now is threatened, because of gun violence in this country.

The one thing that connects the recent tragedies in Orlando is that it is far too easy for dangerous people to get their hands on guns.

We call on Congress to do more to prevent the gun violence that kills more than 90 Americans every day and injures hundreds more, including:

  • Require a background check for every gun sale
  • Block suspected terrorists from buying guns

Billboard and the undersigned implore you—the people who are elected to represent us—to close the deadly loopholes that put the lives of so many music fans, and all of us, at risk.

Sincerely,

  • Adam Lambert
  • Adam LeberPartner, Maverick
  • Adam LevinX Ambassadors
  • Akiva Schaeffer
  • Alan GilbertNY Philharmonic
  • Alanis Morissette
  • Alex PallThe Chainsmokers
  • Alicia Keys
  • Andrew Bird
  • Andy Samberg
  • Angel Coleman
  • Avery Lipman
  • Barbra Streisand
  • Beck
  • Bill KreutzmannDead & Company
  • Billy Joel
  • Bo KosterMy Morning Jacket
  • Bob WeirDead & Company
  • Bonnie Raitt
  • Boyd Muir
  • Brad DelsonLinkin Park
  • Bradford CobbPartner, Direct Management Group
  • Brandon CreedManager/The Creed Company
  • Brendon UriePanic at the Disco
  • Britney Spears
  • Butch Walker
  • Calvin Harris
  • Cam
  • Cameron StrangChairman/ CEO, Warner Bros. Records
  • Carl BroemelMy Morning Jacket
  • Carole King
  • Casey HarrisX Ambassadors
  • Charlie Puth
  • Charlie Walk
  • Cher
  • Chester BenningtonLinkin Park
  • Christina Aguilera
  • Christina Perri
  • Chromeo
  • Conan O’Brien
  • Courtney Love
  • Craig KallmanChairman/CEO, Atlantic Records Group
  • Cyndi Lauper
  • Dan McCarrollPresident, Warner Bros. Records
  • Daniel EkCo-Founder/CEO, Spotify
  • Daniel GlassFounder/President, Glassnote Entertainment Group/Insieme Music Publishing
  • Danny Bennett
  • Demi Lovato
  • Dina LaPoltFounder, LaPolt Law
  • Diplo
  • Doug Morris
  • Drew TaggartThe Chainsmokers
  • Eddie VedderPearl Jam
  • Elle King
  • Ellen DeGeneres
  • Elvis Costello
  • Emily RobisonDixie Chicks
  • Eric Hutchinson
  • Faisel Durrani
  • Fher OlveraManá
  • Glenn KotcheWilco
  • Gregory Porter
  • Halsey
  • Iggy Pop
  • Irving AzoffChairman/CEO, Azoff Madison Square Entertainment
  • Jack Antonoff
  • Jackson Browne
  • James Corden
  • James H. GosnellPresident and CEO, APA
  • Jason KuppermanAgent, Paradigm Talent Agency
  • Jason Mraz
  • Jay MarcianoCOO, AEG; Chairman & CEO, AEG Live
  • Jean-Michel Jarre
  • Jeff AmentPearl Jam
  • Jeff ChimentiDead & Company
  • Jeff TweedyWilco
  • Jeffrey Harleston
  • Jennifer Lopez
  • Jeremy ZimmerCEO/Co-Founder, United Talent Agency
  • Jim JamesMy Morning Jacket
  • Joan Jett
  • Jody Gerson
  • Joe HahnLinkin Park
  • Joe Jonas
  • John EspositoPresIdent/CEO, Warner Music Nashville
  • John Janick
  • John Mellencamp
  • John StirrattWilco
  • Jorge HernandezLos Tigres del Norte
  • Josh Groban
  • Julia Michaels
  • Julie GreenwaldChairman/COO, Atlantic Records Group
  • Justin Tranter
  • K.D. Lang
  • Kaskade
  • Katy Perry
  • Kelly Rowland
  • Kesha
  • Kevin LilesCo-Founder, 300 Entertainment
  • Kid Cudi
  • L.A. Reid
  • Lady Gaga
  • Lecrae
  • Lee DanielsDirector; CEO, Lee Daniels Entertainment
  • Lin-Manuel Miranda
  • Sir Lucian Grainge
  • Lyor CohenCEO/Founder, 300 Entertainment
  • Macklemore
  • Marc GeigerPartner/Head of Music, William Morris Endeavor
  • Mark PinkusPresident, Rhino Entertainment
  • Mark Ronson
  • Martie MaguireDixie Chicks
  • Martin Bandier
  • Martin ErlichmanManager, Barbra Streisand
  • Martin KirkupPartner, Direct Management Group
  • Matisyahu
  • Matt CameronPearl Jam
  • Meghan Trainor
  • Melissa Etheridge
  • Michael Bublé
  • Michael RapinoPresident/CEO, Live Nation
  • Michael Stipe
  • Michele Anthony
  • Michelle Jubelirer
  • Mickey HartDead & Company
  • Mikael JorgensenWilco
  • Mike CarenCEO, Artist Partners Group; Creative Officer, Warner Music Group
  • Mike D
  • Mike Dunga
  • Mike McCreadyPearl Jam
  • Mike ShinodaLinkin Park
  • Monte Lipman
  • Natalie MainesDixie Chicks
  • Nate Reuss
  • Nels ClineWilco
  • Nick Jonas
  • Nicky Jam
  • Pasquale RotellaCEO/Founder, Insomniac Events
  • Pat Monahan
  • Pat SansoneWilco
  • Patrick HallahanMy Morning Jacket
  • Paul McCartney
  • Pete Wentz
  • Peter Edge
  • Peter Tork
  • Phil McIntyreCEO/Founder, Philymack
  • Prince Royce
  • Pusha T
  • Questlove
  • Ricky Martin
  • Ringo Starr
  • Rivers Cuomo
  • Rob BourdonLinkin Park
  • Rob LightPartner/Managing Director/Head of Music, Creative Artists Agency
  • Rob Thomas
  • Roger GoldCo-Founder, 300 Entertainment
  • Rosanne Cash
  • Rufus Wainwright
  • Russell SimmonsHip Hop Mogul & Activist
  • Ryan LeslieProducer
  • Ryan Lewis
  • Sam GoresChairman/CEO, Paradigm Talent Agency
  • Sam HarrisX Ambassadors
  • Sara Bareilles
  • Scooter BraunFounder, SB Projects
  • Scott BorchettaPresident/CEO, Big Machine Label Group
  • Selena Gomez
  • Shakira
  • Sia
  • Stephen CooperCEO, Warner Music Group
  • Steve Barnett
  • Steve Bartels
  • Steve JensenPartner, Direct Management Group
  • Steve LevinePartner/Co-Head of Worldwide Concerts, ICM Partners
  • Stevie Nicks
  • Sting
  • Stone GossardPearl Jam
  • Stu BergenCEO, International and Global Commercial Services, Warner Music Group
  • Talib Kweli
  • Terence Blanchard
  • Thom Yorke
  • Tim WestergrenCEO, Pandora
  • Todd MoscowitzCo-Founder, 300 Entertainment
  • Tom BlankenshipMy Morning Jacket
  • Tom Corson
  • Tom WindishPresident, The Windish Agency
  • Tony Bennett
  • Tori Amos
  • Trent Reznor
  • Troye Sivan
  • Vic Mensa
  • Wayne Coyne
  • Yoko Ono
  • Zayn Malik

