The UK government’s rejection of the Misogyny In Music report recommendations has been met with disappointment within the music industry. The report, published in January, highlighted the prevalence of misogyny and sexual harassment in the industry and called for urgent action to address the issue. However, the government has rejected the report’s recommendations, including installing new protections for freelance workers, protecting workers from sexual harassment, and investing in getting non-male workers into male-dominated areas of the industry.
The decision has been criticized by industry figures, who argue that the government is failing to prioritize the safety of women in the music industry. Deborah Annetts, the chief executive of the Independent Society of Musicians, said that the government’s decision was “painfully disappointing” and that it “failed to make music safer for women”. Safe Gigs For Women commented that “sexual violence changes lives” and that “inaction is inexcusable.”
The Musicians’ Union also expressed disappointment in the government’s response, saying that it was “shocked” that the select committee’s recommendations had been rejected. The union’s General Secretary, Naomi Pohl, said that the government had “decided that women’s safety is not a priority.”
The government’s rejection of the Misogyny In Music report recommendations is a blow to efforts to improve gender equality in the music industry. The report’s findings highlighted the urgent need for action to address the issue of misogyny and sexual harassment, and the government’s failure to act on the recommendations is a setback for progress.
The ball is now in the ruling Conservative Party’s court, and it remains to be seen whether the government will reconsider its position and implement the recommendations from the report.
