‘Deep structural change needs to happen’: Musicians’ group says businesses not committed to Black Lives Matter

The music industry showed its true colours by observing a nations-wide “black out” this week following the murder of George Floyd at the hand of police officers in the United States.

But the call to action is only the beginning. And a new graphic shows in sharp detail just how little progress has been made at the top-end of the music business.

The U.S.-based Union of Musicians and Allied Workers (UMAW), which boasts musicians, DJs, producers, road crew and other music professionals in its membership, is holding majors and independent music companies to account at a time when the Black Lives Matter movement is more urgent than ever.

UMAW shared a post which collates key labels, distributors, streaming services, PROs, and live music companies, and checks whether they’ve made a statement on Black Lives Matters by June 1, and whether they’ve committed cash.

Few have done both.

Among 32 listed companies and organisations, just Live Nation and RCA made statements and committed cash by the beginning of the month.

That figure will have moved ahead in recent days and, doesn’t account for Warner Music Group’s vague pledge to create a US$100 million anti-racism fund as the music major launched on the NASDAQ.

But the message should ring loud and clear.

“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.”

The music industry has long profited off the uncompensated labor of Black artists. Deep structural change needs to happen. Right now, wealthy music companies can do the bare minimum by redistributing their millions to the struggle. pic.twitter.com/EfMSVYMIQi

— United Musicians and Allied Workers (@UMAW_) June 4, 2020

The fledgling labour group was formed by a committee of musicians as a reaction to the challenges brought by the Coronavirus crisis.

The music industry in the United States and elsewhere arguably did more than other sectors, and at a faster pace, went it hit pause mode Tuesday to reflect the death of another unarmed African-American at the hands of cops, and ongoing racial injustices around the world.

The sentiment of the UMAW’s message was echoed by Keith Harris OBE, the veteran British label executive and artist manager who has been honoured by the Queen for his services to the industry.

Harris has also faced acute racism in the workplace.

In an open-letter to the power-players of the music industry, Harris recounts the barriers he faced due to the colour of his skin, and how the artists he worked for were pushed aside because radio and labels felt there “was enough of that kind of music.”

“I am writing this letter, not to invoke sympathy, or to look to advance myself at this stage,” he writes.

“I am now 68 years old, I have an OBE, from the Queen, an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Westminster, I have been inducted into the MMF Roll of Honour, and awarded the Music Industry Champion honour.

“I am not dissatisfied with how things have gone for me, but I am a middle class black man, with the benefit of a British public school education, and a well embedded knowledge of how to navigate white society.”

Harris continues, “I would like to remind you all that this awareness of racism in the industry should not last for one day, or one week, or one year. This should last forever. I would like to see other young black people in the industry rise to the positions of authority and seniority that their talent merits.

“We have had many false dawns in terms of equality in the industry, let’s make sure that this is not another one.”

Read his letter in full here. And for more information, visit TheShowMustBePaused.com.

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