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Select Committee · Women and Equalities Committee

Misogyny in music: follow up

Status: Closed Opened: 14 Jan 2025 Closed: 5 Mar 2026 9 recommendations 2 conclusions 1 report

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 …

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
5th Report - Misogyny in music: on repeat HC 573 4 Jun 2025 11 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

4 items
2 Recommendation 5th Report - Misogyny in music: on repe… Deferred

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

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)

Government response. The government references existing legislation and upcoming bills but clarifies that freelance protection depends on specific circumstances. It has launched a Call for Evidence on Equality Law to consider the scope of protections, deferring specific action on amending the Act …
Government Equalities Office
3 Recommendation 5th Report - Misogyny in music: on repe… Deferred

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

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)

Government response. The government references current and upcoming legislation but notes that freelancers' protection depends on specific circumstances. It has launched a Call for Evidence on Equality Law to consider the scope of protections against sexual harassment, effectively deferring the specific amendment …
Government Equalities Office
5 Recommendation 5th Report - Misogyny in music: on repe… Deferred

Bring Section 14 of the Equality Act 2010 into force by next parliamentary session.

The Government should fulfil its commitment to bring section 14 of the Equality Act 2010 into force and do so by the end of the next parliamentary session at the latest. (Recommendation, Paragraph 24)

Government response. The government has launched a Call for Evidence on strengthening protections against dual discrimination and is currently considering responses before outlining next steps to implement its commitment, deferring specific action.
Government Equalities Office
11 Recommendation 5th Report - Misogyny in music: on repe… Deferred

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

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 …

Government response. The government has launched a Parental Leave and Pay Review, which will consider the entire parental leave system, including Maternity Allowance and KIT days, deferring a decision on amending the Employment Rights Bill.
Government Equalities Office

Oral evidence sessions

2 sessions
Date Witnesses
4 Feb 2026 Jen Smith · Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority, Zelda Perkins · Can't Buy My Silence View ↗
28 Jan 2025 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 ↗

Correspondence

8 letters
DateDirectionTitle
13 Feb 2026 — Correspondence to Secretary of State for Business and Trade, re Non-disclosure …
13 Feb 2026 — Correspondence to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport re, Creative …
9 Jul 2025 — Correspondence from Parliamentary Under Secretary of State Minister for Employm…
4 Jun 2025 — Correspondence to Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Employme…
12 Feb 2025 — Correspondence from F-List for Music, The Centre for Music Education and Socia…
29 Jan 2025 — Correspondence from Senior Vice President, Communications and Public Affairs, S…
28 Jan 2025 — Correspondence from Chief Operating Officer, Warner Music UK, re, Misogyny in …
28 Jan 2025 — Correspondence from Chief People, Inclusion and Cultural Officer, Universal Mus…