The UK Music Diversity Taskforce

The UK Music Diversity Taskforce has launched an industry-wide diversity survey, aimed at providing an “accurate snapshot” of diversity in the workplace.

The distribution of the survey, which will focus primarily on gender and ethnicity, coincides with the first ever UK Music Diversity Summit, which takes place tomorrow (July 12th) at PPL, London. This event will se a number of prominent industry voices gather across a programme of panels and Q&As to discuss the key issues affecting diversity in the music industry.

In an announcement explaining the purpose of the survey, UK Music said: “It is important that today’s UK music sector is open, transparent and progressive and through this survey, industry will be able to measure, analyse and act upon its findings in order to ensure that the ecosystem behind British music is as representative, vibrant and diverse as the music we export globally.

“By repeating the survey in future years, the taskforce will also be able to map out progress and improve opportunities for individuals from all backgrounds to forge a career within the industry. The results will be published later this year.”

Established in 2015, the UK Music Diversity Taskforce features representatives from each of the core industry sectors: major and indie record labels, music publishers, trade organisations, collection societies and the British live music industry.

Keith Harris, chair, UK Music Diversity Taskforce, said: “It is important that the music industry is in the vanguard of the creative industries when it comes to equality and diversity, so that we can make the most of the benefits of having such a diverse society, which has served Britain so well in the past.”

Jo Dipple, CEO, UK Music, added:“The economic and cultural success of British music over the last couple of years has been astronomical. For us to continue such success we need a strong entry-point pipeline of diverse talent as well as career progression and a diverse management at the top.  It seems obvious, but businesses with Boards which properly reflect the public and the consumer do better than businesses with Boards that do not.”

“Music is proud of its artists’ diversity but this should be better reflected across the executives who lead and shape the industry,” commented Ayesha Hazarika– Senior Advisor, BPI. “We need the best talent to get opportunities at every level of the sector. The BPI welcomes this important work and will play its part. The survey is a vital first step so we can get a snap shot of what the industry currently looks like.”

Jane Dyball, CEO, Music Publishers Association, added: “Some of my best friends are middle aged white men, I am after all a middle aged white woman. However, in 2016 it should not be the case that, as in a recent meeting I attended, there are 17 of them and me. This is not an untypical situation to find myself in and it is really now time that we fast track industry solutions to help create an industry with as much diversity around the boardroom as the customers it serves.”