Sony Music, BTS donate millions for racial injustice charities

At the close of a week which will be long remembered for Black Lives Matter protests across the United States and around the world, several music companies have injected millions into the movement, like Sony Music Group.

Sony Music Group has launched a $100 million fund to support social justice and anti-racist initiatives around the globe, with donations immediately triggered to organisations that “foster equal rights.”

In announcing the initiative, Sony Music Group chairman Rob Stringer said, “Racial injustice is a global issue that affects our artists, songwriters, our people and of course society at large. We stand against discrimination everywhere and we will take action accordingly with our community fully involved in effectively using these funds.”

Sony

The fund matches the $100 million fund announced by Warner Music Group, which would “support charitable causes related to the music industry, social justice and campaigns against violence and racism.”

Separately, K-pop superstars BTS and their label Big Hit Entertainment made a financial pledge to the tune of $1 million.

A representative for Black Lives Matter told Variety the cash hit their coffers last Friday.

“Black people all over the world are in pain at this moment from the trauma of centuries of oppression,” the BLM rep says. “We are moved by the generosity of BTS and allies all over the world who stand in solidarity in the fight for Black lives.”

As word of the good deed spread, BTS’ ARMY mobilised and the hashtag #MatchAMillion trended on Twitter.

The plan worked, and ARMY matched BTS’ $1 million donation.

BTS

Universal Music Group, the market leader, got things moving with a $25 million “Change Fund” announced in the wake of George Floyd’s killing at the hands of Minneapolis police. UMG’s fund will be invested in six areas of focus, including legislative and public policy.

The latest round of donations come after the U.S.-based Union of Musicians and Allied Workers called out music companies for not doing enough to stamp out racism.

Sony Music was among the scores of companies with a mark against its name.

“The music industry has long profited off the uncompensated labor of Black artists,” a UMAW statement reads. “Deep structural change needs to happen. Right now, wealthy music companies can do the bare minimum by redistributing their millions to the struggle.”

This article originally appeared on The Industry Observer, which is now part of The Music Network.