George Floyd: Music industry calls for 'blackout' over death - BBC News

The music industry is to observe a day-long "blackout" on Tuesday, in response to George Floyd's death last week.

All three major record labels have shared a message on social media promising "a day to disconnect from work and reconnect with our community".

Interscope vowed not to release new music this week, while Apple Music's Ebro Darden cancelled his radio shows.

Floyd, a 46-year-old African-American man, died last week after a white police officer knelt on his neck for several minutes.

"It felt like that cop had his knee on all of our necks, meaning black men," he said on Apple Music's Young Money Radio.

As anger spread through the music community, a message spread on social media calling on the industry to "take an urgent step of action to provoke accountability and change"

Among those reposting the message were Warner Music Group, Sony/ATV, Universal Music, Motown, Capitol Records, British label Dirty Hit, Eminem's Shady Records and legendary producer Quincy Jones

"I will air replays of conversations with community activists, politicians and revolutionary music."

"We stand together with the black community against all forms of racism, bigotry, and violence," said Columbia Records, which is home to Beyoncé, Pharrell Williams, Lil Nas X, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and Adele

That time has come," added Universal Music Group on social media

Universal's chairman, Sir Lucian Grainge, also issued a memo to staff laying out plans for a task force, headed by chief counsel Jeff Harleston, to "accelerate our efforts in areas such as inclusion and social justice"

The death of George Floyd, a black man, at the hands of police has sparked civil unrest across the US