"Working together, Help Musicians, Musicians’ Union and Attitude is Everything believe we can make the industry a fairer more equitable place for all musicians.” Image credit: Shutterstock.
According to new research from the Disabled Musicians Insight Report, disabled musicians experience high levels of discrimination in the workplace, multi-faceted financial challenges, and poor physical and mental wellbeing.
The findings, released by the Musicians’ Union and Help Musicians, focus on the experiences of 2,593 disabled musicians and are the latest in a series of insight reports from the launch of the first ever Musicians’ Census.
88% of disabled musicians have experienced discrimination based on their disability
88% of disabled musicians who have experienced discrimination based on their disability reported that they were open with all or some of the people they work with, and 94% of those experiencing discrimination said it impacted their ability to work or advance their career progression.
The report also unveils the intersectional impacts of discrimination are significant and have a big impact on musicians’ lives and careers.
Just over half of disabled musicians from the Global Majority have experienced racism, and 38% of disabled musicians who identify as trans reported experiencing discrimination due to their disability.
Discrimination based on different protected characteristics
The report also highlights concerns for other forms of discrimination disabled musicians experience, based on different protected characteristics.
Almost a quarter (23%) of disabled musicians have been sexually harassed, compared to 13% of non-disabled musicians.
27% of disabled musicians have experienced racism compared to 7% of non-disabled musicians, whilst the ethnicity breakdown between the disabled and non-disabled samples remains the same.
51% of disabled respondents who identify as trans have experienced gender discrimination.
26% of LGBTQ+ disabled musicians have experienced discrimination based on their sexuality, and a third have experienced sexual harassment. 16% of disabled musicians have experienced discrimination due to their socioeconomic background.
Multi-faceted financial challenges, including access to fair pay
73% of all disabled respondents reported that they are not in receipt of any state benefits, tax credits or support, which alongside a disability pay gap and high rates of experiencing cost-related career barriers paints a picture of multi-faceted financial challenges for disabled musicians to work in the music industry.
The report also reveals an average disability pay gap of £4,400 – based on a mean income of approximately £29,200 for disabled musicians and £33,600 for non-disabled musicians earning all of their income from music. The gap widens a further £1,700 for musicians with mental health conditions and/ or neurodivergent profiles.
22% of all disabled musicians are in debt, rising to 27% for mental health/neurodivergent musicians. In contrast, 13% of non-disabled musicians are in debt.
Contending with career barriers
The findings also reveal the barriers disabled musicians face as a result of being disabled that impact their career and aspirations.
While 1 in 5 non-disabled musicians report facing no career barriers, this drops to 1 in 10 for disabled musicians. Not being able to make a sustainable income is the most highly reported barrier at 51%, reflecting the financial issues disabled musicians face.
Other highly reported financial barriers include no clear routes to progression (41%), the costs associated with equipment (37%), transport (31%) as well as socioeconomic background (21%).
Naomi Pohl, MU General Secretary commented: “Disabled musicians contribute hugely to the richness of the music industry, working in every genre and sector, however the data indicates that this community of musicians face multiple, substantial barriers to carving out a sustainable career in the music industry.”
Physical and mental wellbeing
Almost 2 in 5 (39%) disabled musicians reported that their physical wellbeing is negative, and a similar proportion (43%) reported that their mental wellbeing is negative.
Amongst disabled musicians who reported negative or extremely negative physical wellbeing, only two thirds said it was likely they would still be working in music in 5 years’ time.
Tackling ableism, inaccessibility and discrimination should be a priority for the entire music industry
“The music industry is beginning to take steps to address accessibility and ensure more inclusive workplaces, but there is a long way to go and more progress is urgently needed,” added Naomi Pohl.
John Shortell, MU Head of Equality, Diversity & Inclusion commented: “The findings in this report highlight the need for partners across the music industry to invest in accessibility and support disabled musicians.
“Working together with disabled musicians, we can remove the barriers this community of musicians’ face. Tackling ableism, inaccessibility and discrimination should be a priority for the entire music industry.”
The MU will be working with members, Help Musicians and Attitude is Everything to help create a culture of dislosure and remove the barriers this community of musicians face.
Read the full report