From the editors of Billboard: Like the rest of the country and the world, Billboard editors were horrified by the mass killing at Orlando’s Pulse nightclub on June 12, and by the murder of singer Christina Grimmie the night before. Both tragedies occurred where musicians and music fans gathered. And so faced with another gun-related tragedy, the staff organized this special “Open Letter to Congress” cover of Billboard.
With the help of leading gun-violence prevention group Everytown for Gun Safety, editors reached out to those we cover in the music industry, and asked for their support and their signatures to help seek a sane and safe end to gun violence. Within minutes, Joan Jett was the first to sign on. Lady Gaga shortly followed. Within hours, and then in a matter of just a few days, nearly 200 top artists and executives—pop stars (including Grimmie’s friend Selena Gomez), rappers, rock gods, legends, Broadway heroes, even two Beatles and Yoko Ono—lent their voices to the chorus of Americans looking to our political leaders for change. Billboard, artists and music-industry executives join so many members of the House and Senate this week proudly advocating for common-sense gun safety.
AN OPEN LETTER TO CONGRESS:
STOP GUN VIOLENCE NOW
As leading artists and executives in the music industry, we are adding our voices to the chorus of Americans demanding change.
Music always has been celebrated communally, on dancefloors and at concert halls. But this life-affirming ritual, like so many other daily experiences—going to school or church or work—now is threatened, because of gun violence in this country.
The one thing that connects the recent tragedies in Orlando is that it is far too easy for dangerous people to get their hands on guns.
We call on Congress to do more to prevent the gun violence that kills more than 90 Americans every day and injures hundreds more, including:
- Require a background check for every gun sale
- Block suspected terrorists from buying guns
Billboard and the undersigned implore you—the people who are elected to represent us—to close the deadly loopholes that put the lives of so many music fans, and all of us, at risk.
Sincerely,
Adam Lambert
Adam LeberPartner, Maverick
Adam LevinX Ambassadors
Akiva Schaeffer
Alan GilbertNY Philharmonic
Alanis Morissette
Alex PallThe Chainsmokers
Alicia Keys
Andrew Bird
Andy Samberg
Angel Coleman
Avery Lipman
Barbra Streisand
Beck
Bill KreutzmannDead & Company
Billy Joel
Bo KosterMy Morning Jacket
Bob WeirDead & Company
Bonnie Raitt
Boyd Muir
Brad DelsonLinkin Park
Bradford CobbPartner, Direct Management Group
Brandon CreedManager/The Creed Company
Brendon UriePanic at the Disco
Britney Spears
Butch Walker
Calvin Harris
Cam
Cameron StrangChairman/ CEO, Warner Bros. Records
Carl BroemelMy Morning Jacket
Carole King
Casey HarrisX Ambassadors
Charlie Puth
Charlie Walk
Cher
Chester BenningtonLinkin Park
Christina Aguilera
Christina Perri
Chromeo
Conan O’Brien
Courtney Love
Craig KallmanChairman/CEO, Atlantic Records Group
Cyndi Lauper
Dan McCarrollPresident, Warner Bros. Records
Daniel EkCo-Founder/CEO, Spotify
Daniel GlassFounder/President, Glassnote Entertainment Group/Insieme Music Publishing
Danny Bennett
Demi Lovato
