Music industry leaders have joined forces with a host of organisations to boost the sector’s work on equality, diversity and inclusion.
UK Music, the collective voice of the music industry, and its members are spearheading the move following the call from the UK Music’s Diversity Taskforce.
The initiative is a key piece of the ‘Ten-Point Plan’ published last October, as part of UK Music and the Diversity Taskforce’s work to ensure the music industry is more diverse and inclusive.
As part of the Ten-Point Plan, UK Music and its members agreed to identify and work closely with socially engaged organisations whose work relates to gender and race – and with whom they can invest in on a long-term basis.
Every member has now identified organisations with which it plans to work closely as part of their commitment to meeting the targets set out in the Ten-Point Plan.
UK Music is partnering with Parents and Carers in Performing Arts (PiPA), an organisation that aims to promote best practice employment and support for parents and carers in the performing arts sector.
The Ten-Point Plan was developed by the UK Music's Diversity Taskforce and has the full support of UK Music’s ten board member bodies: AIM, BPI, FAC, The Ivors Academy, MMF, MPA, MPG, MU, PPL and PRS for Music.
“There is a real determination and commitment across the music industry to quicken the pace of change when it comes to diversity and inclusion,” said UK Music chief executive Jamie Njoku-Goodwin.
“UK Music are working with PiPA – a fantastic organisation, which does such brilliant work for parents and carers in performing arts.
“All our members are now working closely with an array of impressive organisations and I am confident these partnerships will flourish and do great work in the months and years ahead.”
“We are delighted to partner with UK Music and honoured to be supported as part of its Diversity Taskforce’s Ten-Point Plan,” added Cassie Raine, co-founder and Joint CEO of Parents and Carers in Performing Arts.
“We have already started working together and look forward to putting in place actions through our partnership. Parents and Carers are a sub-sector of every protected characteristic and there is an urgent need to remove systemic barriers to retain these experienced and talented women and men.
“There isn’t a one size fits all solution, but by identifying a range of sustainable, research-led strategies and tools for employers to enable people to continue working at every stage of their lives, we can begin to take practical steps towards a more inclusive and diverse music industry.”