According to a report by a committee of MPs, sexual harassment and abuse are rampant in this “boys’ club” of a sector.
After conducting an investigation into the industry, the Women and Equalities Committee discovered that sexual harassment and abuse were widespread.
However, it was stated that a lot of women chose not to report the assaults because they were afraid of being believed or that doing so would end their careers.
The bipartisan committee has suggested several policies should be implemented, such as amending the Equalities Act to provide more safeguards for independent contractors and boosting funding to encourage more women to enter the field.
“People in the industry who attend award shows and parties currently do so sitting alongside sexual abusers who remain protected by the system and by colleagues,” concluded the report.
It stated: “The music industry has always prided itself on being a vehicle for social change; when it comes to discrimination, and the harassment and sexual abuse of women, it has a lot of work to do.”
In order to achieve the “transformative change” required, Caroline Nokes, a Conservative MP and chair of the committee, demanded a “shift in the behaviour of men” in the sector.
