- As school gets back in session, the pandemic has limited the number of available extracurricular activities
- PlayVS, which helps schools compete in esports leagues, expects participation this year to double or triple, due at least in part to COVID
- Not all schools view esports the same way, and many are still considering the pros and cons
Under normal circumstances, going back to school is not just the start of a new academic year, but the renewal of extracurricular activities, whether on the debate stage or under the Friday night lights. This year, however, the pandemic has made gridiron glory and other activities nearly impossible. Could that lead to a banner year for high school esports?
<p>
Santa Monica-based PlayVS (pronounced "play versus"), which provides the technological and organizational infrastructure for high school esports leagues, thinks so.
</p><p>
"We're expecting 2-3 times the number of students that competed last year," said Clint Kennedy, PlayVS' director of education. "I think COVID is a chief driver."
</p><h2>A COVID Boost
</h2><p>
Kennedy said 90% of U.S. high schools with a football program already use PlayVS or are on the waiting list. The company has an exclusive partnership with the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), the main governing body of American high school sports. The relationship effectively turns esports via PlayVS into a fully fledged varsity sport at participating schools.
</p><p>
Founded in early 2018, PlayVS employs 46 people and has raised $96 million. In addition to having relationships with key educational institutions, it also has partnerships with major game publishers such as Riot and Epic Games.
</p><p>
Competing schools pay $63 per participating student. To accommodate increased demand the company will be rolling out a tiered pricing model this school year, including free scrimmage-only play on one end and a premium level at the other that allows schools to sign up more students.
</p><p>
"Schools are saying 'our teams are growing,'" said Kennedy, "so we've added this other layer to accommodate that growth."
</p><p>
Allen Whitten, principal at Sunny Hills High School, which has won two straight California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) esports state championships, said esports is "the one thing we haven't had to cancel, because they can do it from home." His school's esports coaches, Myra Deister and Sonya Joyce, expect student participation this year to double.
</p><p>
A spokesperson from L.A. Unified School District (LAUSD) said, "we expect interest in this extracurricular activity to expand during the pandemic."
</p><p>
Kennedy added that when COVID arrived this past spring, PlayVS "saw an uptick in our overall registrants" and that he has since seen increased interest from school administrators.
</p><p>
"Esports is in a unique spot to provide opportunities in a pandemic world," he said.
</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://dot.la/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzU3MTIzMy9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxODg2OTMxOX0.uVtWcp3syyDKzC5fSNSW_6iNjGLSaAuTLnr0WPu85Q0/image.jpg?width=980" id="33ebc" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="4ed91e4e7922ead806a6d11c7ed9e6da" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">PlayVS employs has key relationships with educational institutions as well as partnerships with major game publishers including Riot and Epic.</small><small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">Image from PlayVS</small>
</p><h2>Parents Hit Pause </h2><p>
But it's not so clear cut, said CIF director of corporate sponsorships Chris Fahey. "We had mixed reactions" this past spring, he said. "Some schools had interest in continuing with esports to give kids an outlet. Other schools were like, 'We understand it can be played remotely, but the whole reason we got into this is it brings kids together'."
</p><p>
"It's all over the board. It depends on the school," Fahey added.
</p><p>
At Sunny Hills, Principal Whitten noted that among his school's community, the impression of esports has "gone from something that will rot your brains to lots of positive things – teamwork, communication, high-level problem solving. Parents are very supportive – and now (their kids are) competing and winning and being offered scholarships to go to college."
</p><p>
He also pointed to the growth of the gaming industry – particularly in Southern California – as something his school is trying to help students prepare to enter. In addition to its esports teams, Sunny Hills offers an optional two-year gaming and coding curriculum. Whitten said he thinks his school's gaming program has helped it sustain the number of students at the school, even though it's in a district with declining enrollment.
</p><p>
Some parents and faculty members in Compton's school district have expressed concern that esports won't appeal to female gamers, said Mikle McBride, who directs Compton USD's technical and occupational program, which includes esports. At Sunny Hills, Whitten said esports attracts "boys and girls from all over the world" and many "different cultures.".
</p><p>
Another potential downside, said McBride, are concerns that students will commit too much time to gaming. His program takes steps to mitigate that, however, and he thinks the presence of esports in schools "will explode."
</p><p>
PlayVS' Kennedy noted that 42% of all students on PlayVS had never previously played a high school sport, so, he said, it's "engaging a whole group of students that haven't been engaged."
