Black music events face higher shutdown rates, report finds

Black and South Asian music events are being cancelled, restricted, or shut down at higher rates than those led by white individuals, a new report has found. This disparity is estimated to cost the music industry up to £141 million annually and puts more than £650 million at risk over a five-year period, according to the Race Equality In Music Event Licensing (REMEL) project. The two-year study highlighted that the black and South Asian music sector continues to encounter significant systemic and institutional obstacles that impede its success.

Licensing Disparities and Financial Impact

The REMEL project, led by a steering group including the Greater London Authority (GLA) and the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), identified that certain music genres were often presumed to be a risk without sufficient evidence. Genres such as afrobeat, dancehall, R&B, and hip-hop were frequently flagged as 'high-risk' during licensing decisions. In contrast, genres like pop, indie, and rock faced considerably less scrutiny. The report also noted that Temporary Event Notices (TENs) were more likely to be refused in London’s most diverse boroughs, thereby limiting opportunities for events led by black and South Asian individuals.

The report detailed instances of informal pressure from police, with off-the-record discussions suggesting future licence reviews or other measures to prevent black and South Asian-led events from proceeding. It also highlighted a difference in how venues were treated following incidents. Many venues owned by white individuals were reportedly supported back into operation, while black-owned venues were often forced to close. Licensing authorities were perceived to misuse area-wide crime statistics to justify venue closures or licence denials, even when a specific venue maintained a clean safety record. High local crime rates for an entire neighbourhood were sometimes wrongly attributed to individual music venues.

Recommendations for Reform

To address these issues, the report recommended that the Home Office and the GLA should establish an independent panel of experts to review the venue and event licensing system. This review should aim to integrate equality and human rights law into licensing legislation. Furthermore, the report suggested that local authorities should publish annual data on their licensing decisions. This data should be monitored by an independent panel to ensure complete transparency. The report also advocated for a shift in perspective, urging that events and venues be viewed as public assets that contribute social and economic value, rather than being treated as inherent risks.

Charisse Beaumont, chief executive of Black Lives in Music, stated that the REMEL recommendations and principles need to be embedded into the licensing system to foster a thriving nightlife. She added that racial bias and over-policing in music event licensing stifle creativity, entrepreneurship, and economic opportunities.