A new report, which emerged from research by the Musicians' Union and charity Help Musicians, sheds light on the plight of women working in the music industry in 2024.
More than 2,500 musicians were surveyed in the “Women Musicians Perception Report,” which suggests that work-related abuse and financial disparities significantly impede the career advancement of women in the music industry. The study found that half of women have experienced gender discrimination and a third have been sexually harassed.
Another finding of the study correlated the women's age and visibility in the music scene. Although 47% of musicians between 16 and 55 years old were women, they only represented 26% of those over 55 years old. Age discrimination was found to occur much more commonly in female musicians than in males.
“The findings from the latest census report show that there is still much work to be done to ensure that working as a musician is equitable for everyone,” said Sarah Woods, CEO of Help Musicians and Music Minds Matter. “We hope these insights encourage the industry to continue collaborating to reduce gender barriers and ensure gender equity in all aspects of music.”
“It is alarming to witness the persistence of gender disparities highlighted by the UK Census of Musicians, where discrimination, harassment and pay inequality remain common issues faced by female musicians, demanding urgent action” added Nadia Khan, founder of the non-profit organization Women In CTRL. “This pivotal moment presents a unique opportunity for change ahead of the next census of musicians. It is vital that the industry makes genuine commitments and takes decisive action to prevent a repeat of the same data.”
You can read the full “Perspectives on Women Musicians Report” here.
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