Following Wiley’s anti-semitic comments and continued anti-racism conversations, the #NoSilenceInMusic campaign seeks to combat systemic racism, islamophobia, homophobia, and transphobia
Over 700 members of the UK music industry, including artists, producers, labels, managers, songwriters, and more, have signed an open letter condemning racism and inequality.
The #NoSilenceInMusic campaign’s signatories include The 1975, Nile Rodgers, Arca, Ashnikko, Rejjie Snow, Jessie Ware, Niall Horan, Little Mix, MNEK, and Joy Crookes. The full list of artists and industry players is included in a Medium post. Agencies, management firms, and labels also on the letter include Sony Music, Warner Music, and Universal Music Group.
“We, representatives from the music industry, write to demonstrate and express our determination, that love, unity and friendship, not division and hatred, must and will always be our common cause,” the #NoSilenceInMusic letter states, posted on Medium and Variety.
Signees also pledged to “speak out and stand together in solidarity” when incidents of “islamophobia, xenophobia, homophobia, and transphobia” occur, as well as systemic racism. “We stand together, to educate and wipe out racism now and for our future generations,” the letter says further.
The letter comes in the same week that grime artist Wiley broadcast serious anti-semitic statements on his social media. Wiley has since been dropped by his management. The letter also arrives amid continued conversations around racism and inequality in the music industry, emboldened by the widespread anti-racism protests.
On July 28, artists such as Lorde, Courtney Love, and Blondie signed the Artists Rights Alliance open letter calling for politicians in the US to ask for approval to use their music in political campaigns. It implores Democrats and Republicans to “establish clear policies requiring campaigns to seek consent of featured recording artists, songwriters, and copyright owners before publicly using their music in a political or campaign setting”. Artists including Rihanna, Adele, and Prince’s Estate have previously called on Donald Trump to stop using their music at rallies.
Read the full letter below, and see the full list of signatories here. You can also read back on our recent guide to combatting anti-semitism and how to be an ally to Jewish people right now.
We, representatives from the music industry, write to demonstrate and express our determination, that love, unity and friendship, not division and hatred, must and will always be our common cause.
In recent months through a series of events and incidents, the anti-black racists and antisemites, plus those who advocate islamophobia, xenophobia, homophobia and transphobia, have repeatedly demonstrated that they clearly want us all to fail. Whether it be systemic racism and racial inequality highlighted by continued police brutality in America or anti-Jewish racism promulgated through online attacks, the result is the same: suspicion, hatred and division. We are at our worst when we attack one another.
Minorities from all backgrounds and faiths have struggled and suffered. From slavery to the Holocaust we have painful collective memories. All forms of racism have the same roots — ignorance, lack of education and scapegoating. We, the British music industry are proudly uniting to amplify our voices, to take responsibility, to speak out and stand together in solidarity. Silence is not an option.
There is a global love for music, irrespective of race, religion, sexuality and gender. Music brings joy and hope and connects us all. Through music, education and empathy we can find unity. We stand together, to educate and wipe out racism now and for our future generations.