</p><p>
Many schools feel that esports encourages greater student-school engagement, said CIF director Fahey. Only about 800,000 of the approximately 1.8 million high school students in California are student-athletes, he added.
</p><p>
PlayVS focuses on team-based, strategy-oriented games like League of Legends and Rocket League, Kennedy said. He and Fahey both said research suggests structured gaming can help improve students' grades, behavior and attendance.
</p><p>
With PlayVS signups opening this week and carrying on through the beginning of October, Kennedy said the company is ready for whatever schools ultimately choose to do.
</p><p>
Even if his prediction proves optimistic, the future looks bright for esports in schools. Interest is growing at the college level. Fahey said the NCAA "has looked at it and said 'we're not there yet'," while Kennedy noted that PlayVS has already begun working with athletic conferences to support their forays into esports.
</p><p>
Marlon Nichols, whose L.A.-based MaC Venture Capital has invested in PlayVS, sees that trend advancing. "We're moving into more and more of a virtual world," he said, "so colleges are going to want to add this to their repertoire of what they offer students."
</p>
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Helmed by gaming industry royalty and financed by a who's-who of gaming investors, the Video Game Entertainment and News Network (VENN) launches Wednesday. The free, ad-based network features live, 24/7 coverage on its website and a range of social media and connected-TV platforms.
VENN's home base is Playa Vista Studios in Los Angeles, where it boasts five sets comprising over 8,000 square feet. It will also broadcast out of New York City. The programming slate will include a variety of original content covering gaming, esports and music.
<p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-youtube">
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="68d3aa0f96b18c099f37c59f101a9c18"><iframe type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KaN9jVrVf_w?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span>
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">Welcome to VENN (Official Launch Trailer)</small>
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaN9jVrVf_w&feature=emb_title" target="_blank">www.youtube.com</a>
</small>
</p><p>VENN's co-founders and co-CEOs both have extensive backgrounds in gaming, which they've seen grow to a $150 billion industry. Ben Kusin's father co-founded Babbage's in 1984, an early video game retailer that eventually went public as GameStop. The younger Kusin worked at Electronic Arts and Vivendi Games before moving full-time into entrepreneurship and angel investing. </p><p>His partner, Ariel Horn, is a 4-time Emmy winner and considered one of the pioneers of esports, having applied lessons from his days at NBC Universal to his role as head of esports content at Riot Games. Horn has also developed esports projects for Blizzard Entertainment and Justin.tv, which would become Twitch.<br/></p><p>In 2019, Kusin pitched his idea for a gaming-centered network to Riot Games co-founder Marc Merrill, who told Kusin that Riot's former head of production – Horn – had just pitched him on virtually the same concept. Merrill suggested that Kusin go meet Horn before he headed back to New York.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image image-crop-4x3">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://dot.la/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzUzNTA5Mi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxMTAwOTA5NX0.tsx-3IzFkDXeGyzEE-0g6yXtFUAS3bFsYQoITQBk8uU/image.jpg?width=2000&coordinates=163%2C160%2C199%2C975&height=1500" id="126eb" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="2e50df2dc81af43a3756a6499dda1361" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">Ben Kusin (L) and Ariel Horn are VENN's co-founders and co-CEOs</small></p><p>"I went to the W in Hollywood," Kusin told dot.LA. "He was there taking another meeting, and he came over and I said 'Marc said we should meet.' We decided to lay out our own visions. I had mine; he had his. We were on the same track and we decided to start it." </p><p>VENN went on to raise $17 million in seed funding. Bay Area gaming fund BITKRAFT led the round, which also included Merrill, Irvine-based Blizzard Entertainment's co-founder Mike Morhaime, Twitch co-founder Kevin Lin, Kroenke Sports (owner of the L.A. Rams and two L.A. esports teams, among other holdings), Beverly Hills-based family office Lifeline Financial Group, and L.A.-based investment group aXiomatic Gaming.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://dot.la/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzUzNTA5MC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1NjY4NDUwNH0.1IYjZA15lzlZSk5_LdjOP6_ywFDl0b3Aab0CLU8B2QM/image.jpg?width=980" id="48b2f" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c9fb6d973e552322e06244f2f697ffef" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">VENN wants to be the MTV of the gaming generation</small></p><p>The founders are captivated by the possibility of becoming the "MTV of this generation." They view gaming as a culture and lifestyle that has become ubiquitous among young people.