BLM, PRIDE AND PURPOSE

At the intersection of Pride and Black Lives Matter, thousands of individuals have filled the streets for a global racial justice revolution and LGBTQ+ solidarity.

Beyond the historic All Black Lives Matter march on 6/14, BLM protests have been shutting down streets across the globe for weeks—calling for justice, peace, systemic police reform and proactive steps forward, triggering many to forgo silence, raise awareness and amplify the voices of the Black community.

“The LGBTQ+ community has a history of utilizing protest and partnership. It’s important to use our individual privilege where we can to acknowledge that the work is far from done and to examine what role we can each play in helping bring progress,” says Sony/ATV’s VP, U.S Business Development, Kristina Hedrick, who’s also an active member of Sony’s employee resource group OutLoud, which supports LGBTQ+ employees.

SATV, along with the majors WMG, UMG and SME, are joining CEOs, execs, artists and the biz to unite and take action. With multiple task forces (Black Music Action Coalition and UMG’s TFMC) and major funds established to support social justice and anti-racist initiatives (WMG and SME), we’re confronting systemic racism and the need for equality with unparalleled momentum in a way we’ve never seen before.

Thomas Krottinger, Sony/ATV Director of A&R, says, “To eradicate systemic racism in the US, people who look like me need to fully engage in learning, listening, advocating for progress and speaking out against racial injustice. Education and activism are two of the most important tools we can use to continue to strengthen these alliances.”

Elevating black voices during Pride Month and strengthening the alliance is just the beginning. Adam Ikner, Sony/ATV A&R Coordinator, shares, “As someone who is both mixed and gay, it is heartening to see these alliances form, as these communities often do not interact, despite sharing many people at the intersection. Illuminating the voices of those at this intersection is long overdue, and so crucial to this movement.”

With voices demanding to be heard across the globe, a landmark victory was recently made with the Supreme Court, ruling that the Civil Rights law protects gay and transgender workers from workplace discrimination.

“Until sexual orientation and gender identity are no longer a deciding factor in any aspect of life for LGBTQ+ Americans, there is work to be done. We all need to remain politically engaged and involved in our local, state, and federal governments—every election matters,” said Krottinger.

“As gatekeepers to the music industry, we bear an incredible amount of responsibility in shaping culture. Music connects the world and transcends politics, race, religion, and language. We need to use our influence to uplift marginalized voices and create a safe space for those individuals to create.”