There has been further criticism of the government’s response to the Women And Equalities Select Committee ‘Misogyny In Music’ report. Among them, Black Lives In Music CEO Charisse Beaumont says that the dismissal of recommendations to strengthen discrimination legislation in the UK “reveals a grave misunderstanding or, worse, a blatant disregard” for the issues highlighted by MPs.
The report was published in January and was highly critical of the music industry, saying that discrimination against women who work within it is “endemic”. It made numerous recommendations, many of which were directed to the music industry itself, but it also called for new and updated legislation to better protect women working in the sector. In its response last week, the government rejected all of these recommendations.
“The Women and Equalities Select Committee, through their report, has devised a blueprint to address these issues proactively”, says Beaumont. “We need a government that moves beyond deadlock and actively protects all workers in the music industry”.
Also commenting, founder of The F-List, Vick Bain - who gave evidence in the inquiry - says, "The inquiry heard in great detail from women who have experienced the corrosive and controlling impact of misogyny in the UK music industry .... That the UK government has the ability to update the Equalities Act in order to give greater protection to these women and yet is choosing not to, speaks volumes”.
“We will therefore continue to campaign alongside our sister organisation Black Lives In Music to ensure that this vital issue is not forgotten and the voices of black women in music are heard”, she adds.
Nadia Khan, founder of Women In CTRL, who also spoke at the inquiry, says, “The government's decision to reject the reasonable steps recommended by the select committee is shocking. It further reinforces the invisibility of women in the industry, and sends a clear message that nothing will change for women. Women In CTRL urge the government to reconsider its stance and prioritise the safety and equality of women in the music industry”.
These responses follow a statement issued by the Musicians’ Union, which also urged the government to “rethink its position and implement the recommendations from the report”.
Black Lives In Music last week launched a new survey on bullying and harassment in the music industry, called YourSafetyYourSay.
On that, Beaumont says, “We're spearheading a survey at Black Lives In Music to put an end to the pervasive bullying and harassment within the creative sectors. As James Baldwin said, ‘Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced’. We need everyone’s voice in this fight. The more we share stories of bullying and harassment, the harder they become to ignore”.
“We are at the cusp of the music industry's #MeToo movement”, she continues. “Share your experiences by participating in our anonymous survey. You can be as loud as you want, it is a safe space to share your story. Let's bring about change in the music industry together, right now. Your voice can be the difference”.