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Macklemore Dropped From Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour After ‘Free Palestine’ Remarks Spark Major Venue Backlash
NEW YORK — Rapper Macklemore has been removed from the remaining U.S. dates of Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour after several venues told the tour’s promoter they would not host a show featuring the performer, following onstage remarks he made in support of Palestinians during a September 4 concert at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Messina Touring Group, promoter of the U.S. leg of Sheeran’s tour, confirmed the decision in a statement shared with Rolling Stone. “As the concert promoter for Ed Sheeran’s U.S. Loop Tour, we have been notified by venues on the upcoming U.S. tour dates that they will not allow a concert to take place with Macklemore on the lineup, which would result in the cancellation of the tour and impact hundreds of thousands of fans,” the statement read. “After discussions with stakeholders, Macklemore will not be performing on the remaining support dates.”
The controversy traces back to Macklemore’s set opening for Sheeran on September 4, when he told the MetLife Stadium crowd why he had joined the tour. “A big part of the reason why I wanted to do this tour in the first place is so I could stand up in stadiums like this and say two words that are very near and dear to my heart: ‘Free Palestine.’ I said, ‘Free Palestine!’” Macklemore told the crowd. “I want those words to be loud and clear, so that people all the way in Gaza to the occupied West Bank know that we have not forgotten about them.” He also directly addressed Jewish concertgoers during the speech, saying, “To all of my Jewish brothers and sisters: criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide in no way is a criticism of you.” He went on to perform “Hind’s Hall,” a song about the pro-Palestinian demonstrators who occupied a building at Columbia University following the killing of a young girl named Hind Rajab, as images depicting destruction in Gaza played on the stadium’s screens.
The remarks quickly drew backlash. The Israeli American Council launched a petition calling for Macklemore’s removal from the tour, framing the issue as one of appropriate concert programming rather than free expression. “This was an Ed Sheeran concert — not a political rally, not a protest, and not an activist event,” the petition read. “The issue is not whether Macklemore has the right to hold political views. The question is where the line should be drawn when an opening act uses a global concert platform to advance a one-sided political agenda.” Pop star Pink further amplified the backlash by reposting a call for Macklemore to be dropped from the tour, which Variety reported generated a second wave of headlines around the controversy.
Macklemore addressed his removal directly in a lengthy Instagram post. “I’m going to speak from the heart and share the truth,” he wrote, confirming that “Ed Sheeran and his team have made the decision to remove me from The Loop tour.” Despite the split, Macklemore described Sheeran as a “friend” and said the British singer-songwriter had been placed in a difficult position by the controversy. “His typical apolitical stance was being challenged in a way it never had been before,” Macklemore wrote. “He told me that the words ‘Free Palestine’ and the image of the Palestinian flag were hurtful to a lot of people he spoke with.”
In the same post, Macklemore alleged that New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft had pressured other stadium operators over his continued participation in the tour, claiming Kraft delivered an ultimatum to venues: “If Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues.” Kraft did not directly address that specific allegation in his own public response, though he confirmed separately that Macklemore would not be permitted to perform at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, where Sheeran had been scheduled to play September 25 and 26.
In a statement, Kraft said Macklemore’s recent performances, combined with what he described as a “broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery,” led Gillette Stadium’s ownership group to conclude that his scheduled appearances there “would cross that line.” Kraft was careful to frame the decision as distinct from the underlying issue of Palestinian advocacy itself. “This decision is not about diminishing the suffering of innocent Palestinians or denying anyone the right to advocate on their behalf,” Kraft said. “But that advocacy should not come at the expense of the Jewish community or obscure the responsibility of Hamas … whose horrific actions have caused immeasurable suffering for Palestinians and Israelis alike.”
The venue-by-venue nature of the decision drew scrutiny in at least one case involving public ownership. Tampa’s Raymond James Stadium, one of the tour’s remaining stops, is owned by Hillsborough County, Florida, and operated by the publicly governed Tampa Sports Authority, raising questions about whether a government-linked entity could lawfully bar a performer over political speech without running afoul of First Amendment protections. A representative for the Tampa Sports Authority told Rolling Stone only that “we can confirm Macklemore will not be performing at the upcoming show. Apart from this lineup change, the concert will go forward as planned,” without elaborating on the legal basis for the change.