<br/></p><p>"Asking if someone's a gamer is like asking if they eat lunch," Kusin said. "It's hard for generations that didn't grow up in a gaming- and digital-first world to understand... Lots of young people derive their identity, validation and social circles from gaming." </p><p>"You create content that that audience wants and you build organic fandom," said Horn, "and we think that's the future of entertainment." </p><p>The Playa Vista studio is bedecked with over 1,000 square feet of LED tiles, a trove of fiber cables to beam gaming content from a variety of consoles both in-studio and remote, and a set that replicates what gaming streamers "are doing out of their bedrooms, so it should feel comfortable to them," Kusin said. </p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://dot.la/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzUzNTA5MS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1NzUyMjEwM30.DFpdMkFUksdmC71k65CWKNqi0Wtge_RsbGWJUpPYFDc/image.jpg?width=980" id="57f9e" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="4ac59016385e4f57afd83acf71adc37e" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">Some of VENN's shows are meant to embody the at-home vibes of gaming streamers</small></p><p>The control room allows the production team to operate cameras remotely, and the entire facility is an "NBA-style bubble." The company credits the many preventative measures with helping its staff stay COVID-free, despite an intense rehearsal and preparation schedule ahead of the launch.<br/></p><p>Kusin described the VENN team of 70 full-timers and 70 or so additional production contractors as nimble and agile in a way that traditional networks cannot be. </p><p>"We're doing shit that networks would die to be doing right now," he said. </p><p>Among other shows, "VENN Arcade Live" is a daily variety show that celebrates "all things gaming and pop culture," hosted by James 'Dash' Patterson, who on Tuesday signed with talent agency CAA. "Guest House" is a two-hour program hosted by singer Chrissy Costanza that will bring in guest creators to "choose their own adventure" — which could include making food, building legos, or singing karaoke. And "The Sushi Dragon Show" is a talk show hosted by the eponymous streamer, who Kusin describes as "like Eric Andre on crack" (which, if you've seen Eric Andre, is saying something).</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-youtube">
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="1eecc2e97ebd213cd1e5862ad77fa50c"><iframe type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_AVhOb6VAqM?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span>
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">The Sushi Dragon Show Starring TheSushiDragon (Official Trailer)</small>
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AVhOb6VAqM&feature=emb_title" target="_blank">www.youtube.com</a>
</small>
</p><p>---<br/></p><p><em>Sam Blake primarily covers entertainment and media for dot.LA. Find him on Twitter @hisamblake and email him at samblake@dot.LA</em></p>
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Here are the latest headlines regarding how the protests around the killing of George Floyd are impacting the Los Angeles startup and tech communities. Sign up for our newsletter and follow dot.LA on Twitter for the latest update.
Today:
- TikTok addresses 'tough but fair questions' about treatment of black creators
- L.A. VC's react
- L.A.'s top health official: racism fuels health inequities
- L.A.'s music industry will shut down for 'Black Out Tuesday'
- Hollywood, streaming services nod to Black Lives Matter
- Snap and Twitter reportedly used by ill-intentioned protesters to organize theft
- Snap CEO talks reparations and heartbreak
- Airmap's Santa Monica headquarters destroyed by looters
- Santa Monica, Beverly Hills announce 1 pm curfews for business districts
TikTok addresses 'tough but fair questions' about opportunities for black creators on the platform
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzI4MTA2NC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxMTI4NDc0M30.F2EmQwLKpL0bqpvqRnKtfsESZGRp-fL7HNtQzPApv1I/img.jpg?width=980" id="f162f" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="d10c53cd90b55e4e7c6590db465caf9f" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" /><p> TikTok sent a message out to "our black community" on Monday addressing what the company called "tough but fair questions" about whether the platform allows all creators the opportunity to have their content viewed.<br> </p><p> <a href="https://newsroom.tiktok.com/en-us/a-message-to-our-black-community" target="_blank">In a message to its black community,</a> Vanessa Pappas, TikTok's U.S. general manager and Kudzi Chikumbu, director of creator community, said "we hear you and we care about your experienced on TikTok. </p><p> "We acknowledge and apologize to our Black creators and community who have felt unsafe, unsupported, or suppressed. We don't ever want anyone to feel that way." </p><p> The company, which is owned by ByteDance, a Beijing-based internet technology company, said that on May 19 black creators and their allies changed their profile pictures and connected on the platform to speak out against how they felt marginalized on TikTok. Then, last week, "a technical glitch made it temporarily appear as if posts uploaded using #BlackLivesMatter and #GeorgeFloyd would receive 0 views." </p><p> TikTok said that the company understands that many assumed the bug to be an intentional act to suppress the black community's experiences and invalidate their emotions. It's unclear why TikTok wrote about the glitch Monday, or if had intended to do so before recent demonstrations in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death. A Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee into Floyd’s neck while he pleaded for his mother and to breathe.