Muse Postpones Istanbul Concert Amid Protests and Sampling Controversy with Turkish Fans

Muse Postpones Istanbul Concert

Muse has decided to postpone their upcoming concert in Istanbul following the ongoing boycott of DBL Entertainment.

• READ MORE: Muse: “There will be a big shift. We are dealing with a destructive transition”

Announcement of Postponement

The band announced via X/Twitter at the beginning of the week that they were set to perform in the city on June 11, with tickets going on sale the next day (April 3).

However, this announcement elicited immediate backlash from numerous fans and fellow artists who urged them to cancel the show due to the ongoing disputes surrounding the Turkish promoter of the event.

This situation stems from recent remarks made by Abdulpadir Ozkan, the head of DBL Entertainment, who referred to those advocating for a boycott against his connections as “traitors.” This sparked widespread criticism and calls for artists to sever ties with his companies.

Muse later updated their fans, revealing that they would be postponing the concert by a year in light of the circumstances.

“After thorough consideration and listening to the concerns of our fans, and fully respecting their issues, our show in Istanbul will now be postponed until 2026, allowing us to avoid involvement with DBL Entertainment,” they shared on X/Twitter today (April 2).

“Thank you for your unwavering support; it means everything to us. See you in 2026!”

The precise date for the postponed concert in 2026 is anticipated to be announced later.

After thorough consideration and listening to the concerns of our fans, and fully respecting their issues, our show in Istanbul will now be postponed until 2026, allowing us to avoid involvement with DBL Entertainment.

Thanks for the constant support; this means everything for …

– Muse (@muse) April 2, 2025

Political Context in Turkey

Since March 19, the situation in Turkey has escalated, witnessing extensive anti-government protests following the arrest of the opposition mayor of the capital, Ekrem Imamoglu. He is considered the primary political rival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Imamoglu was charged with corruption, which he denied (via France24), leading to calls for a boycott of firms perceived to be aligned with the Erdogan government. Since mid-March, roughly 2,000 individuals have been arrested.

Over the weekend, protesters targeted a coffee chain, which Ozkan labeled as “treason,” inciting further outrage against DBL Entertainment and contributing to the artists’ decision to boycott. Other artists facing similar predicaments include Robbie Williams, scheduled for October 7, and Trevor Noah, whose concert is slated for April 23.

Au Brun also released a statement (via A) stating: “301 university students who sought to defend their democratic rights are currently imprisoned. The organizer of your concert in Istanbul, DBL, supports this rights violation. We urge you to boycott and stand with us! I was not aware of this. I support the students. I am taking action.”

In a statement made yesterday (April 1), Ozkan claimed that his words were “taken out of context,” asserting that he did not intend to target “young people exercising their democratic right to protest” (via France24).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trzr3hb1idu

In other news, last week, Muse frontman Matt Bellamy unveiled a new guitar design with Manson Guitar Works, inspired by his favorite American road films, including Wim Wenders’ Paris, Texas, Ridley Scott’s Thelma and Louise, and the biopic Crossroads featuring Robert Johnson, along with their iconic soundtracks.

Prior to this, bassist Chris Wolstenholme discussed the band’s future, hinting that they were considering their next album. He mentioned that the follow-up to their 2022 work is likely to arrive in 2026. “I think we will start very soon, like in the next couple of months,” Wolstenholme shared in February, noting they have several concerts scheduled in June, but only a handful this year.

“I don’t think our intention is to undertake anything major until next year, so 2026 seems like a probable timeframe for a new album, barring any unforeseen events.”