Earth Frequency Festival Introduces Australian-First ‘Ethical Artist Policy’

Earth Frequency Festival is the first Australian music festival to implement what it calls an “ethical artist policy.”

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The festival, located in South East Queensland, developed the new policy in consultation with community advocates.

It will require artists to sign and affirm their commitment to First Nations sovereignty, anti-racism—including anti-Palestinian racism, antisemitism, and Islamophobia—and have the right to refuse to platform artists or entities allegedly complicit in war crimes or human rights abuses.

The festival also acknowledges the unfolding devastation in Gaza, which the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ruled that there is a “plausible case of genocide” being committed by Israel against Palestinians in Gaza.

Israel has repeatedly denied it is committing genocide in Gaza, including late last year, when Human Rights Watch and Médecins Sans Frontières accused Israel of genocidal acts and ethnic cleansing in the territory, as reported by SBS News.

According to a press release, electronic music duo Infected Mushroom declined to sign the festival’s Ethical Commitment Policy and will no longer perform at this year’s event.

Earth Frequency Festival first took place 20 years ago. It now exists as a multi-day affair of live electronic music, art, environmentally conscious messaging, and culture.

The festival typically draws 5,000 punters to its annual events, and ahead of its 20th anniversary celebrations, urges other festivals in Australia to follow in its footsteps.

Paul Abad, the Festival Director, commented in a statement, “As organisers, we understand that the people we platform - whether on stage, behind the scenes, or in collaborative roles - reflect who we are and what we stand for. Platforming is not a neutral act; it signals alignment, even tacitly.”

Abad continued, “Just like the global boycott of apartheid South Africa — festivals today have a choice: to be remembered for standing with justice, or for helping normalise atrocity.”

Subhi Awad from Northern Rivers of Palestine, who consulted on the policy, added: “This is not about censorship. Artists who cannot meet the most basic ethical standards will exclude themselves — and that's exactly how it should be.”

Juman, an artist performing at this year’s festival, backed the policy implementation. “Artists and audiences don't want to dance under the banner of genocide,” Juman said. “Earth Frequency gets that — and they've raised the ethical bar for festivals and cultural events in this country.”

The four-day event returns to its home of Woodfordia in South East Queensland from Friday, 24 October, to Monday, 27 October. You can find tickets to this year’s festival here.