Music Industry Calls for Tuesday Blackout as Labels, Managers Show Solidarity With Black Community on Social Media
Click here to read the full article.
Updated: The collective fury over the death of George Floyd, who was suffocated by a Minnesota police officer kneeling on his neck during an arrest in Minneapolis, has prompted the music industry to take a united stand on Tuesday, June 2.
A message circulated widely on Instagram and other social media platforms on Friday evening (May 29) calls for “a day to disconnect from work and reconnect with out community” and “an urgent step of action to provoke accountability and change.”
More from Variety
Under the hashtag #THESHOWMUSTBEPAUSED, The sentiment of the post, taking responsibility as “gatekeepers of the culture,” is one dozens of companies took to heart in the hours after violence broke out in Minneapolis and other cities across the U.S.
Columbia Records was the first to publicly decry injustices towards underserved populations, with chairman Ron Perry posting late on Thursday night (May 28): “We stand together with the Black community against all forms of racism, bigotry, and violence. Now, more than ever we must use our voices to speak up and challenge the injustices all around us.”
Home to such acts as Beyonce, Lil Nas X, Tyler the Creator and Polo G, among many others, the Sony Music label is also the oldest of American record companies, founded in 1889. Other companies followed suit, including UMPG, Interscope Records, Motown, Caroline, Kobalt, Electric Feel Management, LVRN, Pulse Music Publishing and many more. See their statements below.
A post shared by Ron Perry (@theronperry) on May 28, 2020 at 10:24pm PDT
A post shared by Universal Music Group (@universalmusicgroup) on May 29, 2020 at 3:45pm PDT
We have a responsibility to speak up and speak out.
A post shared by Michelle Jubelirer (@michellejubelirer) on May 28, 2020 at 6:05pm PDT
A post shared by CAROLINE (@carolinemusic) on May 29, 2020 at 10:39am PDT
No more silence, no more behind the scenes support, no more false promises…. speak up & take action.
A post shared by Tunde Balogun (@tundetun) on May 29, 2020 at 8:05pm PDT
A post shared by Warner Music (@warnermusic) on May 29, 2020 at 9:46am PDT
A post shared by Republic Records (@republicrecords) on May 29, 2020 at 3:19pm PDT
A post shared by Universal Music Publishing (@umpg) on May 29, 2020 at 4:34pm PDT
A post shared by Kobalt (@kobaltmusic) on May 29, 2020 at 5:52pm PDT
A post shared by Electric Feel Entertainment (@electricfeelent) on May 29, 2020 at 2:09pm PDT
A post shared by Josh Abraham (@joshabraham) on May 29, 2020 at 10:01am PDT
Protesters took to the streets Friday in Los Angeles, New York City, San Jose, Atlanta, D.C. and other major hubs across the country following the death of Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin. Chauvin was arrested on Friday and charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter.
In Atlanta, the protest began peacefully but took a destructive turn, as demonstrators smashed the doors of CNN headquarters, sprayed graffiti on the television news building and set a police cruiser on fire, according to WSB-TV 2 Atlanta. The news outlet’s live feed also shows protesters picking up a barricade in what appeared to be an attempt to hit a police car.
Earlier Friday, CNN correspondent Omar Jimenez and a CNN camera crew was arrested live on air as they were covering the unrest in Minneapolis, where protests have continued for four days.
Los Angeles protesters have been seen marching downtown, chanting “I can’t breathe,” according to video captured by the Los Angeles Times’ Kelcie Pegher. In San Jose, protesters blocked the 101 highway, according to video from NBC Bay Area.
On Saturday, May 30, more companies joined in the effort and committed to the June 2 blackout. See their messages below:
A post shared by Sony Music (@sonymusic) on May 30, 2020 at 7:35am PDT
A post shared by Scooter Braun (@scooterbraun) on May 30, 2020 at 4:51pm PDT
#blacklivesmatter #theshowmustbepaused
A post shared by Warner Records (@warnerrecords) on May 30, 2020 at 4:04pm PDT
A post shared by Atlantic Records (@atlanticrecords) on May 30, 2020 at 2:50pm PDT
A post shared by LA REID (@la_reid) on May 30, 2020 at 4:43pm PDT
A post shared by Live Nation Concerts (@livenation) on May 30, 2020 at 12:20pm PDT
A post shared by epicrecords (@epicrecords) on May 29, 2020 at 3:48pm PDT
A post shared by Beats by Dre (@beatsbydre) on May 29, 2020 at 4:37pm PDT
This must end. #WeUseOurVoices #TheShowMustBePaused (📸 @nytchangster/@nytimes)
A post shared by Republic Records (@republicrecords) on May 30, 2020 at 6:45pm PDT
A post shared by RECORDS (Sony Music) (@recordsco) on May 30, 2020 at 6:58am PDT
A post shared by Full Stop Management (@fullstopmgmt) on May 30, 2020 at 3:36pm PDT
A post shared by Emily Lazar (@emilylazarlodge) on May 30, 2020 at 6:54pm PDT
A post shared by Hipgnosis Songs (@hipgnosissongs) on May 29, 2020 at 12:52pm PDT
#justiceforgeorgefloyd #theshowmustbepaused
A post shared by Stem (@stem) on May 30, 2020 at 12:23pm PDT
A post shared by Lucas Keller (@lucasjkeller1) on May 30, 2020 at 8:28am PDT
A post shared by Splice (@splice) on May 30, 2020 at 4:47pm PDT
A post shared by Amazon Music (@amazonmusic) on May 30, 2020 at 6:08pm PDT
A post shared by Lauren Schneider-Prager (@schneidyland) on May 30, 2020 at 8:41pm PDT
A post shared by Sony/ATV Music Publishing (@sonyatvmusicpub) on May 31, 2020 at 8:48am PDT
Best of Variety
Sign up for Variety’s Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.