Reports have surfaced that concert agencies in Russia began striking deals with artists that effectively silence political commentary during performances. The terms reportedly go beyond the stage, extending into promotional campaigns and public-facing appearances, sometimes covering social media activity and interviews as well. This claim has been reported by RBC and has sparked discussion across the international music community about censorship and artistic freedom under commercial pressure.
Eduard Ratnikov, who leads the international agency TCI, confirmed the existence of contracts that restrict political speech from artists they represent. Sergey Babich, head of the Colisium International Music Industry Forum, has pointed to the rising trend of such agreements and notes that these provisions have become more common in recent months, raising concerns about the boundaries between artistry and political neutrality in the touring world.
The language of these agreements typically requires artists to avoid political topics during performances and to refrain from disseminating information that could be interpreted as supporting or opposing military actions, including content related to the conflict in Ukraine by any medium, such as audio or visual formats. In addition, some terms forbid the use of symbols associated with Ukraine that could be seen as conflicting with or discrediting the Russian military, even if the symbols are presented in a way that might be construed as ambiguous.
There have been unconfirmed reports from RBC sources about organizers pushing these restrictions beyond the stage, extending to promotional efforts and travel-related communications. The scope allegedly covers social networks, media interviews, and other promotional materials, effectively limiting what artists can say or share in any channel associated with a tour or campaign.
Penalties for violations are described as fines, with some contracts allowing the sanction to be substantial enough to affect the overall value of a performance. Ratnikov noted that while the exact amount of the penalty is negotiated on a case-by-case basis, it is not permitted to fall below the performance fee, underscoring how seriously such breaches are treated within these agreements.