Highlighting Rina Sawayama’s Bold Confrontation with Matty Healy at Glastonbury

Music News: Rina Sawayama Calls Out Matty Healy Onstage at Glastonbury: “I’ve Had Enough”

Introduction

In a powerful and bold performance at the Glastonbury Festival of Performing Arts, singer Rina Sawayama called out Matty Healy, lead vocalist of the popular band, the 1975. Sawayama accused Healy of watching and mocking Asian people on a podcast, as well as owning the masters to her music. The confrontation shed light on an earlier controversy involving Healy’s appearance on the Adam Friedland Show, during which he admitted to watching a pornography series that degrades and subjugates women of color.

The Controversy

During her set at Glastonbury, Sawayama introduced her song ‘STFU!’ by addressing Healy directly. She made it clear that she was not only calling him out for his offensive behavior, but also for his ownership of her masters. This reveals a significant power dynamic within the music industry, where artists often have little ownership over their own music.

Healy faced criticism earlier in the year when he appeared on the Adam Friedland Show. During the interview, he not only admitted to watching a pornography series that depicts the brutalization of women of color, but he also laughed as the hosts mockingly impersonated Asian accents. This type of behavior perpetuates harmful stereotypes and plays into a larger issue of racism and cultural insensitivity.

The Industry and Power Dynamics

The fact that both Sawayama and the 1975 are signed to Dirty Hit, a record label where Healy was a director, adds another layer of complexity to the controversy. The power dynamics within the industry become apparent when an artist feels the need to speak out against someone who has control over their career.

This incident highlights the larger issue of artists not having full control over their music. It is disheartening to see an artist like Sawayama, who creates music that reflects her identity and experiences, have her work owned by someone who has demonstrated offensive and insensitive behavior. This raises questions about the need for greater artist autonomy and ownership within the music industry.

The Response

Healy addressed the controversy during a concert in Auckland, New Zealand, apologizing for his offensive comments and actions. He stated that he didn’t want rapper Ice Spice, who was impersonated during the podcast, to think he was a “dick.” While apologies are important, they should be followed by genuine efforts to educate oneself and create meaningful change. The sincerity of Healy’s apology and his commitment to learning from his mistakes remain to be seen.

Editorial

This confrontation between Rina Sawayama and Matty Healy at Glastonbury is significant for several reasons. It highlights the importance of speaking out against racism and cultural insensitivity, especially within the music industry. It also sheds light on the broader issue of artists not having sufficient control over their own work, something that should be addressed to ensure greater fairness and autonomy within the industry.

The incident also raises questions about accountability and the responsibility of individuals in positions of power. While Healy’s apology is a step in the right direction, more needs to be done to address the underlying issues and prevent such incidents from happening in the future. This includes not only personal reflection and growth but also systemic change within the music industry.

Advice

For artists, it is important to be aware of the power dynamics within the industry and to strive for greater control over their own work. This can involve negotiating contracts that allow for more ownership and control over masters. Additionally, artists should continue to speak out against offensive and insensitive behavior, holding individuals and institutions accountable for their actions.

For the music industry as a whole, it is essential to foster an environment that values diversity, inclusivity, and artist autonomy. Record labels and industry professionals should prioritize creating fair and equitable contracts that give artists greater control over their music. They should also actively work to educate themselves and their artists on issues of racism and cultural sensitivity, ensuring that everyone involved in the creation and distribution of music understands and respects the diverse cultures and identities represented.

In conclusion, the confrontation between Rina Sawayama and Matty Healy at Glastonbury brings attention to important issues within the music industry. It highlights the need for artists to have more control over their own work and for individuals in positions of power to be held accountable for their actions. By addressing these issues head-on, the industry can work towards a more inclusive and equitable future.