</p><p> The company, which has its U.S. headquarters in Culver City, said it is donating $3 million in honor of black creators to nonprofits that help the black community, which has been disproportionately affected by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. TikTok also said it is committing $1 million to fighting racial injustice and inequality. </p><p> TikTok said it will standing in solidarity on Tuesday by participating in Blackout Tuesday, turning off all playlists and campaigns on its "Sounds" page to observe a moment of reflection and action. The company said it is also investing in technology. and better moderation strategies with a more user-friendly appeals process. It's also establishing a creator diversity council and developing a creator portal to expand communication and opportunities. </p><p> "We know we have work to do to regain and repair that trust," the post said. </p> <pre class="redactor-script-tag" style="display: none;" async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></pre> <pre class="redactor-script-tag" style="display: none;" async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></pre><p> <em data-redactor-tag="em">-- Tami Abdollah</em> </p>Los Angeles VC's react
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjg0MTIxNC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwNjg3NTAxMH0.U1VUyLAY54twd9MfdUzdAJpJJSan3OtlEXdxM_MB_1A/img.jpg?width=980" id="54091" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="94a0002556c56ffba7075464172455ad" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" alt="Women in tech " />Art by Candace Navi<p> It has been notoriously difficult for people of color to break into the insular world of venture capital, where who you know and previous success are are highly prized. <a href="https://tpinsights.com/2019/08/12/black-investment-firms-gain-ground/" target="_blank">Just 2% of investment professionals are black</a>, which in turn makes it hard for black founders to get funded. Here is a sampling of some of the reaction from the Los Angeles VC community, many of whom have offices in Santa Monica near protests and looting: </p> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><script async="" src="<a href=" https:="" platform.twitter.com="" widgets.js"="" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><a href="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js</a>" charset="utf-8"> </script><script async="" src="<a href=" https:="" platform.twitter.com="" widgets.js"="" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><a href="<a href=" <a="" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js</a>" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><a href="<a href=" https:="" platform.twitter.com="" widgets.js"="" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js</a>" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><a href="<a href=" https:="" platform.twitter.com="" widgets.js"="" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js</a>" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><a href="<a href=" https:="" platform.twitter.com="" widgets.js"="" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js</a>" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><a href="<a href=" https:="" platform.twitter.com="" widgets.js"="" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js</a>" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><a href="<a href=" https:="" platform.twitter.com="" widgets.js"="" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js</a>" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><a href="<a href=" https:="" platform.twitter.com="" widgets.js"="" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js</a>" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"> </script><p> <em>-Ben Bergman</em> </p>LA County public health director calls police violence "a public health issue"
<div class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="e2f358b93cf1a7b7b3b7d4f6c23fe9ac"><div class="fb-video" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=3132778153449319" data-allowfullscreen="true"></div></div><p>Los Angeles County top public health official Barbara Ferrer linked the unrest that has rocked the region to the deep health disparities that black Americans experience. Ferrer, who has been providing somber daily updates on coronavirus deaths and its spread, called police brutality a public health issue that must be addressed.<br></p><p>"It's important to comment on the connection between these two concerns the death of a black man at the hands of police and the experience of COVID-19 in L.A. County," she said in starting her briefing. "We know that black Americans fare worse than other groups on virtually every measure of health status. And it has become all too common to blame this on individual behaviors, when in fact the science is clear, the root cause of health inequities is racism and discrimination."</p><p>"Science also tells us that lifetime stress associated with experiences of daily acts of discrimination and oppression, play a major role," she said. "It starts at birth with higher rates of black infant mortality and shockingly higher rates of maternal mortality among black women and extends to adulthood, when we see black residents in L.A. County experiencing earlier onset of heart disease, hypertension and diabetes and earlier deaths."