Lady Antebellum, Björk’s Label Change names associated with slavery

Lady Antebellum will now be called Lady A.

Country music group Lady Antebellum have changed their name to Lady A and have apologized for using a name associated with slavery in America.

“When we set out together almost 14 years ago, we named our band after the Southern ‘Antebellum’ style home where we took our first photos,” the Nashville trio explained. “But we are regretful and embarrassed to say that we did not take into account the associations that weigh down this word referring to the period of history before the Civil War, which includes slavery. We are deeply sorry for the hurt this has caused and for anyone who has felt unsafe, unseen, or unvalued.”

View this post on Instagram

Dear Fans,⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ As a band, we have strived for our music to be a refuge…inclusive of all. We’ve watched and listened more than ever these last few weeks, and our hearts have been stirred with conviction, our eyes opened wide to the injustices, inequality and biases Black women and men have always faced and continue to face everyday. Now, blindspots we didn’t even know existed have been revealed.⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ After much personal reflection, band discussion, prayer and many honest conversations with some of our closest Black friends and colleagues, we have decided to drop the word “antebellum” from our name and move forward as Lady A, the nickname our fans gave us almost from the start.⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ When we set out together almost 14 years ago, we named our band after the southern “antebellum” style home where we took our first photos. As musicians, it reminded us of all the music born in the south that influenced us…Southern Rock, Blues, R&B, Gospel and of course Country. But we are regretful and embarrassed to say that we did not take into account the associations that weigh down this word referring to the period of history before The Civil War, which includes slavery. We are deeply sorry for the hurt this has caused and for anyone who has felt unsafe, unseen or unvalued. Causing pain was never our hearts’ intention, but it doesn’t change the fact that indeed, it did just that. So today, we speak up and make a change. We hope you will dig in and join us.⁣⁣⁣ ⁣ We feel like we have been Awakened, but this is just one step. There are countless more that need to be taken. We want to do better. We are committed to examining our individual and collective impact and making the necessary changes to practice antiracism. We will continue to educate ourselves, have hard conversations and search the parts of our hearts that need pruning—to grow into better humans, better neighbors. Our next outward step will be a donation to the Equal Justice Initiative through LadyAID. Our prayer is that if we lead by example…with humility, love, empathy and action…we can be better allies to those suffering from spoken and unspoken injustices, while influencing our children & generations to come.

A post shared by Lady A (@ladya) on Jun 11, 2020 at 8:01am PDT

Their biggest hit was 2009’s Need You Now, which reached No 2 in the Billboard Hot 100 and went nine times platinum in the US; it is also their only UK hit, reaching No 15. They have won five Grammy awards from 10 nominations.

Meanwhile, the record label One Little Indian, whose most famous signing is Björk, has changed its name to One Little Independent. The label’s original name is the title of a song that describes the death of “10 little Indian boys”, referring to indigenous Americans. It was also used in minstrel shows, sometimes retitled to feature the N-word. The label’s logo will also change.

Label founder Derek Birkett said he “apologise[d] unreservedly to anyone that has been offended” by the name. Birkett made the change following a letter from someone who detailed the offensive connotations of the name: “I felt equally appalled and grateful to them,” he said.