The music industry is standing in solidarity after the death of George Floyd with a “Blackout Tuesday” initiative. Floyd is the black man who was killed while being restrained by Minneapolis police.
Atlantic Records’ senior director of marketing, Jamila Thomas and Platoon’s senior artist campaign manager, Brianna Agyemang, are behind the blackout, which is also circulating on social media as #TheShowMustBePaused. The blackout calls for the music industry to stop operations on Tuesday, June 2, to bring awareness to the police brutality and racial injustice in the U.S.
A statement read, “The music industry is a multibillion dollar industry. An industry that has profited predominantly from black art. Our mission is to hold the industry at large, including major corporations and 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 community that have made them disproportionately wealthy in ways that are measurable and transparent.” The statement continued, “This is not just a 24-hour initiative. We are and will be in this fight for the long haul. We are tired and can’t change things alone.”
“Blackout Tuesday” has received support from major record labels, including Interscope Records, Def Jam Recordings, Warner Records, Sony Music Entertainment, Capitol Records and Columbia Records, among others.
The initiative is a response to the widespread protests that have broken out across the country since Floyd died under police custody.
