Black Lives in Music (BLiM) have called for government action over bullying and harassment within the UK music industry.
The Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) held a follow-up evidence session today (January 28) nearly a year to the date of the publication of its report into Misogyny in music.
The document – titled ‘Misogyny In Music’ – described the industry as a “boys’ club” where sexual harassment and abuse are common, and the non-reporting of such incidents is high. Victims who do speak out struggle to be believed or may find their career ends as a consequence, it claimed.
The WEC stated that women in music still encounter limitations in opportunity, a lack of support and persistent unequal pay – with these said to be intensified for those facing intersectional barriers, particularly racial discrimination.
Today (January 28), Charisse Beaumont, CEO of Black Lives in Music (BLiM) – an initiative created to empower Black musicians and professionals – shared evidence from their research into Bullying and Harassment in the UK music industry and called for government action to tackle the sexual harassment and abuse in the UK music industry including things like near-naked casting videos to pressure to take drugs.
As part of our follow up on misogyny in the music industry, we’re hearing from:
Laura Snapes | @LucyCoxSoprano | @BLKLivesinMusic | @ISM_music | @WeAreTheMU | Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority.
Watch on Parliament Live at 2.20pm, Tuesday 28 January. pic.twitter.com/0GKJwglZRe
— Women & Equalities Committee (@Commonswomequ) January 27, 2025
BLiM also called on the Labour government to enact the recommendations of the WEC’s Misogyny In Music Inquiry – something the previous government did not do.
“We have hundreds of stories from women of being harassed including sexually assaulted by male artists as well as promoters, people assaulting women in music education, participating in almost naked casting videos, young women pressured to drink and take drugs, who are then assaulted, male producers grooming young female vocalists,
Beaumont said.
She continued: “It’s rife in all genres, particularly classical music. 55 per cent say they are currently experiencing bullying or harassment with over 78 per cent having experienced bullying or harassment in their lifetime in their work. 50 per cent say they have had an experience within the last 12 months. The general sentiment from one participant was: ‘I’m at a loss. I am so worn down by it all my enthusiasm or hope for change is depleted. Unfortunately, the UK Music industry is so small that I don’t hold out hope’.”
BLiM went on to report that 71 per cent of respondents have felt like bullying and harassment are accepted as being part of the industry they work in. They also found that 65 per cent have said that the industry does not prioritise dealing with bullying and harassment and only 29 per cent feel like there are people in the industry that will protect them.
The report also showed the discussion of Non-disclosure agreements (NDA) with respondents sharing that NDAs are used as a way to protect perpetrators. They also claimed that there is a normalisation of harassment and objectification of women, specifically Black women. These problems are underreported as women fear the consequences and lack of support.
“There is a saying that the music industry is like the wild west,” Beaumont added. “It is made up of 1000s of organisations and there’s no accountability. The creative industries is the only sector that does not have an Independent place to report poor standards of behaviour.
“We have Financial Conduct Authority, Food Services Authority, Ofsted in other sectors. We need government to move this now. Often there is no recourse or accountability, so reporting incidents is futile as those doing the bullying control the narrative. It’s happening under their watch and they are too powerful.”
Last year, BLiM launched a new survey to tackle bullying and harassment in the music industry, with backing from the likes of Nova Twins, V V Brown, Kamille and more.
They also told the London Assembly that councils and police officers in the capital are following a “racist narrative” in their licensing decisions. Beaumont made the claims last September while speaking at an inquiry into the state of London’s nightlife held by the Assembly’s economy, culture and skills committee.
