As an organisation we’ll be working with UK Music and the Diversity Taskforce over the next five years to implement the Five Ps framework. Photo credit: Shutterstock
Since its launch in 2016, UK Music’s Diversity Survey has tracked progress in diversity and inclusion with the aim of helping businesses and organisations understand the make-up of the industry and take action to support equality.
While it doesn’t include musicians, the survey and report give important insight to parts of the industry that work with musicians but may be less visible to the public.
Key results reveal:
- There has been an increase in the total number of women employees compared to the 2020 survey: 52.9% of individuals working in the music industry in 2022 identified as a woman, which has risen from 49.6% in 2020
- There has been a decrease in the total number of employees from Black, Asian and Global Majority communities, from 22.3% two years ago to 21.04% now
- The number of Black, Asian and Global Majority respondents aged 25-34 rose from 24.8% in 2020 to 26.3% in 2022
- 14.9% of the industry reported a disability, up from 12.2% in 2020. While 5% of those working at senior level declared a visible disability, the greatest representation of disabled respondents is at apprentice or intern level (13.6%)
- Two-thirds (67.2%) of those who have a disability said they felt they had to compromise their health for work.
The report also shares data on neurodiversity, socio-economic status, carers, and menopause.
Action plan for diversity and inclusion
A key part of the report is a new music industry action plan from UK Music’s Diversity Taskforce. Called “The Five Ps”, the action plan maps out five key areas that UK Music hopes the music industry can use as a framework to deliver results: people, policy, partnerships, purchase and progress.
The recommendations build on the foundations laid out in 2020 in UK Music’s Ten-Point Plan for the sector, which outlined how UK Music members and the wider industry could take significant steps towards improving diversity in the music industry.
The MU have signed up to the five P’s, and as an organisation we’ll be working with UK Music and the Diversity Taskforce over the next five years to implement the framework.