Bruce Springsteen gave publishers, songwriters, and rights holders a blunt reminder at Tribeca: the songs, the permissions, and the politics around them can all still matter in the same room. At the festival’s final day, Springsteen was honored with the Harry Belafonte Voices for Social Justice Award, then used the conversation to talk about democracy, activism, and one long-circulating licensing regret.
Tribeca puts Springsteen’s politics at center stage
On June 13 in lower Manhattan, Bono, Patti Smith, Robert De Niro, and Jane Rosenthal gathered to honor Springsteen with the Harry Belafonte Voices for Social Justice Award. Springsteen said he was “a little embarrassed to get this award” and dedicated it to the people of Minneapolis, Portland and Los Angeles for standing “against the federal invasion of their cities this year.” He also said, “I’m just a concerned citizen.”
De Niro introduced Springsteen by praising his ability to “use his voice” to “give voice to the powerless” and “lead the resistance.” The conversation that followed centered on the erosion of democracy in America and President Trump’s federal overreach, which also tracked with the themes of Springsteen’s recent Land of Hopes & Dreams Tour.
Bono presses Springsteen on class, activism, and compromise
During the sit-down with Bono, the U2 frontman asked Springsteen about a rock star’s ability to connect with the working class, and said, “I fear sometimes we on the left lost a little bit of it.” Bono also asked whether Springsteen felt torn about the people who used to come to his shows but no longer do.
Springsteen answered that an artist has to “make your stand and follow your beliefs” while also believing “America is a sacred argument and a compromise.” He added that no one should have gone to his recent tour expecting anything different, saying, “I warned everybody what the tour was gonna be like so they didn’t waste their money before they came.”
A rejected licensing request gets a surprising rewrite
Bono also brought up a past request to license Springsteen’s 2007 song “Girls In Their Summer Clothes” for a Gap commercial tied to the (PRODUCT) RED campaign. Springsteen had said no at the time, but onstage he changed his answer. “That was a big mistake, too,” he said. “I should have said yes.”
For publishers and rights holders, the exchange was a reminder that licensing decisions can linger long after the moment passes, especially when an artist’s catalog intersects with major commercial and charitable campaigns. Springsteen did not expand further on the remark in the source article.
What to watch next: Springsteen’s next public comments on his activism and on how he handles requests around his catalog, after publicly revisiting the old Gap refusal at Tribeca.
For editorial consideration and industry coverage inquiries, contact [email protected]
