Online Justice / 1080p Records

As social media’s influence continues to grow, so too does the potential for artists to seriously damage their careers by posting something stupid or offensive. It also gives the people a platform to be heard like never before; in 2015, the social media backlash against foolishness was swift, and it was strong.

ACTION BRONSON

The self-proclaimed “Mr. Wonderful” got ousted from NXNE’s marquee headlining slot. An online petition to ban Action Bronson from playing Toronto’s Yonge-Dundas Square took off when artists like Austra tweeted the petition link, and Bronson, who seemed to find it funny at first, was maddened, apparently declining NXNE’s invitation to play a more private venue.

SUN KIL MOON

Last year, Sun Kil Moon’s Mark Kozelek dragged out a one-sided feud with the War on Drugs on social media and recorded the song “War on Drugs: Suck My Cock.” This year, he got into it with Ottawa’s CityFolk Fest, recording the woefully mis- directed “The Ottawa Blues Fest Is Run by Inbreds.” (Wrong festival.) Judging by the widespread sharing of Meredith Graves’ (of Perfect Pussy) well-written piece on Kozelek, not many people are left in Sun Kil Moon’s corner.

VIET CONG

Perhaps the most newsworthy example of pigheadedness this year came from Calgary’s Viet Cong, who refused to change their name despite widespread, vehement outcry. The name has inspired countless urgent think pieces, and their shows are now attracting protests across North America. They’ve promised to pick a new moniker, but as 2015 comes to a close, it remains unchanged.

WHIRR

San Francisco’s Whirr were dropped from their primary record label and a number of others after the band issued a series of transphobic tweets at Olympia, WA hardcore band G.L.O.S.S. The band apologized and blamed the incident on a “friend” who supposedly ran their Twitter account, but it fell on deaf ears.