Sónar gets underway amid KKR ownership controversy and artist cancellations

Barcelona's electronic music festival got underway on Thursday afternoon with the first performance by local DJ Nahoomie at the SonarVillage stage, the main one at the Fira de Montjuïc venue.

However, the festival is mainly marked by the recent controversy over its ownership by the KKR company that holds ties with the Israeli government. Sónar has publicly distanced itself, several times, from the actions of the pro-Israeli investment fund KKR, which acquired Superstruct Entertainment in October 2024. The company had owned Sónar since 2018.

"This was a purely financial transaction in which we had no involvement, no say, and no vote," Sónar organizers wrote in a public statement online weeks before the event started.

The weeks before the electronic music festival, around 30 artists cancelled their shows at the event, and many attendees requested ticket refunds.

Some of the canceled artists are Venezuelan experimental musician Arca and French electronic producer Rone, who were scheduled to perform with (LA)HORDE and the National Ballet of Marseille. Also canceled are EYRA, Oma Totem, DJ Paca, Tiyumii, Dania + Mau Morgó, DjSport, Emma dj, Forensis & Bill Kouligas, DJ g2g, Heith, James K, Günseli Yalcinkaya, and Andrea Belosi. Some were scheduled to perform in the Sónar by Day and others in the Sónar by Night.

After the Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR) fund's involvement in festivals such as Sónar, Viña Rock, FIB, and Arenal Sound came to light, some musicians refused to play at the events, and 70 international artists demanded explanations from Sónar.

The festival says they condemn the genocide of the Palestinian people and that their position "is clear and unequivocal."

"I mean, it's unfortunate. On the other hand, I think that Sónar does not have too many ways to actually do anything about the ownership," Robert, an international attending the music festival for the first time.

"So I understand that they were bought by a company in the past, which was bought by KKR. So I think that's something they cannot really affect," he added, while appreciating the statements released by organizers and the support for Palestine.

Sandra first came to Sónar 15 years ago, and was aware "of the controversy with Israel," she told Catalan News. She said that her friend was traveling from Malaga and they couldn't do anything, however, she is "entirely against Israel's policies."

Organizers also say that the money does "not at all" go to KKR and that they have never or "will ever send a single euro to KKR." The festival claims that after the organizing costs are incurred, "all profits are reinvested, in their entirety, in future editions of Sónar."

Victor came to Sónar to support her friend Nahoomie playing at the event. He says that he thinks the different actions have been "proportionate," but other music festivals are facing the same situation, such as Viña Rock in southern Spain, where lots canceled their shows.

The mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, said he understands artists' boycott of Sónar – although he wouldn't label it as such – and that society must express itself "through the tools it has."

"I wouldn’t call it a boycott of Sónar – things are a bit more nuanced, but I understand the reactions," he said in an interview for Spanish public broadcaster RTVE a week before the event started. The Catalan government also backed the artists' position.

At the entrance of Sónar, people handed out pamphlets reading "Music, Innovation, & Genocide" and "for a culture free from genocide, occupation, and silence."

"Music can't play louder than genocide," the text reads and the "ticket is not neutral" as "attending the festival means taking part in a structure that promotes occupation and systematic violence against Palestine."

International lineup

One of the most exciting acts coming to Barcelona this year will undoubtedly be Nathy Peluso, who will perform not once, but twice. One of the Argentine artist’s shows will be based on her latest album, Grasa, and another showcasing her more electronic side in Club Grasa.

Sónar’s selection of talents offers fans a wide variety of styles and genres to enjoy and discover, with international dancefloor masters bringing an eclectic mix to the festival this year, from Four Tet, Honey Dijon, Helena Hauff, Barry Can’t Swim, Jayda G, and many more. There are more than 200 projects and shows scheduled at Sónar this year.

This year features an extraordinary lineup of b2b shows. Skrillex b2b Blawan bring their sunny techno to Catalonia, Dee Diggs b2b Ultra Naté will deliver non-stop dance classics, while legends of techno Armin van Buuren b2b and Indira Paganotto will be teaming up for a special performance. 

Standout names from the local and national scene include Paül Refree + Niño de Elche presenting cru+es, while Maria Arnal presents her groundbreaking new show Ama, the culmination of years of research by the artist into artificial intelligence and the human voice. Also featured this year are Mushka, Alizzz, and Tarta Relena. 

Historic back-to-backs

The 2025 edition of the Sónar music festival will also be marked by three "historic" back-to-backs with Armin van Buuren performing with Spanish star Indira Paganotto, she is the new face of the psy-techno. Both will perform on Saturday at Sónar by Night from 3:40am to 5:10 am at the SonarClub stage.

Skrillex and British techno producer Blawan will also perform on Saturday at Sónar by Night between 3am and 5am on the SonarPub stage.

And the last one will be the legend Ultra Naté back-to-back with New York's Dee Diggs, also on Saturday at Sónar by Night from 5:05am to 7am at SónarPub. Just as soon as Skrillex and Blawan finish their set.

Sónar+D

Sónar+D is a parallel event that features talks, conferences, installations, exhibitions, and performances, all centered around technology, and examining the boundaries of what is possible today while asking what could be possible tomorrow. 

Its programme this year is structured around three pillars, with a large crossover existing between them all in content: AI + Creativity, Imagining The Future of Creative Industries, and Worlds To Come. 

Albert Barqueduran, otherwise known as albert.data, discusses his new project Synapticon and explains how new neurotechnologies could signify an end to mental privacy.