Dina LaPoltFounder, LaPolt Law
Diplo
Doug MorrisDrew TaggartThe Chainsmokers
Eddie VedderPearl Jam
Elle King
Ellen DeGeneres
Elvis Costello
Emily RobisonDixie Chicks
Eric Hutchinson
Faisel Durrani
Fher OlveraManá
Glenn KotcheWilco
Gregory Porter
Halsey
Iggy Pop
Irving AzoffChairman/CEO, Azoff Madison Square Entertainment
Jack Antonoff
Jackson Browne
James Corden
James H. GosnellPresident and CEO, APA
Jason KuppermanAgent, Paradigm Talent Agency
Jason Mraz
Jay MarcianoCOO, AEG; Chairman & CEO, AEG Live
Jean-Michel Jarre
Jeff AmentPearl Jam
Jeff ChimentiDead & Company
Jeff TweedyWilco
Jeffrey Harleston
Jennifer Lopez
Jeremy ZimmerCEO/Co-Founder, United Talent Agency
Jim JamesMy Morning Jacket
Joan Jett
Jody Gerson
Joe HahnLinkin Park
Joe Jonas
John EspositoPresIdent/CEO, Warner Music Nashville
John Janick
John Mellencamp
John StirrattWilco
Jorge HernandezLos Tigres del Norte
Josh Groban
Julia Michaels
Julie GreenwaldChairman/COO, Atlantic Records Group
Justin Tranter
K.D. Lang
Kaskade
Katy Perry
Kelly Rowland
Kesha
Kevin LilesCo-Founder, 300 Entertainment
Kid Cudi
L.A. Reid
Lady Gaga
Lecrae
Lee DanielsDirector; CEO, Lee Daniels Entertainment
Lin-Manuel Miranda
Sir Lucian Grainge
Lyor CohenCEO/Founder, 300 Entertainment
Macklemore
Marc GeigerPartner/Head of Music, William Morris Endeavor
Mark PinkusPresident, Rhino Entertainment
Mark Ronson
Martie MaguireDixie Chicks
Martin Bandier
Martin ErlichmanManager, Barbra Streisand
Martin KirkupPartner, Direct Management Group
Matisyahu
Matt CameronPearl Jam
Meghan Trainor
Melissa Etheridge
Michael Bublé
Michael RapinoPresident/CEO, Live Nation
Michael Stipe
Michele Anthony
Michelle Jubelirer
Mickey HartDead & Company
Mikael JorgensenWilco
Mike CarenCEO, Artist Partners Group; Creative Officer, Warner Music Group
Mike D
Mike Dungan
Mike McCreadyPearl Jam
Mike ShinodaLinkin Park
Monte Lipman
Natalie MainesDixie Chicks
Nate Reuss
Nels ClineWilco
Nick Jonas
Nicky Jam
Pasquale RotellaCEO/Founder, Insomniac Events
Pat Monahan
Pat SansoneWilco
Patrick HallahanMy Morning Jacket
Paul McCartney
Pete Wentz
Peter Edge
Peter Tork
Phil McIntyreCEO/Founder, Philymack
Prince Royce
Pusha T
Questlove
Ricky Martin
Ringo Starr
Rivers Cuomo
Rob BourdonLinkin Park
Rob LightPartner/Managing Director/Head of Music, Creative Artists Agency
Rob Thomas
Roger GoldCo-Founder, 300 Entertainment
Rosanne Cash
Rufus Wainwright
Russell SimmonsHip Hop Mogul & Activist
Ryan LeslieProducer
Ryan Lewis
Sam GoresChairman/CEO, Paradigm Talent Agency
Sam HarrisX Ambassadors
Sara Bareilles
Scooter BraunFounder, SB Projects
Scott BorchettaPresident/CEO, Big Machine Label Group
Selena Gomez
Shakira
Sia
Stephen CooperCEO, Warner Music Group
Steve Barnett
Steve Bartels
Steve JensenPartner, Direct Management Group
Steve LevinePartner/Co-Head of Worldwide Concerts, ICM Partners
Stevie Nicks
Sting
Stone GossardPearl Jam
Stu BergenCEO, International and Global Commercial Services, Warner Music Group
Talib Kweli
Terence Blanchard
Thom Yorke
Tim WestergrenCEO, Pandora
Todd MoscowitzCo-Founder, 300 Entertainment
Tom BlankenshipMy Morning Jacket
Tom Corson
Tom WindishPresident, The Windish Agency
Tony Bennett
Tori Amos
Trent Reznor
Troye Sivan
Vic Mensa
Wayne Coyne
Yoko Ono
Zayn Malik
