Spotify’s Blackout Tuesday: Platform Will Be Live, but Some Playlists and Podcasts Will Not

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorEven for obsessive Rolling Stones fans, the story of founding guitarist Brian Jones’ death nearly 51 years ago has been so clouded with misinformation, controversy and battling agendas that at a certain point one just gives up wondering. An asthmatic with a long history of substance abuse, he drowned in the pool of his lovely home on July 3, 1969, at the age of 27 — just weeks after being ejected from the Stones.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorIn the wake of the financial havoc wreaked on the live-entertainment industry by the coronavirus pandemic, Live Nation plans to make significant changes to its policies regarding concert tours and festivals when touring is expected to resume in 2021, according to a memo circulated to talent agencies.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorPaul McCartney fiercely criticized the Italian live-music industry over its refund policy for his canceled 2020 concerts in a Facebook post that has apparently been deleted. McCartney was scheduled to perform in the Italian cities of Naples and Lucca this week but canceled the shows early last month due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Emma Watson has also made her support of the Black Lives Matter movement very clear after getting backlash for her Blackout Tuesday posts. The Harry Potter actress shared a very powerful message about racism.

As the protests continue around the country – and around the world – to demand justice in the George Floyd murder case and to speak out against police brutality and systemic racism, ABC joined the cause this week by re-airing two episodes of their sitcom Black-ish on Blackout Tuesday. The first episode the network chose for the occasion was titled “Hope” from Season 2, and it addressed the issue of police brutality.

Emma Watson will not stand for racial injustice, and she made that very clear with her Instagram post on June 3. The actress’s message was inspired by the latest death of a black man, George Floyd, by a white police officer, Derek Chauvin, which sparked a widespread conversation about racism in the United States. “I stand with you,” Emma told the black community in her post.

On Tuesday, June 2, thousands of people across the nation took to social media to share an all-black image in honor of Blackout Tuesday. The social media movement was used to put a “pause” and support the Black community following the tragic death of George Floyd, 46.

Although it was billed as a “pause,” “Blackout Tuesday” — during which much of the music industry “disconnected from work” to focus on ways it can support and stand in solidarity with the black community — was not meant to be a day off, and indeed it wasn’t for the greater music industry.

Drew Brees admitted that he doesn’t support kneeling for the national anthem before football games, one day after posting a tribute to Black Lives Matter activists for “Blackout Tuesday.”

Remember how yesterday's #BlackoutTuesday became a mess really fast? No? Allow me to refresh your memory: Instead of using the black square correctly, . Many celebrities simply posted the black square and said nothing about what's going on in America, and were rightfully called out on it. Take Emma Watson, for example.

Erika Jayne isn’t ashamed of her son’s job as a Los Angeles police officer.

Donald Trump‘s daughter Tiffany Trump posted a black square on Instagram on Tuesday (June 2), seemingly in solidarity with Blackout Tuesday. Her mom Marla Maples, ex wife of the President, also posted the black square.

Alec Baldwin landed in hot water after he referred to Blackout Tuesday as “National Day Of Whatever”. The actor, 62, defended his decision to promote an episode of his podcast with controversial director Woody Allen, 84, on June 2 while millions of people across the globe protested racial injustice and police brutality in the wake of George Floyd‘s tragic death. Alec captioned the Instagram post, promoting his podcast Here’s The Thing, without any mention of Blackout Tuesday.

Alec Baldwin has defended promoting his interview with Woody Allen on Instagram during Blackout Tuesday.

Lil Nas X and Kehlani have criticised the music industry’s Blackout Tuesday campaign for being a distraction from real activism.

By Jem Aswad

By Jem Aswad