Spotify stands with the Black Neighborhood towards racism and injustice
June 2nd is Black Out Tuesday, a day of collective separation from work designed to help people think about and connect with the Black Community. That day – and every day – Spotify, a music streaming company, will support its employees, friends, partners, artists and creators in the fight against racism, injustice and inequality.
Spotify uses the power of its platform to collaborate with black developers, amplify their voices and accelerate meaningful conversations and long-awaited changes. As a result, listeners will notice some changes to Spotify from Tuesday, 00:01 a.m.
Listeners will see a black logo and a headline image on more than a dozen of Spotify's flagship playlists and podcasts, including today's top hits and RapCaviar, as well as all city and R&B playlists and many podcast covers. Spotify will also stop posting on social media as a symbol of solidarity, reminding us that things can't stay the status quo. Finally, selected participating playlists and podcasts included an 8-minute, 46-second silence trail as a solemn confirmation of the period in which George Floyd had suffocated.
Spotify will also amplify the voices of blacks by continuing to use its longstanding hub "Black History Is Now", which is a key resource and home to music, playlists and podcasts such as "Code Switch", "You Had Me at Black" and " Higher Learning with Van "serves Lathan and Rachel Lindsay. The hub will also include multiple playlists, including Black History Salute and We Shall Overcome. The Black Lives Matter playlist, which was updated for Black Music Month in June, is also introduced.
In addition to customizing the visual representation of the platform, selected songs on each of the darkened playlists are specially curated to reflect the current environment. For example, expect to hear a Kendrick Lamar song while playing RapCaviar, a hymn by Gary Clark Jr. for Rock This, and Rhiannon Giddens, when you stream indigo.
Users in the U.S. will also see a targeted shelf on the home page of desktop and mobile apps that lead to black out playlists. In addition, Spotify-related ads appear worldwide at the free Spotify level. Both efforts will ensure that even more listeners have the opportunity to hear black voices.
Later in June, the music streaming company started the second season of the Spotify podcast The Window. The first season focused on the lives of key workers during the COVID 19 pandemic, and in the second season story telling continues to focus on the experiences of the black community at that time.
Hear from people like a black business owner in an area affected by the protest, a victim of police brutality, and a black policeman. The goal is to encourage conversation and use the Spotify platform to share these stories that help us humanize each other.
Spotify has also encouraged employees around the world to watch Black Out Tuesday by taking the time to reflect and educate themselves. The company has shared resources about what it means to be an effective ally of the Black Community, and Spotifiers will have access to trained mental health providers.
In addition, Spotify will match employee financial donations to organizations that focus on the fight against racism. Injustice; Injustice; and drive significant changes. After Black Out Tuesday, Spotify will also come together as a global community to facilitate discussion of racial injustices.
Now is no time for silence and Spotify is helping the Black Community. As their support continues to evolve, Spotify hopes that these first steps and measures will help drive these discussions forward, promote deeper connection, and initiate positive and lasting change.
Spotify is a winner at World Branding Awards.
