A new study conducted by The Musicians’ Union (MU) and Black Lives in Music (BLiM) has found that 85% of musicians have experienced or observed some form of discrimination. The Global Majority Insight Report also highlights the imbalances that UK musicians face in terms of earnings, career progression and discrimination experiences. Majority of the participants from the Global Majority reported average annual earnings of £17,745, with an ethnicity pay gap of almost £1,000 between white respondents. In addition, 50% of individuals involved in the report cited a lack of sustainable income, while 35% reported severe difficulties in supporting themselves and their families from being a musician. 24% of people are in debt and can’t manage personal finances.
One of the key findings of the report was that 81% of musicians who have experienced racism in the music industry had reported the incident negatively impacting their professional progression. 16% of those surveyed reported the discrimination being based on their socioeconomic background. Furthermore, the study also highlighted that a third of musicians from the Global Majority had poor mental health, with 26% reporting poor physical health. Given these significant findings, MU and BLiM are advocating for organizations to endorse the Anti-Racism Code of Conduct and toolkit that are developed by Black Lives in Music with an aim to combat racism and discrimination in the music industry. The toolkit is targeted to develop a “culture of genuine equity and inclusion.”
This report is the second Information Report created by MU with the Musicians Census, which was launched earlier this year. The report’s findings indicated that musicians from the Global Majority observed that their skills and experiences are undervalued, dismissed or overlooked in the music industry. Naomi Pohl, MU General Secretary, has called for industry-wide responses to stamp out the systemic issues behind these dire statistics. She emphasised, “If we want an equitable and diverse music industry, which I believe everyone does, then we must listen and act.”
Black Lives in Music’s Chief Executive, Clarisse Beaumont, added “There is much work to be done throughout the music ecosystem and at every level to change the disparities we see in the data. There is no place for discrimination in any industry, especially the music industry which is fundamental to all of society. Therefore, we welcome the recommendations from this report and look forward to a hands across the table approach to implement them effectively; together, let’s create a music industry where everyone, regardless of their background, can thrive.” View the full Global Majority Insight Report here.
In conclusion, the report calls attention to the challenges that musicians from the Global Majority face within the music industry. The figures are concerning, and the industry needs to listen and act to tackle these systemic issues effectively. The current study presents an opportunity for change, and the implementation of the recommendations will bring us closer to achieving our goals of equal opportunities and fair access for all to pursue music as a career
Read the full article from Mixmag here: Read More