Kevin Mazur/VF15 via beyonce.comMusic / NewsJay-Z and Beyoncé are donating $1.5m to Black Lives MatterFunds for the campaign (and others) have been raised by music streaming service TidalShareLink copied ✔️February 8, 2016MusicNewsTextDaisy Jones In the past, Jay Z and Beyoncé have come under fire for not doing enough to help struggling black communities, despite their huge wealth and the far-reaching influence afforded by their mega-fame. Recently, however, it seems the power couple have become more overtly political within the public sphere, using their finance and power to support black rights and help fight social injustice. On Friday – the same day Trayvon Martin would have turned 21-years-old – it was announced that Jay Z’s global music and entertainment platform Tidal (which is also co-owned by Beyoncé) would be donating $1.5 million to the Black Lives Matter movement, as well as several other civil rights organizations (including Opportunity Agenda, Hands Up United, the Trayvon Martin Foundation and Sankofa.Org amongst others). The streaming service raised these funds at last year’s Tidal X: 10/20 charity concert in New York, which featured performances from Beyoncé, Nicki Minaj, Jay Z and Lil Wayne. “The process of acquiring recommendations (for nonprofits) was collaborative and inspired by the message that speaks to racial and social inequities and injustice in our society," Dania Diaz, managing director of philanthropy at Roc Nation, told Mic. "Each year we will support a different initiative. Our ideology is to have a hifi level of consciousness in everything we do.” This isn’t the first time the Carters have extended their considerable wealth towards helping the black community. Last year, the couple wired “tens of thousands” in order to bail out Baltimore protestors following the death of 25-year-old African American Freddie Grey. The news also comes following Beyoncé’s latest video “Formation” (below), itself a powerful and defiant celebration of black identity during a time of increasing racial tension. Escape the algorithm! Get The DropEmail address SIGN UP Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday. Privacy policy Thank you. You have been subscribed Privacy policy Expand your creative community and connect with 15,000 creatives from around the world.READ MOREEvilgiane’s camera roll from his tour with Snow StrippersFinnish alt-pop star Pehmoaino: ‘Art helps us survive this dark country’ RIMOWAGeorge Riley unpacks her favourite travel spots for RIMOWA 10 great albums you may have missed in the last three monthsLamb is making ‘electronic lyrical’ music that sounds like no one elseArabic shoegaze duo Kiss Facility speak a language deeper than words‘Nazis can’t dance’: Photos from London’s House Against Hate protest rave5 tracks you can’t miss from March 2026ADL: The best and worst tracks on Yeat’s new album‘A cig in one hand and an inhaler in the other’: Fcukers know how to partyThis book looks inside the mad world of Lee ‘Scratch’ PerryDazed Mix: Lauren AuderEscape the algorithm! Get The DropEmail address SIGN UP Get must-see stories direct to your inbox every weekday. Privacy policy Thank you. You have been subscribed Privacy policy