</p><p>"When I report each week that we have seen elevated numbers of black deaths in this county due to COVID-19, I am reporting on the consequences of these long standing inequities. And it's not just the direct victim of violence, the person who's beaten, or shot or asphyxiated who pays the price for brutality. It is an entire community that lives with the fear that the next time, it could be them or their son or daughter neighbor or friend. It is a consequence of that fear that we are seeing when we report instance after instance of inequality and health outcomes," she said. </p><p>"As the department responsible for public health in L.A. County and in acknowledgement of our national association, the American Public Health Association, declaring that addressing law enforcement violence is a public health issue, this rush to justice has to be part of our prescription, as well. </p><p>Los Angeles county and city declared a 6 p.m. curfew on Monday. </p><p>-<em>Rachel Uranga </em></p>L.A.'s music industry will shut down for 'Black Out Tuesday'
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://dot.la/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzM2NTIwNC9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0NTgxNTE3M30.8Y-F6HTO8W0CPx8s3KrT7hRwb83Z4eCk5G85GYWHktQ/image.png?width=980" id="e1efa" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="395bddc54cde2e4a77da645d5ed20d77" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" /><p> Many organizations in the music industry are pledging to close on Tuesday as part of a 'Black Out Tuesday' campaign. Participants include the three major labels: Warner Music Group, Sony Music and Universal Music Group, along with many of their associated sub-labels.<br> </p><p> The initiative started with a pop-up <a href="https://www.theshowmustbepaused.com" target="_blank">webpage</a> calling for the music industry to shut down on Tuesday, published by Jamila Thomas, a marketing executive at Atlantic Records (owned by Warner Music Group), and Brianna Agyemang, an artist campaign manager at Platoon (owned by Apple). </p><p> "It is a day to take a beat for an honest, reflective and productive conversation about what actions we need to collectively take to support the black community," the post said. "The music industry is a multi-billion dollar industry. An industry that has profited predominantly from Black art. Our mission is to hold the industry at large, including major corporations + their partners who benefit from the efforts, struggles and successes of Black people accountable… This is not just a 24-hour initiative. We are and will be in this fight for the long haul. A plan of action will be announced." </p><p> The post includes a list of links for suggested actions to take on Tuesday. </p><p> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TheShowMustBePaused?src=hashtag_click&f=live" target="_blank">#TheShowMustBePaused</a> has traveled widely through the music industry's social media. Santa Monica-based Interscope (owned by Universal Music) pledged to delay releasing new music this week. </p> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p> <span style="background-color: initial;">Other organizations have been posting messages of solidarity to their social media accounts including </span><a href="https://twitter.com/sonymusic/status/1267171054910349316/photo/1" target="_blank">Sony Music</a><span style="background-color: initial;">, </span><a href="https://twitter.com/ColumbiaRecords/status/1267164123680440320" target="_blank">Columbia Records</a><span style="background-color: initial;"> (owned by Sony), </span><a href="https://twitter.com/UMG/status/1267256132524838912" target="_blank">Universal Music</a><span style="background-color: initial;">, and </span><a href="https://twitter.com/AtlanticRecords/status/1266850797771505664" target="_blank">Atlantic Records</a><span style="background-color: initial;"> (owned by Warner).</span><br> </p><p> <a href="https://twitter.com/Spotify/status/1266727451029319682/photo/1" target="_blank">Spotify</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/AppleMusic/status/1266940744356503557/photo/1" target="_blank">Apple Music</a> have also issued brief statements on their social channels.</p><p><em>— Sam Blake</em></p>Hollywood, streaming services nod to Black Lives Matter
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://dot.la/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzM2NTIwMS9vcmlnaW4ucG5nIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1MTA3MDYxM30.xZLAH8xHQPPhubNfjhkXPzcRGQfX0YO-efKO4nvE1fs/image.png?width=980" id="5ad4b" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="f21dfe8e913e6389f31db1ad549c2b2f" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" /><p> Over the weekend, several streaming companies took to social media to show support for the peaceful protests. <br> </p> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p>Some streaming platforms have changed their social media profile names and descriptions to express solidarity, including <a href="https://twitter.com/hbomax" target="_blank">HBO Max</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/Quibi" target="_blank">Quibi</a>. Other organizations with similar messages on their social media pages include <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCUniversal/status/1267481089431539720/photo/1" target="_blank">NBCUniversal</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/Disney/status/1267224613152571393" target="_blank">Disney</a>, and <a href="https://twitter.com/hulu/status/1266913549512658946" target="_blank">Hulu</a>.