White-rose plan to show support for Time’s Up
NEW YORK — The music industry hasn’t been rocked with as many public allegations of sexual misconduct as Hollywood, but insiders are seeking to show solidarity with the MeToo movement on music’s biggest night.
Executives have called on artists and employees to wear a white rose on Sunday in support of Time’s Up as the Grammys celebrate its 60th anniversary with a ceremony in New York City.
Time’s Up was formed by Hollywood stars and executives including Reese Witherspoon, Shonda Rhimes and America Ferrera, and most stars wore black and a Time’s Up pin in support of the movement at the Golden Globes this month.
Artists who have already confirmed they will wear the rose on Sunday include Dua Lipa and Halsey, who read a poem detailing sexual abuse at the Women’s March in New York City on Saturday.
“We have not had the tsunami that politics and Hollywood has had, but we are still women,” said Meg Harkins, senior vicepresident of marketing at Roc Nation and one of the people behind the Time’s Up push at the Recording Academy ceremony.
“I would want to see men and women wearing white roses and I would like men and women to be able to have meaningful Grammy Award speeches when those speeches happen.”
After the Globes, Harkins spoke with fellow industry executive Karen Rait, head of rhythm promotions at Interscope/ Geffen/A&M records, about what could be done at the Grammys.
“We all agreed it was really necessary,” Harkins said. “We’ve all felt the political and cultural change in the last couple of months.”
The women gathered others for a meeting Monday, and by Wednesday sent out an email urging people to wear a white rose and also noted that Rapsody, the only woman nominated for best rap album, would do so.
“We choose the white rose because, historically, it stands for hope, peace, sympathy and resistance,” the email said. “Please let us know if we can add your name to our list of supporters. The world is listening.”
In a matter of hours, hundreds of people had confirmed, said Harkins. The push was buoyed by the support of the co-chairs at Atlantic Records, Julie Greenwald and Craig Kallman. Greenwald sent the missive out to staff members. “They have really encouraged not only their artists, but also their employees to sign,” Harkins said.
The white rose was chosen in part because it could be done quickly, but also because the colour has been long used as part of the women’s suffragette movement. Hillary Clinton wore white when she accepted the Democratic nomination for president in 2016.
“It’s not just a visual cue to feel empowered. It’s about actually giving money toward women who need the help,” said Harkins.
Time’s Up is not only trying to raise awareness about sexual harassment, but also money for a legal defence fund for people in all industries battling sexual misconduct. More than $15 million US has already been raised.
Music mogul Russell Simmons is perhaps the biggest industry name accused of sexual misconduct. A woman said in a lawsuit filed Wednesday that Simmons raped her at his Los Angeles home in 2016, joining five other women who have levelled rape allegations against the music mogul.
Simmons, a co-founder of Def Jam Recordings, denied the newest allegations, as he did the previous ones.