Written evidence submitted by Black Lives in Music (MiM0029)
I am writing on behalf of Black Lives in Music and the many women of colour we represent across the music industry. The evidence below has been gathered from correspondence and in person meetings with Black women that have reached out to us seeking advice and help. The evidence below also includes details from my own personal experience.
We also surveyed Black creators and industry professionals on their lived experience. The intersection of gender and race is evident in our work revealing the data revealing that Black women are at the most disadvantaged in the music industry. The report ‘Being Black in the UK music industry’ can be found on our website at blim.org.uk/report. It has a section on Black women but the plight of Black women is embedded throughout the entire report.
We have corresponded or worked with over 2000 Black women working in the music industry over the last two years.
The evidence below has been split into sections to be easily understood and is unpublished.
Over sexualisation of Black women
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When it comes to sexual advances of abuse on Black women it’s often the focus on our physical features. Some women have experienced inappropriate sexual advances. Some comments such as the size of our lips and bottoms such as ’black girls have nice juicy lips…’
Many of the women we have spoken with feel that we as a community are being sexualised and objectified as women of colour.
If the industry continues to over sexualise Black women we will continue to see this type of abuse continue.
The majority of our members feel the music industry only make investment in Black women they can over sexualise.
“The industry chooses to put most of its money into rappers and singers who they feel portray an image that will continue to bring down the black community. These ‘artists’ lyrics are hyper sexual.”
“I feel like black creators are more supported when they push a self destructive narrative, for example, if a black female, female artists (rappers in particular) more often speak about overtly sexual topics and carry themselves in that manor because it brings them more attention than the female who isn’t.”
"I wish that music industry was not all about the visual aspect. At the moment it's more about the music videos, the sexually abusive behavior and how sexy you are rather than the music”
Barriers to Progression
Black women face many barriers to progression in the music industry.
A quote from a member of our community:
“It’s more about being a black female. Dressing the way I do, I'm not using sex to sell myself so dressing "tom boyish" has been a massive barrier and I've been told this several times”
Black women are met with significant barriers to progression across the industry. They feel they have felt the need to change something about themselves in order to get ahead in the industry.
Black women in their efforts to combat discrimination and fit in with the external expectations of them, have felt the need to change some aspect of their behaviour and have actually changed some aspect of their appearance or behaviour as a direct result of negative experiences because of some aspect of their ethnic identity to fit in with industry expectations.
Regardless, such pressure to change their cultural characteristics and behaviour in order to feel accepted, and to do so in reality, is likely to have fundamental negative effects on their mental health and well-being.
Of greater concern is the realisation that Black women creators have mental health concerns at a disproportionate rate to Black men. Black women are more likely to feel the pressure to alter their identity or other characteristic in order to assimilate within the industry and make specific changes to themselves than Black men.
Many have Black women in the music industry have watched non-Black contemporaries promoted ahead of them despite them being less qualified. Most have been pigeon-holed into a music genre which is not true to them.
Many have had their music skills/qualifications have been questioned in detail by people who can influence their career progression and have been ignored, overlooked or dismissed in important conversations about their music with people who can influence their career progression.
Some unpublished quotes:
“There is inherent institutional racism and sexism in the industry still within the background sectors (anyone not a musician). My team is all women however issues we have been raising for 6 months now have been ignored and I myself have been denied a pay rise/promotion without satisfactory reasoning. This is a pattern that I have seen at every company I have worked at, and no matter how many times I raise the disparity it is swept under the rug. The issue is that all the C level executives are white men who are not willing to give up their position to make way for women or black women. In a company of around 80 people in the UK I can only count 3 black women, all of which are junior or just above junior level.”
As a Black dark-skinned women in music - it is difficult to ignore the racism, colourism and sexism in music all experienced by Black women in music. Female vocalists are relegated to being backing singers, songwriters, stylists and choreographers, but never the main star. She is always a white women who "sings like a black woman" or a mixed race and lighter skinned woman, who overrepresent in comparison to Black women who are not mixed-race and lighter skinned.”
