Guitar Center has officially addressed the mounting controversy surrounding its high-profile Ed Sheeran contest, which has become the target of digital protests following the removal of Macklemore from the singer’s upcoming tour dates. The situation developed after the Seattle rapper made a series of statements in support of Palestine during a live performance, leading to his swift departure from the tour roster and a subsequent wave of backlash directed at the remaining tour partners.
The company’s “Open for Legends” competition launched on Monday, September 14—the same day Macklemore was reportedly removed from The Loop Tour. Designed to elevate undiscovered musicians to a global platform, the contest offers performers over the age of 18 the opportunity to open for Sheeran during his performance in Mexico City on December 11. However, the initiative has quickly become a lightning rod for political activism rather than musical discovery.
According to reports from Entertainment Weekly, the contest’s submission portal initially lacked a robust verification system to confirm the intent of applicants. This technical oversight allowed for a flood of non-musical submissions, including memes and videos criticizing Sheeran or expressing solidarity with Palestine. Organizers now face the daunting task of sifting through thousands of entries to identify genuine musical talent among the protest content.
In a statement provided to Rolling Stone, Guitar Center clarified that the “Open for Legends” series was developed months before the current political controversy erupted. “As with any open submission process, we received entries that were not legitimate applications to participate in the program,” the company stated. “Those submissions will not be considered so that the opportunity can remain focused on musicians who are seeking to showcase their talent.”
The company further emphasized its commitment to the program’s original goal, noting that they are continuing to manage the initiative in accordance with its intended purpose of supporting emerging artists. The situation remains tense, however, as several other supporting acts on The Loop Tour—including Finneas, Lukas Graham, and Aaron Rowe—have withdrawn in solidarity with Macklemore. Finneas took to Instagram to explain his decision, stating that artists must not be silenced when speaking up for the oppressed.
With Sheeran’s roster of opening acts currently depleted, the pressure is on for Guitar Center to successfully identify a winner. Whether the brand can effectively filter out the noise of the digital protest in time for the December performance remains to be seen.