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Select Committee · Women and Equalities Committee

Misogyny in music

Status: Closed Opened: 9 Jun 2022 Closed: 28 May 2024 27 recommendations 6 conclusions 1 report

In recent years, news reports and some studies have brought to the forefront the extent to which misogyny exists in the music industry. This inquiry aims to examine what misogynistic attitudes exist in the industry and why. It aims to uncover, in more detail, how these attitudes can filter through to society, impacting attitudes towards … Show more

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Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
2nd Report - Misogyny in music HC 129 30 Jan 2024 33 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

4 items
3 Conclusion 2nd Report - Misogyny in music Acknowledged

Endemic discrimination and misogyny create significant barriers for women in the music industry, intensified by intersectionality.

Women have significant additional barriers to pass to get a foothold in the music industry and must navigate acts of passive aggression, ridicule, and misogyny to have a sustainable career. Female artists are routinely undervalued and undermined, endure a focus on their physical appearance in a way that men are … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government fully supports the report's conclusions on misogyny, discrimination, and abuse in the music industry, recognising that more needs to be done and endorsing CIISA as a key initiative.
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Government Equalities Office
6 Recommendation 2nd Report - Misogyny in music Acknowledged

Require record labels to publish creative roster diversity and organisations to publish workforce pay gap data.

To allow progress to be monitored, record labels should commit to regular publication of statistics on the diversity of their creative rosters. All organisations with more than 100 employees should be required to publish data on the diversity of their workforce and gender and ethnicity pay gaps. (Recommendation, Paragraph 43) Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states it supports the recommendation for record labels and organisations to publish diversity data but provides no specific commitment to implement the suggested requirements.
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Government Equalities Office
25 Recommendation 2nd Report - Misogyny in music Acknowledged

Address legislative barriers, including GDPR, to ensure CIISA operates effectively.

We are concerned that legislative barriers may prevent CIISA from operating effectively. We call on the Government to discuss with CIISA the potential impact of GDPR requirements on its work and to take the steps required, including any legislative changes, to allow CIISA to properly discharge its functions. (Recommendation, Paragraph … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the concern about legislative barriers and GDPR, noting that CIISA has written to them to discuss the matter and potential mitigations.
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Government Equalities Office
31 Recommendation 2nd Report - Misogyny in music Acknowledged

We have heard distressing evidence on the effects on the mental health of people silenced...

We have heard distressing evidence on the effects on the mental health of people silenced by a non-disclosure agreement. The Government should consider the potential merits of a retrospective moratorium on NDAs for those that have signed them relating to the issues we have outlined, with an assurance that they … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government supports the recommendation to ensure individuals can freely discuss their experiences without fear of NDAs, which they believe will help build a clearer picture of industry issues.
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Government Equalities Office

Oral evidence sessions

9 sessions
Date Witnesses
24 Apr 2024 Andrew Medlock · CIISA, David Smy · Office for Students, Jen Smith · CIISA View ↗
13 Sep 2023 Annie Macmanus, Rebecca Ferguson View ↗
18 Jul 2023 Rt Hon Sir John Whittingdale MP · Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Victoria MacCallum · Department for Culture, Media and Sport View ↗
28 Jun 2023 Isabel Garvey · Warner Music UK, Jessica Carsen · Sony Music UK, Natasha Mann · Universal Music UK View ↗
24 May 2023 John Shortell · Musician's Union, Lauren Down · End of Road Festival, Marta Pallares Olivares · Primavera Sound Festival View ↗
19 Apr 2023 Deborah Annetts · Independent Society of Musicians, Jamie Njoku-Goodwin · UK Music, Jen Smith · CIISA, YolanDa Brown OBE DL · British Phonographic Industry View ↗
8 Feb 2023 Melinda Kelly · Safe Gigs for Women, Nadia Khan · Women in CTRL, Vanessa Threadgold · Cactus City Studio, Vick Bain · F-List View ↗
26 Oct 2022 Charisse Beaumont · Black Lives in Music, Dr Cassandra Jones · University of Northumbria, Dr Nicola Puckey · University of Winchester, Dr Rosemary Hill · University of Huddersfield View ↗
14 Sep 2022 Charisse Beaumont · Black Lives in Music, Dr Cassandra Jones · University of Northumbria, Dr Nicola Puckey · University of Winchester, Dr Rosemary Hill · University of Huddersfield View ↗

Who gave evidence

24 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Charisse Beaumont · Chief Executive Black Lives in Music 2
Dr Cassandra Jones · Lecturer in Criminology, Department of Applied So… University of Northumbria 2
Dr Nicola Puckey · Senior Lecturer, Department of English, Creativ… University of Winchester 2
Dr Rosemary Hill · Senior Lecturer in Media and Popular Culture, D… University of Huddersfield 2
Jen Smith · Interim Chief Executive CIISA 2
Andrew Medlock · Interim Chief Operating Officer CIISA 1
Annie Macmanus — 1
David Smy · Deputy Director of Enabling Regulation Office for Students 1
Deborah Annetts · Chief Executive Independent Society of Musicians 1
Isabel Garvey · Chief Operating Officer Warner Music UK 1
Jamie Njoku-Goodwin · Chief Executive UK Music 1
Jessica Carsen · Senior Vice President Sony Music UK 1
John Shortell · Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Musician's Union 1
Lauren Down · Managing Director End of Road Festival 1
Marta Pallares Olivares · Head of International Press and PR Primavera Sound Festival 1
Melinda Kelly · Member of Management Team Safe Gigs for Women 1
Nadia Khan · CEO Women in CTRL 1
Natasha Mann · Director of Diversity and Inclusion Universal Music UK 1
Rebecca Ferguson — 1
Rt Hon Sir John Whittingdale MP · Minister for Media, Tourism and Creative Industri… Department for Culture, Media and Sport 1
Vanessa Threadgold · Founder and Managing Director Cactus City Studio 1
Vick Bain · Founder F-List 1
Victoria MacCallum · Deputy Director, Creative Industries and Media Bi… Department for Culture, Media and Sport 1
YolanDa Brown OBE DL · Chair British Phonographic Industry 1

Correspondence

2 letters
DateDirectionTitle
6 Mar 2024 — Correspondence from Minister for Media, Tourism and Creative Industries on Miso…
7 Feb 2024 — Correspondence to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, relating to …