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Select committee: Women and Equalities Committee

Misogyny in music: follow up

Closed Opened 14 Jan 2025 Closed 5 Mar 2026 9 recommendations 2 conclusions

Women and Equalities Committee Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗

Inquiry scope (the committee's words)
The Committee’s inquiry into misogyny in music looked at: What types of support exists for women experiencing sexism or misogyny in the music industry? How can they report problems or abuse? How safe do women and girls feel at live music concerts and festivals? What expectations there are on women working in the music industry compared to men? What steps should the Government and other industry bodies take to tackle misogynistic and sexist attitudes towards women in music? The Committee published its first report in January 2024 and a follow up report in June 2025. The Committee is taking further evidence on progress made in the establishment of the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority and on the Government’s plans to ban NDAs in cases of abuse.

Where it stands

The inquiry is closed, opened 14 January 2025.

The committee has published 1 report, most recently 5th Report - Misogyny in music: on repeat on 4 June 2025.

The government's response

Published 10 September 2025. The deadline was 4 September 2025.

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The government says it "remains firmly committed to addressing misogyny in the music industry" and is "carefully considering the recommendations", responding on employment law, NDAs, CIISA and maternity pay.

  • On freelancers, it says Employment Rights Bill clauses 20, 21 and 23 will already cover some people who describe themselves as freelancers, as the Equality Act definition of employment is broad, but protection "will depend on their specific circumstances" and is for a tribunal to determine.
  • On section 14 of the Equality Act 2010, it commits to strengthening protections against dual discrimination and is "considering responses" to its Call for Evidence "before we say more about next steps". No date is given.
  • On NDAs, it points to Clause 24 of the Employment Rights Bill, passed at Lords Report Stage, which will void provisions preventing workers speaking out about relevant harassment or discrimination. It "will consult" on secondary legislation setting criteria for a valid 'excepted NDA'.
  • On Maternity Allowance, it says SMP and MA "are not directly comparable" and does not commit to alignment. It points to the Parental Leave and Pay Review, launched on 1 July, as "the right route" to consider the issue.

Read the government's response ↗ Report an error

Recommendations and conclusions

All 11 recommendations and conclusions

Reports

All reports

Evidence

  • 2 oral evidence sessionsLatest 4 February 2026
  • 8 witnesses
All evidence

Recent activity

Recommendations and conclusions 11 shown

1: Overwhelming case for government to implement measures for women in music industry.

Recommendation · 5th Report - Misogyny in music: on repeat · Addressed to Government Equalities Office

Recommended (the committee's words)
One year on from its publication, and having heard from key witnesses, we find that there remains an overwhelming case for the Government to implement the measures set out in our predecessors’ report to capitalise on the pockets of momentum that do exist in the industry and help produce lasting change for women in music. (Conclusion, Paragraph 10) Employment law and the Equality Act 2010

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2: Amend Equality Act 2010 to protect freelancers from third-party discrimination and harassment.

Recommendation · 5th Report - Misogyny in music: on repeat · Addressed to Government Equalities Office

Recommended (the committee's words)
The Government should amend the Equality Act 2010 so that the protections relating to the prevention of third-party discrimination and harassment clearly include freelancers and those who are standing in (‘depping’) for another musician. (Recommendation, Paragraph 16)

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3: Amend Employment Rights Bill to extend sexual harassment prevention duty to freelancers.

Recommendation · 5th Report - Misogyny in music: on repeat · Addressed to Government Equalities Office

Recommended (the committee's words)
The Government should amend the proposed duty on employers to take all reasonable steps to prevent sexual harassment (clause 19 of the Employment Rights Bill) to ensure freelancers are within its scope. (Recommendation, Paragraph 17)

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6: Prohibit non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements in cases of sexual misconduct, harassment, and discrimination.

Recommendation · 5th Report - Misogyny in music: on repeat · Addressed to Government Equalities Office

Recommended (the committee's words)
The Government should urgently bring forward legislative proposals to prohibit the use of non-disclosure and other forms of confidentiality agreements in cases involving (a) sexual abuse, sexual harassment or sexual misconduct; (b) bullying or harassment not falling within (a), and (c) discrimination relating to a protected characteristic. Doing so would demonstrate decisive leadership by the Government that the silencing of victims of abuse will no longer be tolerated. (Recommendation, Paragraph 33) 26 Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority

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7: Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority requires legal provisions and sustainable funding to operate effectively.

