Many major music labels, artists, and businesses are banding together today to observe “Black Out Tuesday.” This will be done to halt business endeavors and reconnect with the community while protesting the killing of George Floyd.
Many of the labels, including Columbia Records, RCA Records, Interscope Records, Shady Records, Warner Music Group, Capitol Music Group, Motown Records, and Republic Records, have all stepped up to participate and stand up for the cause. Artists on those labels include Taylor Swift, Drake, Ariana Grande, Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish, Pink, Eminem, and Khalid.
Each company is putting a different message out on social media, but they all have the same objective: to create change in America. Columbia records wrote, “This is not a day off. Instead, this is a day to reflect and figure out ways to move forward in solidarity,” and RCA added, “It’s time for radical change in America.”
Along with their “Black Out Tuesday” message, Interscope announced that they would not release new music this week. They explain by saying, “Instead, Interscope will contribute to organizations that help to bail out protesters 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.”
There are also several television companies joining in on this cause. Stations like MTV, Comedy Central, VH1, and Central suspended all programming yesterday for 8 minutes and 46 seconds to call attention to racial injustice. Eight minutes and 46 seconds is how long Derek Chauvin kneeled on George Floyd’s neck before killing him.