Artists, manufacturers and executives point out condemning prejudices and hate speech in the industry
Many names in rap, folk, rock and pop music, from Rita Ora and Labrinth to James Blunt and 1975, came together this weekend to adopt an unprecedented ranked opposite to racism.
In the wake of the anti-Semitic explosion that led to artist Grime Wiley’s Twitter ban last week, many leading producers, songwriters, singers, music publishers, record labels and musicians, based largely in Britain or the United States, have firmly agreed on a written document that aims to explain an industry-wide position opposed to prejudice and hate speech.
Together, they say, they hope to “demonstrate and express our determination, that love, unity and friendship, not department and hatred, will have to be, and at all times, our non-unusual cause.”
The statement, which will also appear as a printed letter and on social media in the coming days, is also signed by artists Calum Scott, Leona Lewis, Alexandra Burke, Years-Years, Placebo, Goldie and Jess Glynne, along with major brands and publishers. such as Sony, Parlophone, Polydor, Universal and Warner Chappell Music UK.
A prominent signatory, Markell Casey, senior artistic director of the influential Pulse Music Group in Los Angeles, spoke Saturday about his commitment to respond. “It is to show solidarity with our Jewish brothers and sisters. We’re all human and we can’t look a blind eye to racism,” he said.
Casey, who works with composer and manufacturer James Blake, said it was time to be better informed about our shared history. “Jews and blacks have traditionally worked in combination to end discrimination,” he said. “The positive contributions of Jews to black civil rights in the United States and South Africa should not be overlooked.”
The list of signatories is notable, not only for the figures accumulated at full speed in a crusade orchestrated in components from the home of leader AR Alistair Goldsmith, with that of his wife, former Labour MP Luciana Berger, but also for the wide diversity of talents that have come together. Along with young talents such as Clean Bandit, MNEK and Naughty Boy are well-established names in the industry such as Andy Taylor of Duran Duran, Nile Rodgers and Niall Horan, formerly of One Direction.
Last weekend, Wiley began posting a series of anti-Semitic tweets and then, by comparison, the Jewish network with the Ku Klux Klan. The explosion is now believed to have occurred after a recent dispute between the rapper and his former manager, who is Jewish.
Late last week, Twitter banned the artist’s site and also apologized for taking too long to react. Wiley also tried to apologize. “I just need to apologize for generalizing and taking out other people I talk to in the paint space and in the office where I paint,” he said, claiming he’s not a racist.
The black British newspaper The Voice was criticized for publishing an incendiary interview with Wiley, in which he asked whether “there was anything prominent in his elucidations.” On Friday, he deleted the online version, saying that “it had not done so, and that it is clear, edited or in any way tolerated Wiley’s explosions that the Jewish network unearth offensive.” We don’t make stereotypes of any race or group. »»