Is It Harder to Put On a Rap Concert Than an Indie Gig?
Black and Asian-led music events are facing unfair cancellations, over-policing, and licensing barriers, stifling creativity and holding back London’s vibrant music scene.
The REMEL (Race Equality in Music Events Licensing) survey, launched by Black Lives in Music (BLiM), the Musicians’ Union, UK Music, LIVE, and the Mayor of London, is gathering real data to push for fairer licensing policies.
Why This Survey Matters
Despite the abolition of Form 696 in 2017—once used by police to assess live music events based on music genre and audience ethnicity—Black, Asian, and ethnically diverse artists, promoters, and venues continue to face systemic barriers.
Concerns have been raised about decision-making and risk assessment processes by councils, local authorities and venues that disproportionately impact Black and Asian-led events, limiting opportunities for new talent and emerging genres.
In 2023, BLiM and the Musicians’ Union wrote to the Mayor of London about these ongoing barriers. In response, the REMEL project was launched in June 2024, chaired by Justine Simons OBE, Deputy Mayor for Culture and the Creative Industries, to take action.
Unfair Licensing in Action
BLiM’s research has already uncovered troubling patterns, including:
- A venue known for Black and Brown music programming unable to secure later hours, despite no evidence of adverse effects—while local pubs played the same music freely.
- Promoters feeling the need to use ‘white-sounding’ pseudonyms to obtain licenses.
- Events canceled at the last minute due to police pressure or licensing refusals based on genre, including Jazz, Bhangra, and Gospel—not just Drill music.
Industry Leaders Speak Out
Charisse Beaumont, CEO, Black Lives in Music
“This survey is a crucial step in driving real change in live music licensing. By gathering real data, we can expose these challenges, highlight best practices, and push for an industry that is fairer, stronger, and more creative. We need venues, artists, promoters, and decision-makers to take part and share their experiences.”
Naomi Pohl, General Secretary, Musicians’ Union
“Discrimination against Black and global majority artists is holding the UK music industry back. All musicians should be able to thrive and reach their full potential.”
Jon Collins, CEO, LIVE
“Black and Asian artists, promoters, and venues consistently face bigger barriers than their white counterparts. A solid research foundation will ensure we can take the right steps to fix this imbalance.”
Tom Kiehl, CEO, UK Music
“Form 696 may be gone, but its legacy remains. We need real evidence and testimonies to unlock barriers for artists, musicians, and fans.”
Dr. Shabna Begum, CEO, Runnymede Trust
“This research is urgent and necessary. The over-policing of Black and Brown communities extends into licensing, impacting livelihoods, creative expression, and cultural life.”
Take Part in the REMEL Survey
Your experiences matter. The REMEL survey aims to investigate:
- The reasons behind event cancellations and licensing refusals.
- The role of police and council decision-making in restricting Black and Asian-led events.
- The wider impact on live music culture and economic opportunities.
The findings will shape recommendations to improve licensing policies, working with councils, local authorities, and the music industry to identify best practices and drive change.
If you’ve faced barriers in putting on live music events, share your story now.
Take the survey at blim.org.uk/change
#StopEventCancellations