http://www.billboard.com/open-letter/

14 thoughts on “An Open Letter from the Music Industry to Congress: Stop Gun Violence Now

  1. um….nobodies. But good to know who . You know , I watched a doc on netflix of the Eagles band. I was disappointed to see they had to go to england , to a weirdo guy, to become “accepted”. Had nothing to do with Americans. You can bet all these ppl said they’d do whatever it is . Like ppl say when they quit acting…I wasn’t willing to sell my soul.

  2. I think I’m going to open up a” Pet-My AR-15 Booth” for these People, just to show them how nice my AR-15 is.
    I guess none of these “singers” understand BOYCOT !!
    Too bad the People listed above are blinded by their PAY CHECKS nothing else !!!  I’m sure they are getting paid to have their name on the list. They don’t see that gun crime has gone down in the United States. That’s a fact . TOO BAD, some names above I like.
    I have witnessed all these people get their rights, BANKERS,  Women, Blacks, Gays, even illegals. The right to this, the right to that, we are giving everyone their equal rights.
    (WARNING: your favorite neighbourhood Pediphile  is next on that long list of rights being given out, just a matter of time) but yet my rights are slowly being infringed upon. As an American Citizen I have a right and that right was given to me a long time before you all got your rights. Before any of any of us were born. Why are you going to take my RIGHT TO OWN MY GUNS ? Why is it that the different rights movements have gone through such hard enduring struggles to get your individual rights, but you want to take my RIGHT AWAY. How is that ?
    Written by a Retired Firefighter/EMT & Law abiding Citizen of The United States who rights are diminishing. Thank you all for wanting to take MY RIGHTS AWAY.
    Shame on each and everyone you for having your name on this list.
    PLEASE!! We all need to get educated on what’s really going on and GUNS isn’t it.

    1. “but yet my rights are slowly being infringed upon.”
      WHERE YA BEEN MAN? I’M ALMOST 60, AND HAVE NEVER WITNESSED “DUE PROCESS”…

  3. Lol, they all suck anyways, not one of them has gotten one dime from me.
    Lol nice boycott list though.well maybe ringo and Iggy pop in the 80s got a cpl dimes but that’s it.

    PS. Don’t use common core for security question. It does not work, lol

  4. I’ve never heard of most of the commies on this list, but it’s easy to find where they live now.

  5. Hey, Music Industry,

    How about putting an end to music that glorifies “thug life”, violence, shooting cops, and promoting violence.

    What’s that you say? Protected speech? 1st Amendment?

    How about that thing called the 2nd Amendment?

    What’s that? Oh, yeah. That one doesn’t put money in your pockets. But when moral stands are really all about the money, there’s no morals to stand behind at all.

  6. Couldn’t help but notice that most of those “entertainers” on the list are well beyond their prime. And I bet they all live behind walls and fences with armed security. Something the average US citizens can’t really have. I say let them be stripped of their armed security the way they want us to be, along with the politicians including the Lying King and his family.

  7. Maggots all…But, thanks for standing tall and providing a list that will be used to expel them and their families from our lands in the near future…minimally…

    Amazing these pond scum, who have private “(ARMED)” security think that us poor folks should have no guns or at least have to jump through 50 hoops to even hope to get one in their dystopic future….and certainly never to be used in defiance of a tyrannical government, oh god forbid….

    …..just vial…..

  8. “Pusha T”, as in referring to a drug “pusher”, is going to tell me that I shouldn’t own a gun? Give me a f*cking break. This is bizarro world.

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