So how did we get from there to here? Well, it’s simple. We were never “there” to begin with.
Although strides have been made in various parts of the industry, unfortunately, the more things change, the more they stay the same and the lack of Black executives remains a blind spot in all corners of the music business. While there’s seemingly hope for diversity in the appointments of Tunji Balogun as CEO of Def Jam, Harvey Mason jr. transitioning from interim to full-time CEO at the Recording Academy and Jon Platt leading Sony Music Publishing as chairman/CEO, the wheels at Capitol seem to be turning more slowly.
In the days leading up to the fallout over FN Meka, we reached out directly to several individuals who are on, as well as others affiliated with organizations founded on similar initiatives, and found our attempts brushed off or, in some instances, simply unanswered. Capitol itself issued a statement to the media, but did not address this egregiously offensive misstep on the company’s social media channels.
What’s the point of this op-ed? Does another call for more Black employees sound like a broken record in 2022? For a building designed around the concept of a stack of LPs, and currently empty due to retrofitting meant to withstand an earthquake, such unstable ground leads to cracks in the foundation for the company it houses. Capitol, are you listening?