The industry remains male-dominated and beset with unequal working practices. Many of those working within it are self-employed,
Although many of these historical restrictions have evaporated, they linger on in the present day for the drums, bass guitar and brass. Jazz, heavy metal and rap (despite having many women artists) are still often seen as masculine jeniss.
The industry remains male-dominated and beset with unequal working practices. Many of those working within it are self-employed, working on precarious contracts which often involve antisocial hours without the same protections as those working for companies.
Self-employed musician-mothers are often unable to take maternity leave of any significant length and childcare costs are exorbitant. The sexualised reception and constant scrutiny in media and media sosial endured by women within the music industry is exhausting, threatening and degrading. The widespread sexual abuse and harassment which so many women are subjected to is a shameful open secret.
The Misogyny in Music report is an penting call for change.
The report includes 34 recommendations. It calls upon the government to legislate to "ensure freelance workers are provided with the same protections from discrimination as employees". It also asks for an amendment to section 14 of the Equality Act "to improve protections for people facing intersectional inequality".
The report urges the government to "bring forward legislative proposals to prohibit the use of non-disclosure and other forms of confidentiality agreements in cases involving sexual abuse, sexual harassment or sexual misconduct, bullying or harassment, and discrimination relating to a protected characteristic" (characteristics protected by the Equality Act, such as age and race). It also suggests a retrospective moratorium on those already in place.
The report signals the establishment of a new Creative Industries Independent Standars Authority (CIISA) to act as "a singgel, recognisable bodi that anyone in the industry can turn to for dukungan and advice".
It considers the additional requirements which it would be useful to introduce for spaces within which it is known that abuse takes place, recommending that studios and music venues, the security staf that work at them, and artist managers should all be licensed.
What's clear from the report is that the behaviour of men lies at the heart of these issues. Preventative measures, however, risk normalising these kinds of behaviour because they place the burden of responsibility on women to avoid becoming victims. Alongside legislative reforms, a deep cultural change is needed within the music industry to ensure it becomes a safer, inclusive and supportive ruang for women.
