The Women And Equalities Committee (WEC) has issued a report warning that women suffer from “endemic” misogyny and discrimination in the music industry. The document entitled ‘Misogyny In Music’ depicts the industry as a “boys’ club” where abuse and sexual harassment against women is rampant and often goes unreported. The report highlights that many women fear not being believed or losing their career if they speak out against the abuse they have faced. Women also struggle with limited opportunities, a lack of support, persistent unequal pay, particularly for those facing intersectional barriers such as racial discrimination.
The WEC report also stated that female artists have to work harder than men to gain the recognition that they deserve and are often subjected to undue focus on their appearance. The music industry has violated the rights of female artists, many of whom are young women or women of colour, by consistently undermining their abilities and exposing them to unsafe situations. The report’s recommendations include providing additional safeguards for women in all roles and providing stricter training and certification for those who work with women to prevent mistreatment.
Annie Mac, previously a DJ at BBC Radio 1 who frequently talks about discrimination in the industry, welcomed the WEC report, describing the endemic problem of sexism in the music industry and shining a light on the continued marginalization endured by women. Black Lives in Music also responded, supporting the recommendation of the music industry to collaborate with the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority (CIISA) to eradicate bullying, harassment, and discrimination.
The report echoes British singer Ellie Goulding’s sentiments from her interview on Radio 4 where she explains how #MeToo has improved the safety of the music industry. Although the tide is turning, and small progress is being made, the report highlights that women in the music industry still face barriers. The report calls for immediate action to be taken by the music industry to eliminate the endemic misogynistic creation of the boys’ club within the industry and create a safe, empowered, and respectful working environment for everyone regardless of their background
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