Ed Sheeran's Tracks Pulled From Irish Radio Amid Macklemore Debate

WHO:

Fox News - Classic Hits Radio, Ed Sheeran, Macklemore, protest groups

TMZ - Ed Sheeran fans in Ireland

WHAT:

NY Post - Classic Hits Radio announced it would no longer play Ed Sheeran's music for the "foreseeable future."

NY Post - Dave Kelly, group program director of Classic Hits Radio, stated the decision was made in response to listener feedback regarding the controversy.

Fox News - Classic Hits Radio announced it will stop playing Ed Sheeran's music.

TMZ - Ed Sheeran's music has been taken off air by Classic Hits Radio.

WHERE:

Fox News - Classic Hits Radio is a Dublin-based station with a reach into other major areas in Ireland.

WHY:

AllHipHop - The decision to stop playing Ed Sheeran's music is linked to Macklemore's removal from the Loop Tour, which was influenced by his stance on Palestine.

Fox News - The decision to ban Ed Sheeran's music follows backlash over Macklemore's removal from the Loop Tour due to Gaza protests.

(UPDATED September 18, 2026 07:08 UTC)

Classic Hits Radio has announced that it will no longer play Ed Sheeran's music for the foreseeable future. Dave Kelly, the group program director, explained that this decision was made in response to listener feedback regarding a recent controversy. The station aims to align its playlist with the preferences of its audience.

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(UPDATED September 18, 2026 04:00 UTC)

The decision to stop playing Ed Sheeran's music is connected to Macklemore's removal from the Loop Tour. This change in lineup was influenced by Macklemore's stance on Palestine. As a result, the music of Ed Sheeran will no longer be featured in the tour's programming.

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(UPDATED September 17, 2026 21:01 UTC)

Classic Hits Radio, a Dublin-based station, has announced it will stop playing Ed Sheeran's music following backlash over Macklemore's removal from the Loop Tour due to Gaza protests. This decision has sparked reactions from Ed Sheeran's fans in Ireland, who are expressing their discontent. As a result, Sheeran's music has officially been taken off the air by the station, which has a significant reach into other major areas in Ireland.