'Honouring legend or monetising memory': Who is Sidhu Moosewala upcoming ‘AI tour’ really for?

Three years after his tragic murder, Sidhu Moosewala is set to "return" to the stage through an AI-powered world tour titled ‘Signed to God’, launching in 2026.

Using holograms and immersive technology, the tour promises a lifelike concert experience for fans, but raises serious ethical questions.

Moosewala was a fiercely independent artist, known for his raw political voice and cultural pride. Can an AI avatar truly capture his spirit, or does it reduce him to a stylised product? With no way for him to consent, is this a tribute or a manufactured afterlife?

As technology reanimates more deceased artists, we must ask: Are we honoring their legacy or monetising their memory? Just because we can bring someone back digitally doesn’t mean we should.

Moosewala once said, "Legends never die." But even legends deserve rest, not a virtual encore they never approved.

In 2012, a hologram of Tupac Shakur made headlines with a surprise appearance at Coachella. Michael Jackson followed suit, becoming the digital centerpiece of The Immortal World Tour by Cirque du Soleil—a production that grossed over $370 million, ranking among the highest-grossing tours of all time. Jackson was also "resurrected" as a hologram for a performance at the 2014 Billboard Music Awards.