Music industry urged to speak out about racism and harassment

People in the music industry are being encouraged to take part in an anonymous survey tracking racist bullying after earlier research uncovered horrific evidence of misogyny and sexual harassment.

Black Lives In Music (BLiM) said the evidence they uncover will help inform its plans for an anti-racist code of conduct and be shared with the Department of Culture and could be used to influence legislation.

The organisation says it has been inundated with calls including testimonies of women being pressured to wear shorter skirts at events, allegations of rape and sexual assault in music studios and racial and sexual comments.

Singer-songwriter V V Brown is among those supporting the survey which she said was “such important work”.

She said the survey would “help eradicate discrimination, bullying and harassment in the music industry especially towards Black and POC individuals.”

Grammy award-winning songwriter Kamille, who has worked with stars from Dua Lipa to Little Mix, said she had “faced so many barriers” in her career.

She said: “I realised very early on that we (black women in music) are labelled negatively when we defend ourselves against bullying.”

BLiM chief executive Charisse Beaumont said: “We are flooded with stories from people who have experienced bullying and (sexual) harassment in the music industry. They are shocking and it’s clear that high profile cases in the media are the tip of an iceberg.  It can happen to anyone and it is often rooted in misogyny, racism, homophobia, transphobia and more.”

She said the survey would help “understand what is really going on behind closed doors so we can tailor interventions”.