Sony Music Group pledges $100 million in fight for equality
Sony Music Group has joined the fight for equality, pledging $100 million in the battle for social justice and anti-racist initiatives around the world.
The announcement, made by Sony Music Group’s chairman Rob Stringer takes the often sensitive topics of race and discrimination head on, stating that, “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.”
What’s more—Sony Music Group, home to Khalid, Harry Styles, Mark Ronson, Travis Scott,and many others, doesn’t just plan to throw money at the problem, but commits both “time and energy” to the cause as the company moves forward. Earlier this week, Sony Music Group made the most of Blackout Tuesday, holding congenial and productive town halls with everybody from Spike Lee to Ben Crump, the attorney representing the families of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor.
“A big takeaway from [Blackout Tuesday] is that the discussions we started must continue,” Stringer commented. “We can be a company where these difficult, uncomfortable conversations occur more often. To facilitate these platforms for being heard, we plan to hold more regular employee forums in the coming year.”
Sony Music Group’s will commence operations to the fund with immediate donations to “organizations that foster equal rights.”
Make no mistake—dance music is born from black culture. Without black creators, innovators, selectors, and communities, the electronic dance music we hold so dear would simply not exist. In short, dance music is deeply indebted to the global black community and we need to be doing more. Black artists and artists of color have played a profound role in shaping the sound and culture of dance music and now more than ever, it is necessary for everyone in the music community to stand up for the people that have given us so much. Dancing Astronaut pledges to make every effort to be a better ally, a stronger resource, and a more accountable member of the global dance music community. Black Lives Matter—get involved here:
National Lawyers Guild Mass Defense Program
Colin Kaepernick’s Know Your Rights Legal Defense Initiative
Committee to Protect Journalists
Featured image: Emily Korn
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