Essence gu™
  • FASHION
    • FASHION NEWS
    • ACCESSORIES
    • FEATURES
    • FASHION WEEK
  • BEAUTY
    • SKIN
    • MAKEUP
    • HAIR
    • NAILS
  • ENTERTAINMENT
    • GU JAMS
    • FILM
    • TV
    • RADIO
    • BOOKS
    • TECH
    • SPORTS
  • WELLNESS
    • RELATIONSHIPS
    • SEX
    • HEALTH
    • FOOD
    • ASTROLOGY
  • BUSINESS
    • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
    • MONEY
    • CAREERS
    • ADVICE
  • FEEDBACK
    • NEWS
    • IDENTITY
    • ACTIVISM
    • POLITICS
    • LET’S TALK ABOUT IT
  • SHOPPING
    • FASHION
    • BEAUTY
    • TECH
    • LIFESTYLE
  • Videos
  • GU Summit 2024
  • ESSENCE.COM
  • SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service

Subscribe to Trending News

Our weekly newsletter with the latest celebrity news, fashion updates, interviews and exclusive offers!

Your email is required.
Your email is in invalid format.
Confirm email is required.
Email did not match.
By clicking Subscribe Now, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. By supplying your cell phone number, you consent to receive marketing messages from ESSENCE. Please note that standard messaging rates apply from your provider.
  • FASHION
    • FASHION NEWS
    • ACCESSORIES
    • FEATURES
    • FASHION WEEK
  • BEAUTY
    • SKIN
    • MAKEUP
    • HAIR
    • NAILS
  • ENTERTAINMENT
    • GU JAMS
    • FILM
    • TV
    • RADIO
    • BOOKS
    • TECH
    • SPORTS
  • WELLNESS
    • RELATIONSHIPS
    • SEX
    • HEALTH
    • FOOD
    • ASTROLOGY
  • BUSINESS
    • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
    • MONEY
    • CAREERS
    • ADVICE
  • FEEDBACK
    • NEWS
    • IDENTITY
    • ACTIVISM
    • POLITICS
    • LET’S TALK ABOUT IT
  • SHOPPING
    • FASHION
    • BEAUTY
    • TECH
    • LIFESTYLE
  • Videos
  • GU Summit 2024
  • ESSENCE.COM
  • SUBSCRIBE TO NEWSLETTER
Home • News

Read Kelis' Statement On How The Music Biz Can Support Black Lives

"If the music industry wants to support Black lives, labels and platforms can start with amending contracts," she wrote.
Read Kelis’s Statement On How The Music Biz Can Support Black Lives
ATLANTA, GA – SEPTEMBER 09: Singer Kelis performs onstage during 2018 ONE Musicfest at Atlanta Central Park on September 9, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images)
By Brooklyn White · Updated May 1, 2024

Singer Kelis has been outspoken about her mistreatment from the music industry this year.

In January, she made headlines after revealing the details of a recording contract that she was “blatantly lied to” about. As a part of June 2nd’s #TheShowMustBePaused initiative, Kelis shared her thoughts on a few of the ways the entertainment world can be better to Black people.

“If the music industry wants to support Black lives, labels and platforms can start with amending contracts,” her statement began. Kelis also wrote that those same forces can be “distributing royalties, diversifying boardrooms, and retroactively paying back all the Black artists, and their families, they have built their empires on.”

She participated in the traditional aspect of Blackout Tuesday—posting a Black square on Instagram—as well. The post has since been deleted.

Her words were met with support from Erykah Badu and writer/speaker, Jamilah Lemieux.

As stated, Kelis spoke during the social media blackout conducted by music executives Jamila Thomas and Brianna Agyemang. Their #theshowmustbepaused day was set to temporarily halt all output from musicians, labels, and platforms in honor of the Black lives lost at the hands of police. With Kelis’ statement, she held the industry accountable for failing the very people it often benefits from.

Photo credit: Getty Images

TOPICS:  Blackout Tuesday Kelis music music industry
Stacey Abrams Talks Trump’s Futile Attempts To Overthrow Georgia Election Results

COMPANY
INFORMATION

OUR COMPANY
CONTACT US
JOB OPPORTUNITIES

SUBSCRIBE

NEWSLETTERS
DISCOVER MORE EVENTS
Follow Us

MORE ON
ESSENCE GU™

HOME
RELATIONSHIPS
BEAUTY
HAIR
FASHION
EVENTS

ESSENCE GU™ is part of ESSENCE Ventures

ESSENCE GU™ may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.

©2023 ESSENCE Ventures. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Essence.com Advertising Terms