ISM report reveals ‘scandal’ of harassment and discrimination in music industry

The latest report by the Incorporated Society of Musicians (ISM), Dignity at work 2: Discrimination in the music sector, was released today. The report reveals the extent of discrimination (including sexual harassment and racism) in all areas of the music sector, with 66% of respondents saying they have experienced some form of discrimination while working in the music sector.

The ISM released its first survey of this kind, Dignity at work, in 2018. This second report, based on data collected in 2022 in a survey which garnered 660 responses, suggests that discrimination and inappropriate behaviours in the music sector has increased over the last four years.

Key findings include:

• 66% of respondents said they experienced some form of discrimination while working in the music sector.
• 78% of reported discrimination was committed against women.
• 58% of discrimination was identified as sexual harassment.
• 76% of workers within studio and live music event settings experienced discrimination, the highest level by type of work.

James Ainscough, chief executive of music charity Help Musicians said: ‘The depressing survey results in this report show starkly that there has not been the positive change we hoped for in the last 5 years. We need a shift in culture and this insightful report from ISM makes some practical recommendations towards that.’

The report recommends that the government and the music sector move fast to amend the Equality Act 2010 to protect freelancers, implement extensive training across the sector, require trade bodies to an active role in policing their members, reinstate rights around third-party harassment and extend the period of time during which claims can be brought to the Tribunal.

Freelancers are shown to be a particularly vulnerable workforce, with 88% of self-employed survey respondents not reporting the discrimination they experienced and 94% of them stating that there was no one to report to.

ISM President Vick Bain, who co-authored the report with ISM's EDI Research & Policy Officer​ Dr Kathryn Williams, said: ‘Everybody deserves to be safe at work and it’s a scandal that our brilliant music workforce is being let down in this way… We need to take action now because we don’t want to have to highlight these issues again in another four years’ time. I’d like to thank every person who took the time to share their experiences with us. I appreciate how difficult that can be, but without your support and trust we would not be able to reveal the scale of the issues in our sector.’