UK Music Interim Chief Executive Tom Kiehl has responded to a new
report from MPs that demands urgent action to tackle misogyny and
discrimination in the music industry.
The move follows the publication of the report today (Tuesday
January 30) from the Women and Equalities Committee, which
outlined its concerns about misogyny in the sector.
The committee said the problems were “amplified in music by the
high number of freelance workers in the sector—which gives rise
to significant power imbalances in working relationships and
precarious employment practices”.
UK Music, the collective voice of the music industry, gave
evidence to the inquiry and outlined the work already under way
to tackle misogyny, discrimination and harassment - including the
sector’s commitment to further boost equity, diversity and
inclusion.
Responding to the report, UK Music Interim Chief
Executive Tom
Kiehl said:
“There must be zero tolerance for misogyny and all forms of
discrimination in the music industry, which is working hard to
tackle these issues.
"We recognise there is still more to do, that misogyny continues
to exist and we are striving to bring about positive changes. We
are working right across the sector to ensure the music industry
is an inclusive place for everyone to work.
“Our unrelenting drive for change will continue as we
tackle misogyny by calling it out and changing practices that
disadvantage or hinder women.
“We will continue to make further changes by ensuring equality of
pay and promotion, gender balance, and boosting transparency over
pay and conditions.
“This will build on UK Music and its Diversity Taskforce's Ten
Point Plan and 5 P's initiatives, the principles of which are
echoed in the report."
“This report rightly recognises the freelance nature of the music
industry, where many are self-employed. We are pleased to see
that the report recommends to government that they introduce
protections for freelance creatives that we have sought in our
recent manifesto.
“We will continue our work with the Government to drive out
misogyny, bullying, abuse and harassment to ensure the UK music
business is a welcoming place for women to work and pursue a
career.
“We will also continue to engage with the development of the
Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority (CIISA) and
other proposals to ensure working our sector is a positive
experience for all.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
You can read more about UK Music’s work to boost diversity and
inclusion in the music industry in our Ten-Point Plan, which you
can read here and 5Ps,
which you can read here.