Macklemore has been a vocal supporter of Palestinian advocacy efforts beyond this tour, previously addressing a pro-Palestinian rally in Washington, D.C., where he told a crowd of demonstrators that he had not expected to speak, adding that “there are thousands of people here more qualified to speak on the issue of a free Palestine than myself.”
Neither Ed Sheeran nor representatives for Macklemore have indicated whether the rapper will continue to perform his own separate, non-Sheeran-affiliated tour dates, and Sheeran has not issued a detailed public statement of his own addressing the decision to remove his opening act from the remainder of the U.S. leg of the Loop Tour.
Business
Paytm shares drop 3% after govt shields UPI payments only up to Rs 2,000 from charges. Should you buy the dip?
Paytm shares dropped to Rs 1,761.80 apiece on NSE on Tuesday morning. This comes a session after the stock hit a fresh 52-week high of Rs 1,840 apiece, nearly doubling in less than six months from its 52-week low of Rs 930.6 apiece which the stock had hit in March this year.
As per a gazette notification dated Monday, no bank or system provider would directly or indirectly impose any charge on a person making or receiving a payment through RuPay debit card or UPI transaction of up to Rs 2,000. However, the government did not specify whether charges would be applicable to transactions above Rs 2,000, to be paid by merchants. Currently, there are no charges levied on UPI transactions, irrespective of the amount.
Also read |Banks cannot impose charges on UPI payments of up to Rs 2,000, govt says
The latest notification comes after an amendment to the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007, which provides a framework for imposing a Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on payments through UPI and other notified electronic payment modes. The government in a statement explained the rationale for imposing charges, stating that with exponential transaction volumes, the system requires significant and continuous upgrades in cybersecurity, fraud prevention, and infrastructure.
Charges were required for market expansion and self sustainability, it said, adding that it is necessary to increase competition by encouraging more companies to expand operations, which requires a self-sustaining revenue model. Reliance on subsidies alone is not viable for the next wave of growth, and a balanced framework is required to ensure that UPI remains robust, inclusive and future-ready, the statement further said.
Why are Paytm shares falling today?
For nearly seven years, UPI became more and more popular as a transaction could be made so quickly without paying any additional charges. By specifically shielding UPI payments only up to Rs 2,000, the government has created the legal and regulatory space for a merchant discount rate, or MDR, to be eventually imposed on selected higher-value merchant transactions. No such charge has yet been announced.The government has however repeatedly clarified that UPI will remain free for citizens and person-to-person transactions will continue without charges. If MDR is introduced, it would only apply to a limited section of merchant transactions, above a specified threshold, and at a rate substantially below typical debit or credit-card MDR.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said any MDR would apply to merchants and not end-users, arguing that revenues generated within the payments ecosystem would enable banks and fintech companies to invest further in infrastructure, innovation and security.
While discussing the costs of digital-payment infrastructure, RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra in August said, “Someone has to pay the cost”. He stressed that the RBI wants digital payments to remain accessible, affordable and safe, but also sustainable.
Also read | UPI charges above ₹2000? Government opens door to new merchant fee regime
Should you buy, sell or hold Paytm share price?
Jefferies recently increased its price target for the stock to Rs 2,100 apiece from Rs 1,600 apiece, while maintaining its ‘Buy’ call. The international brokerage highlighted that Paytm stands out on monetisation of its client base in near-zero MDR regime, which is now changing favourably. The fintech platform’s 4.9 crore merchant base and strong loan-origination model should drive 25% revenue CAGR over FY26-29, which, along with operational synergies will aid sharp rise in EBITDA and profit, it added.
Initiative in credit on UPI, cloud AI inference models, wealth offering and foray into overseas markets can lift growth, the international brokerage said, as it increased earnings estimates for FY28-29 by 20-25% to factor 25 bps MDR on UPI.
Bernstein recently named Paytm its top pick, citing robust merchant lending growth, operating leverage and the potential introduction of MDR on UPI as key drivers of earnings growth.
With a target price of Rs 2,200, Bernstein expects Paytm’s EPS to reach Rs 78 by FY29. Even after excluding any potential impact from MDR on UPI, its FY29E EPS estimate stands at Rs 54, still above the Rs 46 consensus estimate.
