HOW CAN MUSIC SUPPORT #BLACKLIVESMATTER?
On Tuesday, as clashes between riot police and protestors continued to escalate in the US over police killings of black citizens following the death of George Floyd, social media was dominated by black squares with the hashtag #BlackOutTuesday. Floyd was a 46-year-old black man who died on May 25 after being apprehended by a white police officer who knelt on his neck even after he stated that he couldn’t breathe - his death has since been ruled a homicide and Officer Derek Chauvin, has been charged with third degree murder and manslaughter.
The blackout, which began under the hashtag #TheShowMustBePaused, was started by two black women in music, Jamila Thomas and Brianna Agyemang, with the intention of halting business-as-usual for the music industry “in observance of the long-standing racism and inequality that exists from the boardroom to the boulevard.” But as actors, major museums and ordinary users all joined musicians in taking part, the initiative totally dominated social media and sparked major debate over whether it was an appropriate form of protest; it was variously criticised as being undemocratic, stifling of the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag and of black voices, as well as simply a “major label record executive white guilt day.”
While the execution of the protest proved to be divisive, behind it was an important message for the music industry; we are failing black people. As Thomas and Agyemang’s original statement for #TheShowMustBePaused highlighted, music is a multi-billion dollar industry that has “profited predominantly from Black art”, rendering major corporations and their partners “disproportionately wealthy in ways that are measurable and transparent”. The statement calls for these corporations, and the music industry at large, to be held accountable for the protection and empowerment of the black communities upon which it has thrived.
So how can we ensure that the purpose of #BlackOutTuesday, and the current wave of support for #BlackLivesMatter, don’t just become fleeting, tokenistic chapters in music history, but instead, mark the beginning of real change across the industry?
As Chardine-Taylor Stone from black female punk trio Big Joanie pointed out in an interview last year, genres like jungle, grime, etc. became commercialised in a way that made massive profit for white people off the backs of people of colour (POC). She said, “I won’t name names, but there’s a very popular white rapper that’s basically Dizzee Rascal.” It’s the responsibility of major industry players to commit to returning the wealth that has been systematically white-washed away from artists of colour, starting immediately, while donations are being used to fund the Black Lives Matter protests.
A good example has been set by Interscope records - home to Lady Gaga, Kendrick Lamar, The 1975, Eminem, Lana Del Rey and Billie Eilish - who have committed to “contribute to organisations that help to bail out protestors exercising their right to peaceably assemble, aid lawyers working for systematic change, and provide assistance to charities focused on creating economic empowerment in the Black community.”
Speak out, challenge, educate - or be complicit
“Nothing is going to change if the responsibility of this sort of behaviour is left solely on black artists or artists of colour.” - Kele Okereke
Bloc Party’s Kele Okereke spoke to NME in 2019 about how the lack of outspoken voices in the industry was causing him to question his own role as a musician. He pointed out, that, although there are exceptions (Slowthai, Idles, Billie Bragg), far too many artists are complicit in the racism through their silence - Okereke was disheartened that none of his colleagues challenged the Brexit-fuelled perception of Britishness that was “clearly supposed to exclude people who are non-white,” epitomized for him by Morrisey’s support for Britain First. ‘Why aren’t more celebrated musicians that people are listening to coming out to say: ‘this isn’t cool?’,’ he asked. “Unless, possibly they think racism isn’t a big deal”.
Representation
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It only takes a quick scroll back through the Q magazine cover archive to confirm the lack of black artists being represented in mainstream media. The process of recognising and celebrating the contributions of black musicians has to be an active one with the whole industry playing a part; this means actively giving less airtime to white artists on the radio. It means actively reducing the proportion of white artists on magazine covers, and on festival lineups in order to prioritise black artists. Decolonise fest is a three-day annual event in London ‘by and for punx of colour,’ featuring only non-white organisers and musicians. Beverley Ishmael, drummer for DIY pop punk band The Tuts, has expressed how vital initiatives like this are because labels don’t want to gamble on POC: “They’re going to go with the safe option, which is white-man bands”. She said events like this provide role models for aspiring artists of colour: “If you see someone who represents you, who looks like you, has hair like you, you’re gonna be like, ‘Oh yeah, I can do that, too’”.
Long-term systematic changes
Crucially, big music industry players must commit to long-term systematic changes. Universal's chairman, Sir Lucian Grainge, issued a memo to staff this week, laying out plans to "accelerate our efforts in areas such as inclusion and social justice" and that staff should "continue that commitment - without let-up - in the months and years ahead". Virgin EMI records and Columbia records posted similar commitments to long-term change in solidarity with black artists, colleagues and communities.
Whether we are entering a new era for the music industry, an era in which black artists can expect to be supported, credited, represented and celebrated, and an era in which the industry chooses to become a vocal and loyal advocate of Black Lives Matter, we shall see. One thing is certain, though - it is up to all of us as music fans, as allies, to hold the music industry to account; to be silent is to be complicit.
The official #TheShowMustBePaused website recommends a number of actions/resources to consider:
If you have been impacted by the recent events, take a break - there is a lot going on and sometimes we all just need a minute. Take that minute.
Help the family of George Floyd HERE.
Fight for Breonna Taylor HERE.
Help the family of Ahmaud Arbery HERE.
Want to help protesters? Donate to one or more community bail funds HERE.
Visit Movement For Black Lives for additional ways you can help the cause.
Want to connect with leaders building grass roots campaigns? Click HERE.
Are you an ally and want to learn more? Here are some anti-racism resources.