Musicians balk at SXSW contract that warns visiting artists about deportation

The Verge

A clause in the SXSW artist contract appears to threaten international artists by giving festival staff the right to contact immigration authorities. In a series of tweets sent this afternoon, Told Slant’s Felix Walworth announced they were canceling the band’s showcase because of issues with the festival’s contract. Walworth shared a screenshot of what is apparently the contract that says international musicians on a visa who “adversely affect the viability of their official SXSW showcase” could be deported if they play unauthorized shows.

“After looking through this contract sent to me by sxsw [sic] I have decided to cancel Told Slant's performance at the festival,” Walworth wrote. “I'm not interested in aligning myself with an institution that interacts with immigration authorities as a means of controlling where art is shared and performed, and who makes money off of it.”