Blackout Tuesday: Spotify, SiriusXM Observe Moments of Silence in George Floyd Tributes
Source: Variety
By Todd Spangler
As part of the music industrys Blackout Tuesday protest against racism, Spotify and SiriusXM will go silent in symbolic moments of silence to acknowledge the death of George Floyd.
Audio-streaming giant Spotify, as part of its Blackout Tuesday initiatives, is including an 8-minute, 46-second track of silence on select playlists and podcasts. That is meant as a solemn acknowledgement for the length of time that George Floyd was suffocated, Spotify said.
SiriusXM, meanwhile, on June 2 at 3 p.m. ET will silence all music channels for three minutes. According to a memo SiriusXM CEO Jim Meyer sent to employees, the pause includes one minute to reflect on the terrible history of racism, one minute in observance of this tragic moment in time and one minute to hope for and demand a better future.
This will serve as a tribute not only to George Floyd but to all of the countless victims of racism, Meyer wrote. He added that SiriusXM and Pandora will continue to amplify Black voices by being a space where Black artists showcase their music and talents, and by carrying the message that racism will not be tolerated. Meyer also told employees, we understand if you need to take tomorrow as a day to disconnect, reflect and connect with the community.
Read more: https://variety.com/2020/music/news/blackout-tuesday-spotify-siriusxm-silence-george-floyd-1234623010/
I didn't know about this in advance. Marta and I have Sirius on. It went silent at the top of this hour!