LIVE (Live music Industry Venues & Entertainment), has underlined its commitment to eradicating misogyny in the live music Industry, with a four point strategic plan backed by all 15 member organisations.
This plan was launched in response to the last UK Government’s rejection of recommendations made in the ‘Misogyny in Music’ Report from the Women and Equalities Committee (WEC), which was published in January 2024.
The cross party WEC holds the Government to account on equality law and policy, including the Equality Act 2010 and cross Government activity on equalities. Its report, ‘Misogyny in Music’, concluded that women working in the music industry face limitations in opportunity, a lack of support, gender discrimination and sexual harassment and assault as well as the persistent issue of unequal pay in a sector dominated by self-employment and gendered power imbalances.
Despite increases in representation, these issues are endemic and are intensified for women faced with intersectional barriers, particularly racial discrimination. The report made a number of key recommendations that were rejected by the last Government but could now be actioned.
Building on the work of its LIVE Workforce group, the ‘Statement of Commitment’ underscores how LIVE members have pledged to work towards a future where everyone, regardless of gender, can thrive and feel respected in the live music community. This commitment involves actively challenging sexist attitudes and behaviours, promoting gender equality, and providing support and opportunities for women and female identifying people in the industry.
LIVE and its 15 member organisations have made four key commitments to create safer, more inclusive environments for women in live music, including: committing to collectively benchmarking female representatives at CEO, Board, Chair and Executive level, promoting gender diversity and inclusivity, undertake or provide training on gender equality and sexual harassment and establishing zero-tolerance policies.
Gaby Cartwright, Head of Partnerships at LIVE and Chair of its Misogyny in Music Group said: “Following the publication of the Women and Equalities Committee’s Misogyny in Music report last year we were disappointed that the then UK government chose not to adopt its recommendations. While we will continue to challenge that decision, there is an urgent need to have a strategy in place to confront the serious issues being faced by too many women working in the UK live music industry. To that end, we are pleased that, within our wider work on equity and inclusion, all 15 members of LIVE have made this commitment to eradicating misogyny from our industry.”
