In January 2024, a Women and Equalities Committee of the House of Commons released a report on the treatment of women within the music industry. Its findings were fairly damning – but the Conservative government of the time failed to respond adequately to any of them, according to a number of industry bodies, including the Musician’s Union.

Overview of the “Misogyny in Music” Report

The report looked into the problems faced by women in the music industry. It focussed in particular on a lack of opportunity and support, harassment and discrimination. It also found that the music industry imposed a number of ‘intersectional’ barriers on women, and that pay inequality was considerable.

The final report produced by the commission drew upon a number of different sources, including a 2022 survey by the Musicians’ Union, to which many female respondents reported having suffered gender-based bullying and harassment in the workplace. One contributor to the enquiry reported that jokes were frequently made at the expense of the alto and soprano sections of a choir, while bass and tenor sections were given a more supportive environment.

Another contributor, Dr Sarah Raine of the University College Dublin, reported that many women felt undervalued by promoters, agents, and media organisations.

One interesting and perhaps underreported aspect of misogyny in the music industry is the use of non-disclosure agreements in silencing women, and preventing them from coming forward with claims of harassment or discrimination.

Impact on Society and Culture

The music industry is a major cultural force, helping to shape the attitudes and dispositions not only of the people who work within it, but also of wider society. If the popular music of the day describes women with contempt, then it’s reasonable to expect those who listen to it to internalise that contempt – even if those listeners happen to be women.

It’s worth noting, however, that the report in question here did not make any mention of lyrics, or of the creative output of the musicians themselves – male or female.

Industry Response and Accountability

As we’ve mentioned, the response of the music industry to the then-government’s failure to act on any of the recommendations put forward by the committee has been lukewarm.

While musicians and business leaders have the power to reshape the culture within their workplaces, many in the industry feel powerless to do so without the backing of the law. Many of the barriers faced by women in music are not particular to the music industry but are a consequence of the informal, flexible nature of the work itself. A pregnant woman who freelances as a cellist might not enjoy the same legal protections under the Equality Act 2010 as a woman who is in a formal salaried position.