What Does “Blackout Tuesday” Actually Mean for the Music Industry?
On June 2, many members of the music industry will engage in a “blackout” in response to the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and other Black citizens by the police. A post about the action, which began circulating at the end of last week with the hashtag #TheShowMustBePaused, calls for “gatekeepers of the culture” to join “an urgent step of action to provoke accountability and change” and “a day to disconnect from work and reconnect with our community.” Labels including Columbia, Def Jam, Interscope, Sony, and Warner Music Group have stated that they will observe and support the blackout, though the exact scope of their actions vary.
Writing on TheShowMustBePaused.com, organizers Jamila Thomas (Senior Director of Marketing at Atlantic) and Brianna Agyemang (a former Atlantic Executive who is now Senior Artist Campaign Manager at Platoon) said that #TheShowMustBePaused is “an initiative created by two Black women in music in observance of the long-standing racism and inequality that exists from the boardroom to the boulevard,” adding, “We will not continue to conduct business as usual without regard for Black lives.”
The statement continues, “The music industry is a multi-billion dollar industry. An industry that has profited predominantly from Black art. Our mission is to hold the industry at large, including major corporations + their partners who benefit from the efforts, struggles and successes of Black people accountable. To that end, it is the obligation of these entities to protect and empower the Black communities that have made them disproportionately wealthy in ways that are measurable and transparent.”
Thomas and Agyemang write, “This is not just a 24-hour initiative. We are and will be in this fight for the long haul. A plan of action will be announced.” (Pitchfork has reached out to Thomas and Agyemang for comment and further information.)
A June 2 post on the Twitter account for #TheShowMustBePaused clarified, clarified, “Please note: The purpose was never to mute ourselves. The purpose is to disrupt. The purpose is a pause from business as usual.” The tweet also states:
If you use the Black Lives Matter hashtag, use it to share necessary resources and information for the movement. If you are not using it for that purpose, please type out Black Lives Matter with no hashtag, so we do not inadvertantly mute vital dialogue in a sea of black boxes.
Major labels and music companies have varied in their specificity of how they will observe the June 2 blackout. Some labels—including Interscope Geffen A&M, Capitol, and WMG—have been direct in their messaging, with IGA, for example, pledging an unspecified contribution to bail organizations, aid lawyers, and “charities focused on creating economic empowerment in the Black community.” Interscope also said it will not release new music this week. Universal Music Group, which includes Interscope, Capitol, Republic, and more, has also announced the launch of an inclusion task force. Columbia Records, on the other hand, remained vague, calling June 2 “a day to reflect and figure out ways to move forward in solidarity.” Sony Music similarly wrote, “This will be a day of action committed to meaningful change in our communities both now & in the future.” Warner Music Group’s CEO Steve Cooper and Chief Human Resources Officer, Maria Osherova, sent a company-wide memo, which a source shared with Pitchfork, that WMG employees are allowed to take the day off “to concentrate on helping yourself and others.”
As reported by Variety, Sony Music CEO Rob Stringer sent a company-wide memo detailing the company’s plan for Blackout Tuesday. “We are dedicating the day to education, reflection, and action in support of, and solidarity with, the Black community,” he wrote. Sony Music is also facilitating “conversations with artists, organizers, and movement leaders,” including Spike Lee, attorney Ben Crump (who is representing the families of George Floyd, Ahmad Arbery, and Breonna Taylor), Kirk Franklin, and Kane Brown.
When reached by Pitchfork, a spokesperson for Def Jam Recordings shared the following statement, which includes a reference to UMG’s task force:
Yesterday, over one hundred and fifty Def Jam employees joined together for a town hall. Some of us shared deep pain, others outrage and anger, still others desperation and frustration. For many of us there were questions; some with tough answers and some with yet no answers.
Today, and throughout the week, we are honoring the wishes of our artists who have asked that we pause in the release, marketing and promotion of their music. Others are rushing to make their voices heard, and we intend to amplify them.
We have joined together with the other Universal Music Group labels and companies in a joint task force—lead [sic] by our interim CEO Jeff Harleston—and today that task force strategizes on how we will continue to respond.
Today, some of us are marching, some are mobilizing, others are praying. Many of us are donating our day’s wages to the organization of our choice on the front lines of this fight.
Spotify has outlined a number of ways they will support the day of action, including adding a black logo and headline image to many flagship playlists which have been updated to “reflect the current environment”; select playlists will include an 8-minute, 46-second track of silence as an acknowledgement of the length of time that George Floyd was suffocated. The company has encouraged staff to take the day to reflect and educate and will be matching financial donations made by employees. Apple Music DJs like Zane Lowe and Ebro Darden have canceled their radio shows for the day. (Pitchfork has reached out to Apple Music for comment.) Also on the radio, Hot 97 is limiting its on-air content and hosting a conversation between Ebro Darden and Reverend Al Sharpton about police violence and COVID-19.
Musicians have shown mixed reactions to the effort. Radiohead, Billie Eilish, Quincy Jones, Massive Attack, and Third Man Records have expressed their support and posted the hashtag. Others have expressed skepticism that the initiative will encourage any real change. “I am not attacking anyone personally, I love you all, but this music industry shutdown thing feels tone deaf to me,” Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon tweeted. (Vernon later retweeted a reply that explained that the initiative was started by two Black women.) In addition, Kehlani wrote, “don’t y’all think getting getting off our form of communicating with each other, sharing info, seeing news... for a whole day... in the middle of a war on us... is kinda dangerous?” She also urged people to look at Jamila Thomas and Brianna Agyemang’s original information and message.
Find more resources in the fight against police brutality and systemic racism, including a list of organizations to donate to if you're able, here.
Originally Appeared on Pitchfork
