The music industry is set to take a stand with the Black Lives Matter movement on "Black Out Tuesday." The event will take place, June 2, according to separate statements issued by various record labels.
Several major record labels have released statements of support for the cause, postponing work on "Black Out Tuesday" and donating to charitable causes. The industry move follows the nationwide protests after George Floyd, the 46-year-old Black man who died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck after an arrest attempt.
In a statement posted in its official Instagram account, Atlantic Records says that it will observe "Black Out Tuesday" together with Warner Music Group in support of its "employees, artists and global community."
"The music business at WMG will not go on as usual," the statement read. Atlantic also said that it will use the day to reflect on what it can do towards change and will take steps in the following weeks. The record label, whose roster includes Ed Sheeran, Bruno Mars, and Lil Uzi Vert, also said that it would donate to Black Lives Matter and other organizations working against racial injustice.
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Atlantic Records (@atlanticrecords) on May 30, 2020 at 2:50pm PDT
Capitol Music Group, music conglomerate owning Capitol Records, Motown, Blue Note, and more, said that they would also refrain from businesses on "Black Out Tuesday." They will also lend their support to "Color of Change," a nonprofit organization working to "end practices that unfairly hold Black people back, and champion solutions that move us all forward."
Columbia Records, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment, also took to Instagram to note that the upcoming "Black Out Tuesday" is "not a day off. Instead, this is a day to reflect and figure out ways to move forward in solidarity."
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Columbia Records (@columbiarecords) on May 31, 2020 at 11:40am PDT
"Perhaps with the music off, we can truly listen," Columbia's statement concluded.
Interscope Geffen A&M's (IGA) will also join the movement by not releasing new music for the entire week starting June 1, according to statements in its members Interscope Records and Geffen Records. IGA will instead help organizations that bail out protesters, lawyers, and charitable organizations "focused on creating economic empowerment in the Black community."
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Interscope Records (@interscope) on May 31, 2020 at 10:57am PDT
The music group has also made an earlier post, noting "Silence is not an option" and encouraged everyone to "Stay Loud."
Entertainment Online also reports that the move from the music industry parallels the move from content streaming platforms Amazon, HBO, Hulu, Netflix, and Paramount, who have all expressed support for the Black Lives Matter movement.
The recent death of George Floyd has sparked national outrage, including athletes, musicians, and actors. Madonna took to Instagram to write, a long condemnation of the act, apologized to Floyd and his family and wrote "F**k The Police!" towards the end.
Comedian and "Prison Break" actor Michael Rapaport went off the rails on Twitter, asking what could've happened if there was no cellphone footage. "Then what? Then what happens? You make up some bullsh*t," Rapaport said in his video.
The protests have spread nationwide from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Curfews have been implemented in at least 40 cities from various states, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Florida, and Illinois. Furthermore, CNN reports that approximately 5,000 members of the National Guard have been activated, with a reserve 2,000 to be deployed as needed.
