What is Blackout Tuesday and why are people posting a black square on Instagram?
MAJOR labels have joined music industry groups and top artists to pledge a "blackout" in protest against the death of George Floyd.
Megastars Beyoncé and Adele's label Sony, along with IGA - which looks after Lady Gaga and Billie Eilish - announced “perhaps with the music off, we can truly listen".
⚠️ Read our George Floyd protests live blog for the latest news & updates
What is Blackout Tuesday?
The music industry is "turning off the music" and holding a day to reflect and spark change in response to the death of George Floyd and the killings of other black people.
Several top record labels organised Black Out Tuesday on June 2 as violent protests erupted around the world, sparked by Floyd’s death as well as the killings of Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor.
MTV and BET went dark for eight minutes and 46 seconds in support of Black Lives Matter and racial injustice.
Music-based companies Live Nation and TikTok, as well as the Recording Academy, posted to social media that they planned to support and stand up to prejudice alongside the black community.
Floyd died after a white officer knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes.
His arrest was caught on camera, where he could be heard saying “I can’t breathe” to cop Derek Chauvin of the Minneapolis police department.
Chauvin has since been charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.
Which artists and record labels are getting involved?
“On Tuesday June 2nd, Columbia Records will observe ‘Black Out Tuesday,’” the Sony label - home to Beyoncé, Bob Dylan, Adele and John Legend - said in a statement.
“This is not a day off. Instead, this is a day to reflect and figure out ways to move forward in solidarity.
“We continue to stand with the Black community, our staff, artists, and peers in the music industry.
“Perhaps with the music off, we can truly listen," it added.
Musicians including Rihanna, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Lil Nas X, Demi Lovato, Post Malone and Harry Styles have spoken out on social media following Floyd’s death and worldwide protests.
Stars spotted among crowds of demonstrators over the weekend of May 30-31 included Ariana Grande, J. Cole, Jamie Foxx, Chance the Rapper, Kehlani, Miguel, Tinashe and Lil Yachty.
Halsey also took part - and said she was hit with a pellet and a shrapnel shell in a Los Angeles demo.
Other labels that have joined Black Out Tuesday include the Sony imprints RCA Records and Epic Records; the Universal Music Group divisions Republic Records, Def Jam, UMG Nashville, Capitol Records and Island Records; and the Warner Music Group imprints Atlantic and Warner Records.
Smaller, independent labels as well as music publishing companies and management firms have also signed on.
UMG’s Interscope Geffen A&M Records said that in addition to joining Black Out Tuesday, the label home to Lady Gaga, Kendrick Lamar and Billie Eilish, would not release music this week — the first label to do so.
It said: “Instead, IGA will contribute to organisations that help to bail out protesters exercising their right to peacefully assemble, aid lawyers working for systemic change and provide assistance to charities focused on creating economic empowerment in the Black community."
IGA postponed new music releases of MGK, 6lack, Dylan, Jessie Ware, Smokepurp, Lil Mosey, Billy Raffoul, Max Leone and more in coordination with their partners Alamo, LVRN, The Darkroom, and Bad Boy.
Jay-Z called for Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison to prosecute those responsible for killing Floyd.
He said: “I, along with an entire country in pain, call upon AG Ellison to do the right thing and prosecute all those responsible for the murder of George Floyd to the fullest extent of the law.
"This is just a first step. I am more determined to fight for justice than any fight my would-be oppressors may have.
“I prevail on every politician, prosecutor and officer in the country to have the courage to do what is right.
"Have the courage to look at us as humans, dads, brothers, sisters and mothers in pain and look at yourselves.”
Why is Blackout Tuesday being held?
Tensions have been running high after Floyd's death.
His fatality followed the belated May arrest of two white men for the February shooting death of unarmed black jogger Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia, and after cops in Louisville, Kentucky, shot medic Breonna Taylor to death in her home in March.
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R&B duo Chloe x Halle explained to news agency, the Associated Press: “This week has been very heavy for all of us.
"We’ve been trying to, not understand, because there’s no way to understand the terrible killings — we just have heavy hearts this week and are just trying to do everything we can to pray and lift each other up with our voices."
The singers have posted a cover of the classic civil rights anthem and protest song “We Shall Overcome” to Instagram, hoping to offer the world some positive energy.
