Sonos Closes Flagship NY Store to Show Solidarity With Net Neutrality

Sonos’ closing of its New York flagship store for Sunday to show support for net neutrality on a day the music industry gathered in town for the 60th Annual Grammy Awards was an “opportunity to be bold and make an action-oriented statement that aligns so strongly with our values,” a spokeswoman said Monday. The FCC voted to repeal net neutrality rules in December (see 1712140039). Music “drives everything we do but unfortunately, music faces mounting threats in today’s world,” said the representative. “Too many artists encounter barriers when it comes to free expression and access to information. Communities lack space and resources to ensure all musicians can be heard.” She referenced Sonos’ Listen Better initiative, launched in the fall, committing $1.5 million in grants over three years to fund grassroots organizations working to promote the future of music. A sign on the closed Sonos storefront said: “If we let net neutrality get stripped away, powerful gatekeepers could stifle creativity and hold back tomorrow’s talent.”