<br></p><p> On Sunday, various Hollywood union leaders weighed in as well.<br> </p><p> SAG-AFTRA leaders Gabrielle Carteris and David P. White issued a statement. "The murder of George Floyd is deeply emblematic of a corrosive inequality and injustice at the heart of America," it began. "It's not enough to demand change. We must recognize that racism lives in our culture and only we can change that." </p><p> WGA West President David Goodman said: "As demonstrations continue today across America, our union stands with those who peacefully protest the racist, extrajudicial murders of George Floyd and other Black people...National outrage about bigotry, discrimination, and injustice is the only way we will ever see real change." </p><p> ViacomCBS <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSLA/status/1267559820787421185" target="_blank">announced</a> on Monday that several of its networks, including Nickelodeon, BET and CBS Sports Network, would go dark for 8 minutes and 46 seconds in tribute to George Floyd and "other victims of racial violence." </p><p><em>— Sam Blake</em></p>L.A.'s gaming companies express support for BLM
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzM0NjQ0OC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY1MzcxNzA2M30.RZmGsnE7xfT0iSt7f47FiD7YJlOWtBMPSFD8m2mPMZc/img.jpg?width=980" id="c72e6" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="078c7039c95b61c89427ab9317e2de27" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />live.staticflickr.com <p> Several Los Angeles gaming companies have weighed in to express solidarity and sympathy with social activists. </p><p> Culver City-based <a href="https://twitter.com/JamCityHQ/status/1267552773232455680/photo/1" target="_blank">Jam City</a>, a mobile game developer founded in 2010, took to social media to stand with Black Lives Matter. Santa Monica's <a href="https://twitter.com/ATVI_AB/status/1267300339104968709/photo/1" target="_blank">Activision Blizzard</a> and West LA's <a href="https://twitter.com/riotgames/status/1267143804890513408" target="_blank">Riot Games</a> also posted on social media, as has startup <a href="https://twitter.com/EsportsOneInc/status/1266933026174324736" target="_blank">Esports</a> <a href="https://dot.la/esports-one-aims-to-provide-fantasy-sports-vibe-for-competitive-gamers-2645979049.html" target="_blank">One</a>. </p><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p> Gaming and lifestyle company FaZe Clan, based in Hollywood, published an "honest message" to its fans:</p> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p> FaZe Clan is donating all profits from a retail campaign to a Memorial Fund created in George Floyd's name. </p><p> <em>— Sam Blake</em> </p>Snap and Twitter reportedly used by ill-intentioned protesters to organize theft; Snap CEO talks reparations and heartbreak
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://dot.la/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzM2NTA5OS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwNDk1MjE1MX0.y8y0C2M82toBgEbv4stcCfTp6jxNd7ZWRVU0lZ49yqY/image.jpg?width=980" id="823a5" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ed739aec6f94f9e685fe42972f83f784" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Photo by Tami Abdollah
<p>Twitter has long been the social media platform of choice for people protesting an abuse of power -- during the Arab Spring uprisings it proved crucially useful as a way to get around and deal with internet blackouts.</p><p>So too has it been used this past week, by groups organizing mostly peaceful efforts to express their anger at George Floyd's death. But as Twitter has upped its efforts to counter violence on its platform, notably by placing a warning label on a tweet by President Trump for glorifying violence, those with less peaceful intentions have also taken their messages to Snapchat to urge their contacts and the broader public to engage in violence, theft and property damage.</p><p>A Snap spokesperson said the company's <a href="https://www.snap.com/en-US/community-guidelines" target="_blank">Community Guidelines</a> "prohibit content that incites or glorifies violence, hate speech and discrimination of any kind. We have in-app reporting tools that Snapchatters can use to quickly report any content that may be in violation of our guidelines to our Trust and Safety team, who then reviews the reports and takes appropriate action."</p><p><a href="https://press.snap.com/we-stand-together" target="_blank">On Sunday evening, Snap CEO Evan Spiegel sent a letter to staff</a> in which he said "we simply cannot promote accounts in America that are linked to people who incite racial violence, whether they do so on or off our platform.</p><p>"Our Discover content platform is a curated platform, where we decide what we promote. We have spoken time and again about working hard to make a positive impact, and we will walk the talk with the content we promote on Snapchat. We may continue to allow divisive people to maintain an account on Snapchat, as long as the content that is published on Snapchat is consistent with our community guidelines, but we will not promote that account or content in any way."