LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Grammy awards organizers on Thursday launched a campaign to raise black voices at all levels of the music industry and ensure black artists receive fair compensation for their work.
The #ChangeMusic Roadmap, launched by the Academy of Enrollment and the non-profit color change of racial justice, said black contributions to the industry have historically been valued.
Black artists have “created the styles of music, culture, trends and success of this industry – but all too often they are left unheard of and excluded from the rooms where decisions are most important. important things have been done, ”said the organizers.
The campaign follows a cultural account prompted by street protests across the country over the summer about systemic racism, and pressure on the music industry to keep the numbers of black people in the ranks improve his physical performance.
Rap and R&B music overtook rock in 2017 to become the largest genre of music in the United States but there are only a handful of top black performers in the industry.
The Recording Academy, which votes for the Grammys, has caught fire in recent years from the likes of Drake, Jay-Z and Kanye West for seemingly favoring white artists. In more than 60 years of the Grammys, only two hip – hop albums have ever won the record of the year and Herbie Hancock was the last Black artist to win the prestigious award in 2008.
The Recording Academy in October launched the Black Music Collective in response to the criticism.
The #ChangeMusic Roadmap calls for a fair distribution of kingdoms, an examination of old registration conditions for potential inequalities, anti-racism training, annual reports on pay disparities and an increase in the numbers of black people in leadership positions.
“This level provides a unique opportunity to change exclusion and pollution patterns,” the Academy of Recording and Color of Change said in a statement.
Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Edited by Christopher Cushing