Music industry heavyweights vow to observe ‘Black Out Tuesday’

The music industry is turning off the music on Tuesday and suspending business as usual to reflect and implement change in response to the death of George Floyd and the killings of other Black people. Several top record labels organised Black Out Tuesday as violent protests erupted around the world, sparked by Floyd’s death as well as the killings of Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor. “On Tuesday June 2nd, Columbia Records will observe ‘Black Out Tuesday,'” the Sony label home to Beyonce, Bob Dylan, Adele and John Legend said in a statement. “Perhaps with the music off, we can truly listen.” Others that have joined Black Out Tuesday – also known as Blackout Tuesday and #TheShowMustBePaused – include the Sony imprints RCA Records Epic Records; the Universal Music Group divisions Republic Records, Def Jam, UMG Nashville, Capitol Records and Island Records; and the Warner Music Group imprints Atlantic and Warner Records. “In America’s mirror all she sees is regret, instead of letting blood live they begging for blood let.” Jay-Z released a statement late Sunday calling for Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison to prosecute those responsible for killing Floyd, a handcuffed Black man who pleaded for air as a white police officer pressed a knee on his neck.