UMG’s Republic Records Bans Use Of Term ‘Urban’
UMG label Republic Records is banning the word “urban” at the company, a term that many believe marginalizes music by black artists.
“We encourage the rest of the music industry to follow suit as it is important to shape the future of what we want it to look like, and not adhere to the outdated structures of the past,” reads an Instagram post.
The term was originally coined by black New York radio DJ Frankie Crocker as “urban contemporary” later shortened to “urban.”
LA-based management firm Milk & Honey, who has also championed the change posted:
We will no longer be using the term as we believe it’s an important step forward, and an outdated word, which has no place in 2020 onwards.
Share on:
