Change Music. This is how they will promote African-American musicians

The Recording Academy, institution that holds the Grammy Awards; and Color of Change, a non-profit organization that promotes racial justice, launched this Thursday #ChangeMusic. It is a initiative that seeks to raise the voices of African American artists at all levels of the music industry and ensure that they are fairly compensated for their work.

According to the organizers, African American stars have created styles of music, culture, trends and the success of this business. However, their contributions have historically been undervalued.

The creation of this project responds to a cultural reflection that was promoted by street protests held this summer in the United States over systemic racism. In addition to pressure on the music business to improve the number of African Americans in its corporate ranks. Rap and R&B overtook rock in 2017 to become the biggest music genres in the neighboring country. However, there is only a small group of African American executives in senior positions in the industry.

Real or hypocritical support?

It is contradictory to think that Recording Academy launch a support campaign, when in recent years it has been criticized by figures like Drake, Jay-Z and Kanye West for seeming to favor white artists. Last month, The Weeknd accused the Grammys of corruption after not being nominated.

In more than 60 years of these awards, only two hip-hop albums have won Record of the Year, and the last African-American artist to receive the coveted honor was Herbie Hancock in 2008.

What is #ChangeMusic?

The initiative asks for the following things:

• Distribution fair of royalties.
• Review of old recording contracts to detect possible inequalities.
• Training anti-racist.
• Annual reports on wage disparities.
• Increase in the number of African-Americans in leadership positions.

“This moment offers an unparalleled opportunity to change patterns of exclusion and degradation and take steps forward. To honor and amplify the past, present, and future contributions of African American artists, the music industry must break down barriers that have been raised for too long. #ChangeMusic is our first step“he said to portal Variety, Rashad Robinson, presidente de Color of Change.

CAR

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