“Black female artists are not seen as marketable and thus receive very little backing from the music industry. This isn't the case in the music charity sector but making that leap from being an aspiring musician to a working musician is very difficult without endorsement from music heavy weights - who in turn don't see Black women as a good commercial investment. Overt and unconscious racism plays a part, on top of sexism.”
Racism and discrimination
Many Black women have had to ignore comments that were racist or microagressive in order to progress, of deep concern are the mental health implications for those Black women.
Many Black women believe they have experienced discrimination because of their gender. Black women very often experience direct racism and the majority have experience racial microagressions.
We have over 100 of unpublished quotes concerning the use of the words ‘Monkey’ or ’Nigger’ or testimony of microagressions toward Black women - We would be happy to send these to you separately.
Some unpublished quotes from our survey:
“Working with sound techs on tour often would experience racism and sexism where they didn’t expect I’d have the knowledge I did to support my artist and would not listen to me or my directives though I was the manager calling the shots.”
“I have been to music industry networking events and literally had people turn their backs away from me, in order to dismiss me. I have at times been treated like the weird "other" that is an exception at a networking event and therefore should not be there. Also, being sexualised and objectified as a woman of colour.”
Pay
According to our data Black women in the music industry are the least paid across the music industry. The Black women we have been in contact with speak about the lack of promotion or pay increase/bonuses. Most are paid at a lower rate than other music makers.
Unfair contracts are rife in the music industry especially pertaining to Black women. Genres such as dance music are known for not crediting or paying Black women who write and perform on songs.
Black women in the music industry are paid 25% less than White women and 52% less than White men.
Just 19% of Black women earn 100% of their income from music in comparison to 40% of White women which earn 100% of their income.
Of those Black music creators who applied for funding 46% of Black women creators had one successful application compared to 74% white women creators who were successful
Black women do not feel their contributions to the music industry as a Black female music creator are recognised.
Mental Health
Nearly half of the Black women we have corresponded with say their mental wellbeing has significantly worsened since starting their career in the music industry and a fifth have sought counselling due to racial abuse, however, many Black women we have contact with haven’t sought therapy yet but intend to.
These numbers are significantly low due to the lack of knowledge and understanding of Mental Health challenges within the Black community as a whole. Also, there are barriers when seeking help such as access to Black therapists. This is being addressed.
Being a valued member of the music community and earning enough to make a living are the most important signs of success to Black women creators in the music industry.
Suggestions for change from our members (unpublished):
“Regular forums with industry leaders and equality activists to address structural racism, sexism, homophobia and transphobia that is prevalent within the music industry. Safeguarding and regular monitoring of the experiences and safety (social and economic) of BAME and non-binary musicians and music professionals.”
"More openness about the support that is available to address and combat these issues within the workplace or education setting. A strong culture of support and inclusivity within companies to genuinely care for the well-being of their staff. Employee support groups with the angle of age/gender/sexuality as well as race are essential resources for staff to feel supported for the sake of their wellbeing. For smaller organisations this can be supplied by an organisation such as BLiM”
“Ensure, that all organisations register with an independent body or panel comprising of professionals of different ethnicities and socio economic backgrounds, gender and sexual orientation to demonstrate are audited or present annual stats to show that they “actual” operate a clear inclusion program and policy for recruitment at all levels without tokenism. Also this term tokenism should be clearly defined and outlined in these policy documents and all staff should be required to attend race discrimination training. Young children at primary school should be encouraged to share and learn about each other’s culture to respect difference and celebrate their shared Britishness . This should continue through primary, secondary and into college and universities.”
“They should have to join an organisation that monitors their behaviour so that they will think twice of doing wrong. A lot of them take drugs, are sexual offenders or con-men looking for quick money off vulnerable people.”
We have a list of recommendations you can read in our report download from blim.org.uk/report.
July 2022