Thank god for performers like Mick Jagger who know not to put their own ego and politics ahead of entertaining fans

Mick Jagger gets it.In a new sit-down with the New York Times, the 82-year-old gave a rare peek into the inner workings of being the Rolling Stones’ frontman.He is surprisingly self-aware about his tremendous ego, which he’s learned to switch off when not on stage.Jagger doesn’t let it trick him into believing that fans who pay good scratch to attend his concerts want to hear his political musings — unlike Bruce Springsteen who, on his unofficial No Kings tour, has been proudly fusing his greatest hits with Trump resistance storylines borrowed from the channel formerly known as MSNBC.As the Times’ David Marchese charitably put it to Jagger: “Bruce Springsteen clearly sees his job as engaging in a meaningful back and forth” — which is, in itself, a funny framing.There’s no back and forth with Springsteen, who delivers fiery political sermons from his partisan pulpit.Fans have to splash out all that money to the collection plate knowing what they’ll be served in between “Hungry Heart” and “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out.”Referencing the Jersey boy’s approach, Marchese asked Jagger, “What does your relationship to the audience mean to you? What do they represent, all those people out there?”The singer gave a thoughtful answer, acknowledging that when he plays music festivals like Glastonbury or the New Orleans Jazz Fest, the crowd isn’t necessarily there to see the Stones.

Ultimately, he wants to put fans in a state that allows their worries to melt away.“My job in the live music world is for those people that come to have the best time,” Jagger said, comparing it to a sporting event.“And you don’t want to lecture them.”In a different era, such a sentiment would barely raise an eyebrow.

It certainly wouldn’t warrant a headline: “Rock legend wants to entertain the crowd, more news at 6.”However, in 2026, Jagger’s declaration feels like a rejection of our current, toxic state of culture with many of our entertainers, from...