</p><p>The self-described camera company is currently protected from financial liability for such messages by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act that that has been broadly interpreted by the courts over the years as shielding internet sites and apps from being financially liable for what user tweets, posts or generally publishes on their platforms.</p><p>Last week, <a href="https://dot.la/snap-tiktok-grindr-section-230-2646118991.html" target="_blank">Trump signed an executive order that may change all of that</a> by enabling federal regulators to punish social media companies for how they moderate content on their sites. Lawmakers and internet freedom advocates called the action illegal and improper under the First Amendment.</p><p>Such a change could have far-reaching impacts on Santa Monica-based Snap and smaller companies with an online presence that lack the budgets to moderate every single message or post on their apps.</p><p>Spiegel said he is "heartbroken and enraged by the treatment of black people and people of color in America." He called for the establishment of a diverse, nonpartisan "Commission on Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations" to investigate the criminal justice system and take action on reconciliation and reparations.</p><p><em>— Tami Abdollah</em></p>Airmap's Santa Monica headquarters destroyed by looters
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://dot.la/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzM2NTA1NC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY2MjY0MTczMH0.-O5tmfWQ8LM1b4hNTi9Vt3GR3HQMU4JyrNvIIVKGycs/image.jpg?width=980" id="c90e6" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c09777bd410d377ad598210d2c701fbf" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />Greg McNeal/Twitter
<p> Airmap's headquarters on Santa Monica boulevard near the Third Street Promenade was destroyed by looters Sunday night, according to co-founder Greg McNeal, who recounted the damage in a series of Twitter posts. The company, founded in 2015, is the world's leading airspace services platform for unmanned aircraft. </p> <script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><p>AirMap co-founder and chairman Ben Marcus added this on Twitter: "Last night, the AirMap office in Santa Monica was consumed by fire. Thankfully, nobody was hurt. What hurts is the unending racism & injustice in America. We all must work harder to make our union more perfect. We're all brothers and sisters. Let's treat each other with love, respect, & dignity, and create opportunity for all who choose to make a positive impact." <br></p><p><em>— Ben Bergman</em> </p><script async="" src="<a href=" https:="" platform.twitter.com="" widgets.js"="" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><a href="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js</a>" charset="utf-8"> </script>Santa Monica, Beverly Hills announce 1 pm curfews for business districts
<img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://dot.la/media-library/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzM2NDg5NC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxNzI3NDcyN30.oX2HPoykVnc2p7yt-G-qSQuaUpCgxJHAvjGoszbcego/image.jpg?width=980" id="ca930" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="6015a8e6f6e784527f3f74b2c3ba04f9" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" /><p>Santa Monica and Beverly Hills announced 1 p.m. curfews for their business districts on Monday, as shop owners and residents began sweeping the glass off the street and assessing the damage after a night of peaceful protests turned into fires, looting and vandalism over the death of George Floyd, who was killed by a police officer in Minneapolis. Citywide curfews will go into effect at 4 p.m. The chaos went to the heart of Silicon Beach, home to tech companies like Snap Inc and venture capitalists like Upfront Ventures, whose office overlooks the Pacific Ocean. </p><p>Long Beach issued a similar curfew. </p><p>"Sunday was one of the most distressing days in Santa Monica history," said Santa Monica Mayor Kevin McKeown in a statement. "We know better than to let the looters obscure the message of the protesters, who have indeed been heard."</p><p>Downtown L.A., Beverly Hills, Fairfax District and the Grove shopping center all got hit by looters over the weekend as police cars were set ablaze and the national guard was called in. News outlets reported that some chanted "eat the rich" as they marched along Rodeo Drive, one of the most expensive slices of commercial real estate in the region. </p><p>Floyd's death caused anguish in communities that have seen a number of black men die or be hurt by police officers who often suffer few consequences. Meanwhile, blacks and Latinos have higher arrest and incarceration rates. The deep disparity extends beyond the criminal justice system to education, housing and other areas.</p><p>And the frustration over it played out during the protests. Unlike the 1992 civil unrest after the release of Los Angeles police officers who beat Rodney King, demonstrations hit some of the wealthiest parts of the city. In 1992, looting and fires devastated South Central, further impoverishing an already economically disadvantaged area.</p><p>"Pretty wild to see the epicentre of this chaos at my office," Laurent Grill, an investor at Santa Monica based Luma Launch wrote on Twitter Sunday. "Quite a divide... on one side we had massive peaceful protests and 3 blocks away, people are looting & burning stores in my community. Makes me extremely sad." </p><p><em>— Rachel Uranga</em></p>From Your Site Articles
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