Also read | Jefferies’ 25% CAGR club: Paytm, Groww among 5 financial stocks that can deliver up to 25% returns
Disclaimer: This article has been written by Debaroti Adhikary, who is not a SEBI-registered Research Analyst or an Investment Adviser. Debaroti Adhikary and his/her ‘relative(s)’ (as defined under Section 2(77) of the Companies Act, 2013) do not hold any financial interest in the companies mentioned in this article as of the date of publication. The views/recommendations mentioned in this article, wherever applicable, are those of the respective SEBI-registered Research Analyst/brokerage and have been reproduced/reported with due attribution. They should not be construed as the views or recommendations of The Economic Times Digital or the journalist. Readers are advised to consider the original research report and make their investment decisions based on their own assessment. Brokerage disclaimers here.
Business
State pension likely to rise by 3.9% next April
The state pension is likely to rise by 3.9% next April, according to the latest jobs and pay data.
Under the triple lock pension guarantee, an increase is based on either average wage growth, inflation or 2.5% – whichever is highest.
Average wage growth between May and July slowed, according to the Office for National Statistics.
The number of vacancies in the UK shrank while the number of people claiming unemployment benefits rose.
Business
U.S. Leads Developed Economy Growth To Fastest Rate For Over 4 Years
Roman Didkivskyi/iStock via Getty Images
PMI survey data from S&P Global showed worldwide economic growth accelerating further in August, led by the fastest growth among the advanced economies since early 2022. Advanced economy growth was led by the US, but growth has
Business
UBS to liquidate two ETFs citing profitability concerns

UBS to liquidate two ETFs citing profitability concerns
Business
Bond Vigilantes Smell Blood In The Water
Bond Vigilantes Smell Blood In The Water
Business
High mortgage rates to keep US housing market revival elusive: Reuters poll

High mortgage rates to keep US housing market revival elusive: Reuters poll
Business
How Streaming Platforms and Social Media Are Changing the Economics of Sports Coverage
Sports coverage used to run on a plain deal: networks paid leagues, sold ad slots, and hoped a final round or derby kept viewers through the break. That deal is cracking. Netflix tests live events, Amazon buys Thursday night football, and TikTok turns a ten second dunk into a sales pitch before the postgame show starts. The same pattern shows up beside sport in other paid markets. One short clip can sell a subscription, a jersey, or a gambling prompt before anyone reads a match report. No editor can ignore that. In search data, paysafecard casinos frame how fans deposit with paysafecard before an online casino visit, which tells publishers one thing: payment comfort changes what people click. Attention is money. Another clue comes from games: demo https://www.onlinecasino.si/igralni-avtomati pages for slot machines teach media teams that sampling, replay, and quick loops make spending feel easier. Sports rights owners noticed. They now sell clips, creator access, team channels, betting feeds, and behind the scenes video as separate products, not scraps left after a broadcast.
Rights fees split into smaller packets
The old broadcast bundle hid a lot inside one price. A league sold a full season, a network filled weekends, and sponsors paid for reach. Streaming breaks that into pieces. A platform wants one marquee game, one shoulder show, one archive library, or one player documentary.
Small slices change bidding. Apple can buy Major League Soccer worldwide because it sells the package inside its own store. Amazon values NFL games because Prime members shop more after watching. YouTube pays for Sunday Ticket, then studies searches, signups, and cancellations in the same account graph. That data has cash value, even without a thirty second ad.
Clubs gain new rooms to rent. Training cam. Spanish audio. Youth matches. A paid Discord with a retired captain. None replaces the main rights cheque yet, but each line helps a finance director defend a higher wage bill.
Ads follow the fan, not the channel
Linear television sold broad audiences. A beer brand bought men aged 18 to 49 during halftime, then accepted waste as part of the bill. Social video is less patient. Meta, Snap, and TikTok sell by interest, location, watch time, and recent clicks.
The price model changes too. A sponsor can pay for completed views on a goals package, then retarget people who watched 75 percent of it with a jersey discount. It feels clinical. Still, clubs like the math because a sponsor sees a route between clip and cart.
This hurts mid sized broadcasters. They once owned the local sports audience by default. Now a striker with six million Instagram followers can sell a boot launch faster than a regional network can book a studio guest. The ad money follows proof, and proof now sits in dashboards, not overnight ratings.
