DJs pull out of tour manager fundraiser after widespread outrage

Carl Cox, Jamie Jones, Alan Fitzpatrick and more have pulled the plug on a campaign to raise money for their tour managers after encountering a huge backlash on social media.

The initiative, named Tour Managers Not Touring (TNT), was started at the end of April by ten international DJs including Cox, Moudaber, Dubfire, Seth Troxler and Joseph Capriati.

They asked fans to download exclusive mixes with proceeds going towards lost income for their tour managers amid the Covid-19 pandemic, although the Bandcamp page has now been deleted.

A video by DJ John Askew highlighted the controversial nature of super-rich DJs asking the public to donate money when – though we don’t know the intricacies of everyone’s financial situation – their bosses should comfortably be able to cover this lost income.

“Why aren’t they covering their tour managers’ costs and giving these mixes away for free, or charging money and giving that money to the medical services, the NHS and every other country’s equivalent?” Askew asked. “These are guys with multiple millions of pounds, euros, dollars in the bank, and they’re asking the general public to keep their tour managers afloat?”

Electronic music industry figures like Barker, Kornél Kovács, DVS1 and Maceo Plex shared criticism of the campaign, with the latter writing: “please give your money to real charities and NOT to rich djs and their staff.”

UPDATE (06/05/20): Carl Cox has posted an explanation of his involvement on Facebook, stating that “I’m sure the tour managers involved in the TNT sessions can agree that in hindsight the video they put out could have been presented and worded in a better way,” but “there was no suggestion ever made that this was to cover “wages” that is simply ridiculous and I feel saddened that this has even been suggested.”

Read it in full below.