A major new survey has found that systemic racism in the UK music industry is particularly affecting Black female artists, with over half of Black musicians and industry professionals reporting direct or indirect discrimination. The Black Lives in Music Survey, released on 13 October, is described as the largest poll of its kind, drawing on responses from 1,718 performers, creatives and industry staff.
According to the findings, 63 per cent of Black music creators said they had experienced direct or indirect racism, while 71 per cent reported experiencing microaggressions. A striking 88 per cent of all Black music professionals agreed that there are barriers to progression, including being subjected to assumptions about the kind of music they should produce.
The survey highlights particular disadvantages faced by Black women, who spoke of feeling pressure to change their appearance and fearing they would not earn as much as their white counterparts. Black women were found to suffer a disproportionate disparity in earnings compared with the rest of the industry, making them the most disadvantaged group across all areas of music.
Anonymous contributors shared examples of racism, with one saying: “We can never seem to get through the door, and we are often overlooked at every turn – and if you have kids, it’s even worse.” Another Black male singer recounted being told by radio producers that they were not interested in Black male artists because they were linked to rappers. A further respondent said they had been told they were “too dark, too young, too slim for a Black singer, too old” and that “your music is too good for a British black singer”.
Charisse Beaumont, chief executive of Black Lives in Music, said the report “holds a mirror up to the UK music industry”, exposing racist culture and behaviours, financial barriers and a lack of investment. She added: “The report also spotlights Black women being the most disadvantaged across all areas of the music industry and how all of these factors affect the mental health of Black creators and industry professionals. This is data, you cannot ignore it.” The findings echo earlier concerns raised in Leigh-Anne Pinnock’s BBC Three documentary Race, Pop and Power, in which Black female artists shared their own experiences of discrimination.
