Global magazine reports pressure on Serbia's music scene over student support

Serbia's live music sector is reportedly facing significant pressure, with musicians and festivals allegedly being sidelined for supporting student protests, according to a report by IQ Magazine, a leading publication for the concert and music industry. The article, titled "Serbian live sector ‘under threat’ amid ongoing protests," places recent events within a broader international context.

The protests in Serbia began in November 2024, following a deadly incident at a railway station in Novi Sad. IQ Magazine reports that the consequences of these protests are now deeply impacting the music industry. Reper and writer Marko Šelić Marčelo, members of the band Goblini, and representatives from the EXIT Festival shared their experiences, though Nemanja Marijan, co-owner of Arsenal Fest, offered a different perspective.

Goblini described what they call a "coordinated pressure" on the band after they openly supported student protests, particularly after releasing a song dedicated to them. This led to the cancellation of performances, including at the "Days of Beer" festival in Zrenjanin and the Zaječarska Gitarijada. In 2026, the band has only performed twice in Serbia, with most of their concerts taking place abroad. "Places where we used to perform regularly now tell us that there is 'no free slot' for us," a band member stated, illustrating the impact of an unofficial "blacklist."

Marko Šelić Marčelo echoed similar experiences, noting that festivals, many reliant on public funding, are no longer inviting him. He also mentioned that some privately funded events are hesitant due to fear of repercussions. "After two decades of career, the band and I are back at the beginning: we have nothing but talent and our instruments, just like everyone else on the regime's blacklist," Marčelo told IQ Magazine. He also spoke of threats from government supporters and daily targeting in tabloids.

Representatives from the EXIT Festival issued a stark warning: "The world needs to know that, in the heart of Europe, a systematic elimination of the free-thinking cultural scene of an entire country is taking place. This situation has been ongoing for about a year and a half and has become extremely dramatic." They indicated that organizers, promoters, bands, and artists are facing systematic exclusion.

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Posle dve decenije karijere, bend i ja smo ponovo na početku: nemamo ništa osim talenta i svojih instrumenata, baš kao i svi ostali koji se nalaze na režimskoj crnoj listi