BDRB Declaration to End Anti-Black Racism in the Canadian Music Industry
Dear colleagues,
On Wednesday June 2nd,the 1-year anniversary of #BlackOutTuesday - the viral global action to protest anti-Black racism - BDRB (Breaking Down Racial Barriers) with partners CIMA (Canadian Independent Music Association) and ADVANCE, Canada's Black Music Business Collective will be hosting a virtual declaration signing event for music industry leaders to make public their commitment to anti-Black racism.
"The BDRB Declaration to End Anti-Black Racism in the Canadian Music Industry"commits signatories to measurable actions - music industry leaders and practitioners will be expected to make an active, conscious and ongoing effort to work against racism; to create mechanisms to dismantle systems that perpetuate racism, and to create actionable solutions with measurable outcomes.
The Canadian Live Music Association (CLMA) is a proud signatory supporter of the declaration. CLMA President & CEO, Erin Benjamin, will be speaking at the event alongside Ian Andre Espinet (Co-founder, BDRB), David "Click" Cox (Co-founder, BDRB), Andrew Cash (President, CIMA), Keziah Myers (Executive Director, ADVANCE), Shauna de Cartier (President, Six Shooter Records), and Steve Kane (President, Warner Music). The event will also include performances by multiple JUNO Award-winning singer, songwriter and international recording artist Jully Black, and rising R&B vocalist and phenomenon Shantel May.
This is an open invitation to the individuals, organizations, small businesses, corporations and government institutions of the music industry to show their commitment to the eradication of anti-Black racism in the Canadian music industry and their respective spaces.