U.S : R. KELLY is dropped from RCA RECORDS !

RCA Records listened to our demands to 

#DropRKelly, 

but there's still work to be done. 

Demand R. Kelly be dropped 

from all streaming platforms

!

Dear friend,

YOU DID IT ! Thanks to the thousands of calls, emails, and petitions from Color Of Change members and our allies, RCA records has finally answered our call to drop R. Kelly from their label. This is a huge victory for the survivors who came forward, both in Surviving R. Kelly and before, and all young Black women, who are systematically undervalued in our society. This victory belongs to the survivors of his abuse — their brave testimonies played a critical role in pushing RCA to drop R. Kelly.

Color Of Change put the call out for RCA to #DropRKelly back in 2017 and we’ve been consistently demanding accountability for the past two years. Between petition deliveries, rallies, and working with our board member, dream hampton, to create conversations around the Surviving R. Kelly docuseries, Color Of Change and our members have been at the forefront of holding RCA’s feet to the fire. But our work is not done.

RCA’s decision to drop R. Kelly is only the beginning. The fight goes on as we continue to put pressure on streaming services like Spotify, Tidal, Pandora, and Apple Music for continuing to profit from R. Kelly’s songs. We’ve already seen artists like Chance the Rapper, Ciara, and Celine Dion remove their collaborations with R. Kelly from streaming services.¹ It’s time for companies like Spotify to do the same. With your help, we’re going to hold them accountable.

Demand Spotify stop helping R. Kelly profit off his abuse of Black girls. 

In Surviving R. Kelly, it was confirmed that many of R. Kelly’s songs detail the alleged emotional and sexual abuse he inflicted upon teenage girls.² By allowing his songs to continue to stream on their platforms, Spotify, Tidal, Pandora, and Apple Music are providing income for R. Kelly to fund his predatory and abusive behavior that includes keeping young women and girls imprisoned in his homes.³ We cannot allow this to continue. Black girls are worth more than streaming sales.

Dozens of Color Of Change members joined us last week as we stood outside RCA’s corporate headquarters and demanded they #DropRKelly.⁴It's time streaming services like Spotify feel the same kind of pressure, and drop R. Kelly today. 

Until justice is real, 

Brandi, Rashad, Arisha, Jade, Evan, Johnny, Future, Corina, Chad, Mary, Saréya, Angela, Eesha, Samantha, and the rest of the Color Of Change team

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References :

1. "Here Are the Artists Who Removed Their R. Kelly Collaborations From Streaming Platforms", TIME, 17 January 2019 http://act.colorofchange.org/go/118997?t=8&akid=22895%2E1942551%2EEsMorG
2. "'Surviving R. Kelly' and Why We Can't Separate the Art from the Artist", The Daily Beast, 5 January 2019 https://act.colorofchange.org/go/118998?t=10&akid=22895%2E1942551%2EEsMorG
3. "Parents Told Police Their Daughter Is Being Held Against Her Will In R. Kelly's "Cult"", Buzzfeed News, 17 July 2017 https://act.colorofchange.org/go/118999?t=12&akid=22895%2E1942551%2EEsMorG
4. "R. Kelly Protestors Gather Outside Sony Headquarters Demanding They Drop Him", Vulture, 16 January 2019 https://act.colorofchange.org/go/119000?t=14&akid=22895%2E1942551%2EEsMorG

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Color Of Change is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.