Apple
One of the most well-received (at least on the internet, at least) #BlackOutTuesday messages out there has come from Apple, who have essentially shut down the popular Apple Music function — all radio stations have been blocked — and are only playing black music through one shared stream.
When you open the Apple Music app on your iPhone or your MacBook, you will find the following message when clicking the “For You”, “Browse”, and “Radio” sections:
“In steadfast support of the Black voices that define music, creativity, and culture, we use ours. This moment calls upon us all to speak and act against racism and injustice of all kinds. We stand in solidarity with Black communities everywhere.”
https://twitter.com/djacslater/status/1267882413897596930
While many of the empty gestures from corporate brands can feel hollow, the response to Apple Music’s move has been well-received thus far:
Apple Music blocked out all stations and only playing BLACK MUSIC for #blackouttuesday We are being heard y’all 😭😭
— lady picasso 🎀 (@ladypcasso) June 2, 2020
https://twitter.com/KourtniiLove/status/1267890507797192704
Apple Music will forever remain supreme 🖤 pic.twitter.com/4sERbClJ0H
— ღ (@zannahli) June 2, 2020
https://twitter.com/JAVIJDM/status/1267892118829359111
https://twitter.com/yagrlky4/status/1267888094063153152
Apple Music did what needed to be done.
— Kay (@KaylarWill) June 2, 2020
https://twitter.com/rashaaddenzel/status/1267862347672059904
According to a recent report from May 2020, Apple Music estimates they have roughly 68 million subscribers worldwide, which represents an increase of 8 million people since June 2019.
Apple Music isn’t the only popular app to be sending a message, as the likes Spotify, Sirius, TikTok, and Amazon Music have all put forth similar signs of solidarity.
TikTok announced Monday that it would remove all playlists and campaigns from its sound page on Tuesday as it observes Blackout Tuesday, and it would be donating $3 million from its Community Relief Fund to non-profits that support black communities along with another $1 million to combat racial injustice and inequality.
Spotify announced Monday that it would black out the artwork on many of its most popular podcasts including Today’s Top Hits and RapCaviar, and that several of its podcasts and playlists would also include 8 minutes and 46 seconds of silence to acknowledge the duration of George Floyd’s suffocation. Spotify also said it will be matching donations from its employees toward organizations focused on fighting racism. [via Rolling Stone]
Hopefully, this living nightmare is wake-up call, the final straw, the proverbial ripping off of the band-aid that this country has needed for so long. Black Lives Matter.
If you want to help make a change in this world, you can find a link from ActBlue HERE that will split your donation evenly among the following charity groups: Black Lives Matter Global Network, Reclaim the Block, National Bail Out, Black Visions Collective, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, The National Police Accountability Project, Color of Change Education Fund, Unicorn Riot, Campaign Zero, Advancement Project, and The Marshall Project.
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Eric is a New York City-based writer who still isn’t quite sure how he’s allowed to have this much fun for a living and will tell anyone who listens that Gotham City is canonically in New Jersey. Follow him on Twitter @eric_ital for movie and soccer takes or contact him eric@brobible.com