beyond protest music: ways musicians speak out

By Jess Santacroce
Music Writer, Phoenix Radio 

Over the past several days, several musicians, including Jazz group The Cookers and folk singer-songwriter Kristy Lee have canceled performances at the Kennedy Center in protest of the December 18 announcement that it would now be officially named the “Donald J. Trump and John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts.” Many of the musicians released individual press statements, but the consensus seems to be that they find it inappropriate and alarming that a President would rename the national arts center after himself, and they believe that this move is just one in a series of acts indicating that Trump intends to take over the center and only allow art that reflects his own beliefs to be performed. The musicians who have canceled performances at the Kennedy Center so far are engaged in an effective form of protest with their music, but refusing to perform in a venue that no longer represents freedom of expression is just one way artists use their music and other art to protest, even though it may not be immediately classified as a protest by others, or in some cases, even thought of that way by the artists themselves. 

Refusing to serve as a consultant or advisor for any organization or venue that does not allow artists to freely express themselves

As news spread of musicians backing away from the Kennedy Center due to the name change, some national news reports incorrectly announced that someone named “Renee Flaming” had resigned her advisory role in protest of Trump adding his name to the arts center. There is no musician named “Renee Flaming,” but the writers of these articles probably heard that opera soprano Renee Fleming had resigned from an advisory role in protest of Trump renaming the center after himself. While Fleming did indeed resign from an advisory role in deliberate protest of the actions of Donald Trump, she acted long before the name change. Fleming’s decision to step down was reported in the magazine “Opera Wire” in an article written by Francisco Salazar on February 12, 2025. According to the article, Fleming resigned in response to the action that would allow Trump to push through the name change ten months later, his becoming Chair of the Board and appointing people who would do whatever he wished. 

Choosing themes that promote a worldview or message in opposition to something the artist sees around them

Protest music itself falls into this category, but music does not have to be created in direct opposition to a specific person, occurrence, or issue to serve as a form of protest. Writing, recording, and performing music offering a worldview different than the prevailing culture can also serve as a way to protest what the artist sees as flaws in the culture.

Christian contemporary music is perhaps the most well-known example. While modern secular pop music tends to promote glorifying oneself, focusing on a person’s own wants and needs and image, Christian pop is characterized by a focus on the glory and the will of Jesus.

Secular pop songs about achieving goals and getting what you need and want in life tend to follow a similar theme to Katy Perry’s 2013 hit “Roar,” with lyrics centering around personal power and achievement. Contrast that with “The Lord Will Provide” by Passion and Landon Wolfe, featuring the line, “everything I need, my father has it.” 

Boycotting products or services from companies or individuals they do not agree with in the process of creating and/or promoting their art

This form of protest is always deliberate, and it is often mocked, mainly because people who choose it so often go about it in an ineffective or even counterproductive way. Rapper Kid Rock co-owns a bar in Nashville. He uses his image as a musician to promote the bar, and the bar to promote his image in music, as the place is called “Kid Rock’s Big <expletive> Honky Tonk and Steakhouse.”

In 2023, Kid Rock wanted to protest what he saw as Budweiser’s support of the transgender community when the company briefly worked with a transgender content creator. In protest, Kid Rock posted a video of himself shooting bottles of the company’s product. Unfortunately, he had to first purchase the items, meaning all he did was waste his own money. Lending even less credibility to his boycott, multiple news outlets investigated and found Budweiser products still being served at the bar Kid Rock uses to promote his music, even during the supposed “boycott.”

Had he quietly removed the company’s products from the shelves of the business intertwined with his music career, refused any sponsorships from them, declined to have their products available at any shows he performed, and posted a video simply urging fans not to purchase from them, he would have had a genuine example of this type of protest.

Actions taken by fans of these and other artists who use their art practice to speak out vary. Some choose to separate the artist from the art, and continue to enjoy the person’s work, regardless of their level of agreement with the artist’s actions or beliefs.  Others choose to act in agreement with their favorite artists. Some fans respond by boycotting or protesting artists whose messages they disagree with.  For others, it depends on the artist and the issue. Just as each artist has a choice in what they promote, protest, or express through and with their art, the choice of how to respond belongs to each fan.










Works referenced:

Salazar, F. (2025). Following Trump takeover, Renee Fleming resigns from Kennedy Center. Opera Wire website. Following Trump Takeover, Renée Fleming Resigns From Kennedy Center - OperaWire OperaWire
December 30, 2025