Conclusion · 5th Report - Misogyny in music: on repeat · Addressed to Government Equalities Office

Concluded (the committee's words)
We support the creation of the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority (CIISA). Crucially, it will be a single, recognisable body that anyone in the industry can turn to for support and advice. It is well placed to help effect cultural change in the industry once it is fully operational. It can only do so, however, if underpinned by the necessary legal provisions and sustainable funding. (Conclusion, Paragraph 49)

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8: Industry must provide financial and ideological support for CIISA to operate effectively.

Conclusion · 5th Report - Misogyny in music: on repeat · Addressed to Government Equalities Office

Concluded (the committee's words)
We agree with the Culture, Media and Sport Committee’s conclusion that, for it to operate effectively, the industry must see supporting CIISA financially and ideologically to be a fundamental part of operating in the UK. (Conclusion, Paragraph 50)

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9: Urge Government to accept CIISA funding recommendation and explore options including an industry levy.

Recommendation · 5th Report - Misogyny in music: on repeat · Addressed to Government Equalities Office

Recommended (the committee's words)
We urge the Government to accept the recommendation from the Culture, Media and Sport Committee that: “All parts of the creative industries under CIISA’s remit should commit to unconditional, long-term funding within six months. In the meantime, the Government should explore all options for funding CIISA in case the industry does not deliver a voluntary solution, including having industries under CIISA’s remit be subject to a levy to fund its work.” (Recommendation, Paragraph 51)

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10: Provide Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority with legal assurances for its crucial work.

Recommendation · 5th Report - Misogyny in music: on repeat · Addressed to Government Equalities Office

Recommended (the committee's words)
CIISA has been several years in development. It is therefore surprising that discussions with Government over the necessary legal framework for it to operate effectively are still ongoing. The Government needs to demonstrate its full support for CIISA and get on with providing it with the legal assurances it needs to undertake its crucial work. (Recommendation, Paragraph 52) Maternity and the music industry

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11: Amend Employment Rights Bill to align Maternity Allowance with Statutory Maternity Pay.

Recommendation · 5th Report - Misogyny in music: on repeat · Addressed to Government Equalities Office

Recommended (the committee's words)
The Employment Rights Bill should be amended to bring Maternity Allowance into line with Statutory Maternity Pay. This would remove the inherent unfairness that means that, during maternity leave, women in employment can undertake unlimited self-employed work but restricts the ability for freelancers to do so for any more than their 10 keeping in touch days. (Recommendation, Paragraph 60) 27

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Reports

1 report

Oral evidence sessions

2 sessions

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Date Session and witnesses Source
4 Feb 2026
Women and Equalities Committee
Jen Smith · Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority, Zelda Perkins · Can't Buy My Silence 		View ↗
28 Jan 2025
Women and Equalities Committee
Celeste Waite, Deborah Annetts · Independent Society of Musicians (ISM), Dr Charisse Beaumont · Black Lives in Music, Jen Smith · Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority, Laura Snapes · The Guardian, Lucy Cox, Naomi Pohl · Musicians’ Union 		View ↗

Who gave evidence

8 witnesses

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WitnessOrganisationSessions
Jen Smith · Chief Executive Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority 2
Celeste Waite Not recorded 1
Deborah Annetts · Chief Executive Independent Society of Musicians (ISM) 1
Dr Charisse Beaumont · Chief Executive Officer Black Lives in Music 1
Laura Snapes · Deputy Music Editor The Guardian 1
Lucy Cox Not recorded 1
Naomi Pohl · General Secretary Musicians’ Union 1
Zelda Perkins · Chief Executive and Founder Can't Buy My Silence 1

Correspondence

8 letters

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PublishedDirectionLetter
13 Feb 2026 Not recorded Correspondence to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport re Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority, dated 11 February 2026
13 Feb 2026 Not recorded Correspondence to Secretary of State for Business and Trade re Non-disclosure agreements, dated 11 February 2026
9 Jul 2025 Not recorded Correspondence from Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Minister for Employment Rights Competition and Markets re, Employment Rights Bill, dated 08.07.2025
4 Jun 2025 Not recorded Correspondence to Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Employment Rights, Competition and Markets) re, Misogyny in music, dated 04.06.2025
12 Feb 2025 Not recorded Correspondence from F-List for Music, The Centre for Music Education and Social Justice, The 1752 Group, The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance, dated 30 Jan 2025
29 Jan 2025 Not recorded Correspondence from Senior Vice President, Communications and Public Affairs, Sony Music, re, Misogyny in music: follow up, dated 21 January 2025
28 Jan 2025 Not recorded Correspondence from Chief People, Inclusion and Cultural Officer, Universal Music UK, re, Misogyny in music: follow up, dated 20 January 2025
28 Jan 2025 Not recorded Correspondence from Chief Operating Officer, Warner Music UK, re, Misogyny in music: follow up, dated 21 January 2025