Creators turn access into a media asset
A sideline reporter used to wait for permission. A creator with a phone waits for a door to open. The gap sounds small, but the economics are different. Credentialed influencers film arrival outfits, bench chatter, recovery meals, and five seconds of a star laughing with a kit manager.
Teams pay attention because those clips carry a softer sell. A creator video looks less like inventory and more like proof that the club has a culture worth joining. Sponsors like that texture. So do younger fans who rarely sit through a full pregame show.
There is risk. One awkward tunnel clip can anger a coach or reveal a set piece note on a whiteboard. The best clubs write strict rules: no medical rooms, no tactical boards, no minors without consent. Then they measure sales, watch time, and follower growth like any other campaign.
Live chat makes coverage shoppable
Live sport has always been social. The difference is the cash register now sits beside the comments. A viewer can tap a poll, buy a scarf, tip a creator, join a fantasy contest, or enter a sponsor draw without leaving the stream.
This rewires production. Commentators pause for fan questions. Producers build vertical replays for phones. Graphics teams prepare QR codes and odds warnings before kickoff. Even a rain delay becomes inventory if the host can keep chat moving for twelve minutes.
The hard part is trust. Too many prompts make a match feel like a mall kiosk. Smart publishers limit the ask. One sponsor tag during team news. One shop link after a goal. One paid sticker pack for a derby week. The money is smaller per action, but the count is visible, and finance teams love visible counts.
What the next rights deal will test
The next big contract will ask a blunt question. Is exclusivity worth more than reach? A league that sells every match to one paid app gets a clean cheque and tight data. It also risks hiding young stars behind another password.
Some owners now prefer a ladder. Free highlights on TikTok within minutes. A weekly YouTube magazine. Regional radio for older fans. Premium live matches on a paid service. Archive games in an app during the offseason. Each rung serves a different habit, and each has its own sponsor price.
Newsrooms feel the pressure first. Reporters must cover the match, clip the quote, host a live blog, record a podcast, and appear on camera before midnight. That workload is real. It needs editors, templates, rights clearance, and rest days, not just enthusiasm.
The smartest sports companies will stop treating coverage as one show. They will price moments. A transfer rumor has a shelf life of hours. A cup final save can sell for years. A local academy story earns trust, even if it never trends. No spreadsheet will catch all of it, but a rough map beats guessing in June alone. The practical move is simple: map every piece of coverage to a buyer, a fan habit, and a shelf life before the next season starts.
Business
Massage Therapy in Brampton: Relieve Stress, Tension & Pain
Daily stress, long working hours, physical activity, and poor posture can leave your body feeling tense and uncomfortable. Tight muscles, stiffness, and ongoing aches can affect your ability to relax, exercise, work, and enjoy your normal routine. Massage therapy in Brampton can be a valuable part of a personalized approach to relaxation, pain management, and physical recovery.
At CBR Physio Rehab, massage therapy is offered alongside physiotherapy and chiropractic care, providing patients with access to a range of rehabilitation and wellness services in one convenient location.
Personalized Massage Therapy in Brampton
Every person carries tension differently. Some people experience tightness in the shoulders and neck, while others notice discomfort in the lower back, legs, or other areas after physical activity.
A personalized massage therapy session can be adapted to your individual concerns and comfort level. Treatment may focus on areas experiencing muscle tension and help promote relaxation and comfortable movement.
Whether you are looking for relief after a busy workweek or support during physical recovery, massage therapy can be incorporated into a care plan based on your needs.
Massage Therapy for Stress and Relaxation
Stress can affect more than your mood. When you are under pressure, you may unconsciously tense your muscles, particularly around the neck, shoulders, and upper back.
Massage therapy provides dedicated time to relax while addressing areas of muscular tension. The hands-on nature of massage can help create a calming experience and may support overall relaxation.
Regular self-care, healthy movement, sufficient rest, and professional massage therapy can all be part of a balanced approach to managing everyday physical tension.
Relieve Muscle Tension and Stiffness
Muscle tightness can develop from prolonged sitting, repetitive activities, exercise, physically demanding work, or maintaining the same posture for extended periods.
Massage therapy can focus on areas where tension and stiffness are present. By working with soft tissues and muscles, treatment can help promote relaxation and comfortable movement.
