Ed Sheeran is being pulled from the airwaves at one of Ireland’s major radio stations as the fallout surrounding Macklemore’s removal from the Loop Tour continues to spread.

On Thursday, September 17, Ireland’s Classic Hits Radio announced that it had removed Sheeran’s music from its playlist “for the foreseeable future,” citing significant feedback from listeners and the decisions of Irish artists Aaron Rowe and Beoga to withdraw from Sheeran’s remaining U.S. tour dates.

The move means one of the world’s most commercially successful artists will no longer receive regular airplay on the independent Irish station, which broadcasts across Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway, Kildare, Meath, Wicklow and Clare.

The station made clear that the decision was not intended as a personal condemnation of Sheeran. Instead, management said it was responding to its audience and standing alongside Irish musicians who had made significant professional decisions based on their convictions.

“We have listened carefully to the reaction from our listeners over recent days,” Dave Kelly, Group Programme Director at Bay Broadcasting, said in the station’s announcement.

Kelly specifically pointed to Rowe and Beoga, saying Classic Hits respected their decisions to leave the tour over an issue they “clearly feel very strongly” about. The station said it believes in “peace, humanity and respect” as well as the right of artists and individuals to act on sincerely held views.

The Controversy Started With Macklemore

The dispute surrounding Sheeran’s tour began after Macklemore used his opening performances at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey to express support for Palestinians.

During his September 4 performance, Macklemore introduced his protest song “Hind’s Hall” and told the audience that one reason he wanted to participate in the stadium tour was to use the platform to say “Free Palestine.”

The comments generated a fierce response.

Macklemore subsequently disappeared from the remaining Loop Tour lineup. Tour promoter Messina Touring Group said venues scheduled to host upcoming U.S. dates would not permit the concerts to proceed with Macklemore remaining on the bill.

That distinction has become important because Sheeran has publicly maintained that he did not personally make the decision to remove Macklemore.

Sheeran said venues informed the promoter that shows could be canceled if Macklemore remained on the lineup, and he maintained that he had attempted to find a solution before Macklemore’s departure became final.

Classic Hits acknowledged Sheeran’s explanation when announcing its own decision.

The station said it recognized that there were “differing and strongly held views” surrounding what happened and specifically noted Sheeran’s position that Macklemore’s removal was not his decision.

But that explanation has not stopped the backlash.

Irish Artists Walk Away From the Tour

Macklemore’s removal triggered a wave of withdrawals from Sheeran’s remaining tour dates.

Irish singer-songwriter Aaron Rowe and Irish band Beoga both announced that they were stepping away from the tour. They were joined by FINNEAS and Danish group Lukas Graham, leaving the Loop Tour without its previously announced supporting acts.

For Classic Hits, the decisions by Rowe and Beoga appear to have been particularly influential.

The station framed its move partly as an act of solidarity with members of Ireland’s music community who were willing to give up major touring opportunities because of their convictions.

“As an independent Irish-owned radio station, however, we believe it is important to listen to our audience and to stand alongside Irish artists who have made what is undoubtedly a significant professional decision based on their own convictions,” Kelly said.

Classic Hits also said it had received feedback from listeners expressing “disappointment and concern” over the events surrounding the tour.

That listener reaction ultimately translated into a programming decision with tangible consequences for Sheeran.

Sheeran Was Receiving Heavy Airplay

Removing Sheeran from the playlist is not simply a symbolic gesture for Classic Hits.

Kevin Branigan, CEO of Bay Broadcasting, told The Irish Sun that Sheeran would normally receive roughly 35 to 40 plays per week across the station. That means the decision effectively removes dozens of weekly spins from one of the most recognizable artists on Irish radio.

The station also suggested the newly available airtime could potentially be used for Macklemore and Irish artists affected by the controversy.

Classic Hits is part of Bay Broadcasting Limited, which also operates Radio Nova, Sunshine 106.8 and Galway Bay FM. However, the decision announced September 17 applies specifically to Classic Hits rather than every station within the broadcasting group.

There is also no indication at this stage that Ireland’s other major broadcasters are uniformly following its lead.

RTÉ told The Journal that it had made no decision to ban Sheeran’s music from its radio stations, saying its threshold for banning an artist is “very high.” Other major Irish radio operators were also being contacted about whether they intended to take similar action.

That makes Classic Hits’ decision significant but not representative of an industry-wide Irish radio ban.

Classic Hits Says the Decision Is Not Personal

Despite effectively removing Sheeran from its airwaves, Classic Hits repeatedly emphasized that it was not attempting to personally attack the British singer-songwriter.

“Our decision to remove Ed Sheeran’s music from the Classic Hits Radio playlist has been carefully considered,” Kelly said. “It is not intended as a personal judgement on Ed Sheeran.”

The station also acknowledged Sheeran’s public explanation and his attempts to resolve the dispute.

Instead, Classic Hits presented the move as a response to two groups it considers central to its identity: its listeners and Ireland’s music community.

The station has not established a date for Sheeran’s music to return.

Instead, his catalog will remain absent “for the foreseeable future,” while management continues monitoring developments surrounding the tour and listening to feedback from its audience. The decision will remain under review.

For Sheeran, the radio decision represents another consequence of a controversy he maintains he did not initiate.

For Classic Hits, however, the question of who technically made the decision to remove Macklemore was not enough to outweigh the reaction from its listeners or the decisions made by Irish musicians who walked away from the tour.

As of September 17, the station’s position is clear: Ed Sheeran is off the Classic Hits playlist, and there is currently no timetable for putting him back on.