New research published by the UK Musicians’ Census shows that gender inequity remains a prominent issue in the British music industry, with 51% of women musicians having experienced gender discrimination. Black women face the additional barrier of racial stereotypes.
A census published by the Musician’s Union on March 27th exposed a persistent issue of gender discrimination in the UK music industry.
Based on the responses of 2,526 musicians who identify as women, 51% said they have experienced gender discrimination. Even more alarmingly, a third of women reported having been sexually harassed in the workplace.
Further, the gender pay gap in the industry persists, with women earning an annual average of £19,850 (25,000 dollars), compared to £21,750 (27,300 dollars) for men. Women only make up 19% of the highest income bracket in the industry (earning £70,000 or more a year).
These statistics are particularly striking considering that women in the music industry have higher degrees than men: almost half (46%) of female respondents were educated at a master’s level or above, compared to 30% of other respondents.
The report also sheds light on the structural barriers female musicians face to their career progression. Not only are women more likely to have primary care responsibilities at home, but they are also more likely to experience financial difficulties than men in music: 27% of female musicians said they do not earn enough to support their families, and 29% stated that family was a career barrier.
Misogyny is “endemic” in the industry
As part of the House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee’s efforts to prevent violence against women, a parliamentary inquiry was launched into discrimination in the music industry. This report, published at the end of January, indicated that few women report incidents of misogyny and even in cases where they do, little action is taken against those accused.
The inquiry heard “distressing evidence” from women in the industry, including Annie Mac, former BBC Radio 1 DJ, who indicated that there is a “tidal wave” of revelations waiting to be told and that the industry was a “system rigged against women.” She described the business as a “boy’s club,” trapping women in a culture where “women, especially young women in the music industry, are consistently underestimated and undermined, and freelance women are consistently put in situations where they are unsafe.”
Dr. Cassandra Jones, lecturer in Criminology at the University of Northumbria, emphasized in the report that the Me Too movement while making substantial progress in the fight against sexual harassment in the film industry, had failed to penetrate the music industry to the same extent.
The cross-party group of MPs stated that the issue of misogyny and harassment was “endemic” and called for urgent action from the government.
A “culture of silence”
The Women and Equalities Committee report concluded that a “culture of silence” prevents women from speaking out for fear for their careers, especially in precarious freelance positions. The power dynamic between men at the top levels of the industry and female professionals has resulted in women having their careers destroyed for speaking out, rather than men facing the consequences for their actions, according to the report.
Back in 2020, an inquiry into the Royal Academy of Music in London, one of the oldest music schools in the UK, revealed that students “feared reporting sexual misconduct” due to the “belief that powerful individuals have the potential to adversely influence opportunities.”
Discriminatory behavior is not limited to sexual harassment, with women having to endure a culture of bullying such as being humiliated in public, isolated, and ridiculed in front of colleagues.
Intersectional inequality
The parliamentary committee reported that the issues are “intensified for women faced with intersectional barriers.” In addition to gender discrimination, Black women in the industry face intersectional inequality as a result of additional barriers against people of color.
A report published in September 2021 by Black Lives in Music (BLiM), an organization committed to combatting racism in the industry, emphasized that racism in the British music industry was “serious, upfront, and personal.” In total, 1,718 people responded, making it the biggest survey of Black musicians in the UK.
They found that 86% of all Black music creators faced barriers to their career progression due to their skin color. This number rises to 89% for Black women.
The report references a testimony by former X Factor star Alexandra Burke, who was encouraged to bleach her skin and not wear braids to cater to a whiter audience.
It concludes with a recommendation to launch an industry-wide anti-racism code of conduct and anti-racism manifesto across the music industry.
Jess OG’s path to success against these odds
In an exclusive interview with Forbes, Jess Ogunjemilusi, known professionally as Jess OG, shared her experiences as a successful Black music artist, and how she overcame barriers to her career.
The testimony reveals an unwavering passion and commitment to music and rap enabled her to persevere despite often being dismissed and overlooked, revealing a determination that is particularly required for Black women to navigate and succeed in the business, as they are “often ignored or undervalued.”
Jess explains having to assert her authority in male-dominated spaces, or risk being used and not taken seriously: “I’m the only Black woman here… if I do not assert myself in this room, I will not be respected.”
To mitigate against these instances of discrimination, racism, and sexual abuse, the Women and Equalities Committee called for ministers to amend the Equality Act to ensure freelance workers have the same protections as employees, and for government legislation to impose a duty on employers to protect workers from sexual harassment, and to prohibit the use of non-disclosure agreements in such cases.
