We are incredibly proud to announce that Black Lives in Music has been awarded the Live Workforce Award at this year’s The Live Awards.
This recognition is for our community, our partners, and every individual committed to creating a fairer, more inclusive music industry. It reflects the dedication and courage of everyone who has worked with us to challenge inequality and transform the live music sector.
Our journey began with the Being Black in the UK Music Industry report in 2021, which revealed that more than sixty percent of Black professionals had experienced direct racism and highlighted barriers to career progression. The findings gave voice to hundreds of individuals and began to reshape how the industry understands race and accountability.
In 2023, Unseen, Unheard focused on the experiences of women of colour in the music industry, uncovering inequalities in pay, safety, and access to leadership. Its findings have led to new partnerships, mentorship programmes, and funding opportunities, and it has informed the strategies of major funders and policymakers, including the Women and Equalities Committee.
In 2024, REMEL: Race, Ethnicity and Mental Health in the Live Music Industry surveyed over 1,700 participants across the live music ecosystem. The results were stark: seventy-four percent of Black respondents reported that racism had negatively impacted their mental health, and thirty-six percent of ethnically diverse respondents had considered leaving the industry due to stress or burnout.
To turn evidence into action, we developed a Ten Point Plan for Race Equality and Mental Health, covering leadership accountability, safe reporting mechanisms, anti-racism training, fair recruitment, mental health support, transparent pay, and public accountability. This plan underpins the Race Equality and Mental Health Charter, now adopted by more than fifty live music organisations, from grassroots venues to major festivals.
Together, these initiatives are changing workplaces, policies, and culture replacing silence with open conversation, and conversation with real accountability.
Stay Tuned for 2026
