"Music is proud of its artists’ diversity but this should be better reflected across the executives"
The British Music Industry has been pulled up for inequality in the UK music industry. There is a huge misrepresentation within the music business that needs addressing.
A new way to address the lack of diversity in the British music business has been launched by umbrella organisation UK Music. It is led by the Diversity Taskforce.
The first stage, is a cross industry survey, focusing on the gender and ethnic staffing of record labels, publishers, collection societies, promoters, management companies and distributors.
According to UK Music, it is the first detailed survey to be conducted about the British music industry.
Much like in America, the UK music business has long attracted criticism for a shortage of senior level female, black and ethnic minority executives.
The results of the survey will be published later in 2016.
“Music is proud of its artists’ diversity but this should be better reflected across the executives who lead and shape the industry.”
Said Ayesha Hazarika, senior advisor at labels trade body BPI.
She also said it is “a vital first step so we can get a snapshot of what the industry currently looks like.”
Keith Harris who has been a part of the UK Music Diversity Taskforce since 2015, says:
“It is important that the music industry is in the vanguard of the creative industries when it comes to equality and diversity.”
“So that we can make the most of the benefits of having such a diverse society, which has served Britain so well in the past.”
The lack of diversity within the music industry was noticed at this year’s Brit Awards when no black artists were nominated in any of the major UK categories.
Despite the success of local home acts like Lianne La Havas, Kwabs, Laura Mvula, Ella Eyre, Stormzy and Lethal Bizzle, no recognition was given.
The results led to a social media hashtag #BritsSoWhite.
It also led to Ged Doherty, chairman, writing an open letter in which he guaranteed to make future editions of the event more truly representative of modern British music.
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