European festivals face growing backlash over KKR ownership
Protests against US private equity firm KKR at a New York music event highlight a deepening rift that is already disrupting European festival lineups and challenging the $1.3 billion Superstruct Entertainment empire.
Protesters staging a "die-in" at a Boiler Room event in New York on Friday were allegedly assaulted and trampled by attendees, escalating a campaign against the music broadcaster's ownership structure.
The demonstration was organised by campaign group Boycott Room to protest Boiler Room's parent company, Superstruct Entertainment, which is backed by KKR. The group accused Boiler Room of “endangering humans to protect their brand,” adding that “the rave went on as usual while our martyrs’ faces were trampled with indifference.”
In response, Boiler Room said it was aware of circulating footage that “appears to show an attendee acting towards a protester in a way that has no place at our events.” A spokesperson stated the company respects the right to peaceful protest and is reviewing the incident, urging anyone with information to contact the police.
European fallout
While the protests occurred in New York, the underlying dispute over KKR’s alleged investments in Israeli weapons manufacturing is already causing significant business disruptions in Europe. Superstruct owns a portfolio of major European festivals, including Sónar, Field Day, Tramlines and Mighty Hoopla, valued at approximately $1.3 billion.
Since KKR’s involvement, European artists have actively withdrawn their labour. Last year, 50 musicians, including Massive Attack and Brian Eno, signed an open letter demanding Field Day sever ties with the US investment firm. A further 11 artists subsequently announced they were boycotting the festival in solidarity with Palestine.
The backlash has forced European festival operators into the awkward position of publicly criticising their own parent company's financial backers. Tramlines stated it would “never send them a single Euro”, while Mighty Hoopla voiced its “clear opposition to KKR’s unethical investments”.
Boiler Room, acquired by Superstruct in 2025, has attempted to distance itself from the controversy. The company stated its staff lack “any ownership or voting rights in the company” and insisted that “no investor, past or present, has ever influenced our output, this will never change.” However, a second night of demonstrations and a stage invasion at the New York venue suggest these corporate assurances are failing to quell a coordinated campaign against the company's financial backing.
