Music industry planning ‘Black Out Tuesday’ shutdown as protest
As anger over the police in-custody death of George Floyd in Minneapolis spilled out onto streets nationwide, the resolve of music industry workers—from artists to publicists, record labels and others—to stage a protest grew online under the hashtag #TheShowMustBePaused.
The protest, called “Black Out Tuesday,” is both against police brutality as well being about how while the contributions of Black Americans to American music is widely accepted and co-opted, Black Americans themselves continue to be discriminated against.
“As the gatekeepers of the culture, it’s our responsibility to not only come together to celebrate the wins, but also hold each other up during a loss.
It wasn’t clear on Sunday night how widespread this protest would grow, but the hashtag was trending in the Bay Area.
Participating artists have vowed not to perform or work on Tuesday, while others within the industry have promised not to release any music on June 2.
Instead, participants are encouraged to connect with their communities and to donate to organizations actively involved in fighting for human rights.
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This must end. #WeUseOurVoices #TheShowMustBePaused (📸 @nytchangster/@nytimes)