After the current events following the Black Lives Matter movement, the hashtag #TheShowMustBePaused was launched to give people in the music industry the opportunity to step aside from their work, show solidarity to the movement, and use their platform to amplify Black voices and bring awareness to Black issues.
Since then, there has already been significant changes within the music industry. One change that companies such as Republic Records have made was to stop using the word “urban” when describing music genres. Not only does the word “urban” put Black musicians of different genres into one category, but it is also a word that has stemmed from the racial stereotyping of Black communities.
#WeUseOurVoices, Use Yours. pic.twitter.com/dQFoMMj0h1
— Republic Records (@RepublicRecords) June 5, 2020
As for a more recent outcome, a group of the industry’s top managers, attorneys, and artists have come together to form the Black Music Action Coalition. The BMAC posted a letter to the music industry’s partners and chief executives which stated:
“We created BMAC to address long standing racial inequities in the business, the financial impact of those inequities for both Black artists and executives, and ways we can work with you urgently to solve these problems. Additionally, BMAC will support groups and programs committed to progressing the equality of Black lives around the country.”
The BMAC has been endorsed by many artists such as Harry Styles, Billie Eilish, Earth, Wind, & Fire, Jhene Aiko, Normani, Travis Scott, and more.
Having these passionate music industry members form an alliance for combined action in addressing the treatment of Black artists from music companies is necessary, especially because so many different music genres have originated from Black musicians.
As said by the BMAC themselves:
“There is a lot of work for us to do, and we look forward to doing it together.”
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