For people who spend much of their day sitting at a desk, massage therapy may be particularly useful for addressing common areas of tension such as the neck, shoulders, and back.
Massage Therapy for Active Individuals
Exercise and sports can place additional demands on muscles and soft tissues. Training, repetitive movements, and physical activity can sometimes leave you feeling tight or fatigued.
Massage therapy can be incorporated into an active lifestyle as part of recovery and general body care. It may help you relax after demanding physical activity while supporting comfortable movement and Physiotherapy in Brampton.
For patients recovering from an injury, massage therapy may also be combined with physiotherapy or chiropractic care when appropriate.
Support for Back and Neck Discomfort
Back and neck discomfort can interfere with work, sleep, exercise, and everyday activities. Poor posture, prolonged sitting, physical strain, and muscle tension may contribute to these concerns.
Massage therapy can target areas of muscular tightness and provide a relaxing treatment experience. Depending on your condition, it may be used alongside other rehabilitation services such as physiotherapy and chiropractic care.
A combined approach can address different aspects of your physical needs while keeping your overall treatment plan personalized.
Combine Massage With Comprehensive Rehabilitation
One advantage of choosing a multidisciplinary rehabilitation clinic is having access to different treatment options. CBR Physio Rehab offers massage therapy alongside physiotherapy and chiropractic care.
The clinic also provides services including orthotics, compression stockings, and braces. Depending on your individual needs, these services can complement a broader rehabilitation program.
For patients dealing with sports injuries, chronic pain, mobility concerns, or accident-related injuries, coordinated care can provide additional support throughout recovery.
Convenient Massage Therapy in Brampton
Finding time for regular self-care can be difficult with a busy schedule. CBR Physio Rehab offers convenient weekday appointments and Saturday availability, making it easier to fit massage therapy into your routine.
The clinic is located in Brampton and provides a range of rehabilitation and wellness services for local patients.
Massage therapy may also be eligible for coverage through certain extended health benefit plans. CBR Physio Rehab offers direct billing with most insurance companies, although coverage depends on your individual policy.
Why Choose CBR Physio Rehab?
Choosing the right massage therapy clinic is about more than finding a convenient location. Personalized attention, professional care, a comfortable environment, and access to complementary rehabilitation services can all contribute to a positive experience.
CBR Physio Rehab combines massage therapy with physiotherapy and chiropractic services, allowing care to be tailored around your specific concerns and goals.
Feel More Relaxed and Move More Comfortably
You do not have to wait until muscle tension and stress begin interfering with your daily routine before taking time for your physical well-being. Massage therapy can provide a dedicated opportunity to relax, address muscular tension, and support comfortable movement.
If you are searching for massage therapy in Brampton for stress, muscle tension, stiffness, pain management, sports recovery, or general relaxation, CBR Physio Rehab offers personalized care to suit your needs.
Book your massage therapy appointment today and take time to relax, recover, and feel better.
Business
Charities praise will gifts amid ‘affordability challenges’
Research carried out for the Association of Jersey Charities by 4insight, external found 89% of respondents had given money in the previous 12 months, but younger people and lower-income households were less likely to have donated, with affordability being a “key barrier”.
Liddiard said, despite this, legacy giving remained important, and people needed to amounts left in wills did not have to be headline-grabbing.
He said: “The ones you hear about often can be the really big ones, but some of most impactful ones are the smaller everyday ones”.
He added legacy giving was “one part” of the picture and there was also “opportunity for everybody” to also help by volunteering and offering time, skills, representation and support, which was “equally valuable”.
Gallichan added: “I do understand people are struggling with the cost of living crisis, but we do have people who have the ability to leave those gifts, and they can be so transformational, especially to those charitable organisations that are seeing costs rising and services in higher demand”.
She added such gifts could help fund services for islanders struggling with the cost of living.
Business
Allspring Utility And Telecommunications Fund Q2 2026 Commentary (EVUYX)
Allspring is a company committed to thoughtful investing, purposeful planning, and the desire to elevate investing to be worth more. Allspring is reimagining investment management to be worth more—creating an investment, distribution, and operational experience that changes the game for clients. Note: This account is not managed or monitored by Allspring, and any messages sent via Seeking Alpha will not receive a response. For inquiries or communication, please use Allspring’s official channels.
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