FEATURE:
A Pledge and Much-Needed Promise in 2023
PHOTO CREDIT: kj2018/Unsplash
Addressing and Tackling Sexual Misconduct, Abuse and Assault in the Music Industry
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ONE of the most angering and depressing…
things you hear in the music press is how sexual abuse and harassment is rife in the music. Sexism and misogyny are still prevalent and not going away at the pace it should. Even darker and more disturbing, cases and reports of sexual assault, harassment and abuse are still high. I have seen in Hollywood, there are measures on various film sets to protect women (and men) against assault. It has not widely being rolled out, but essentially actors and crew would be background checked. Before they are hired, there would be this security coming from the fact producers and filmmakers are ensuring that the sets are as safe as possible. The acting industry is also blighted by incidents of sexual assault. Although there are cases of men being assaulted and abused in music, the vast majority of cases relate to women. I still don’t think they are being heard, protected and made to feel safe. Every year, we seem to hear of a male artist who has been accused of sexual assault. There are countless other cases of sexual assault at festivals and gigs. I am going to come to a proposal or thought that suggest music does need to implement structures similar to what is happening on some film sets. It is harder to implement, but there do need to be measures. Organisations like the Musicians’ Union published a report that laid bare the number of cases of sexual abuse and harassment across the industry. Naomi Pohl, the Musicians’ Union’s Deputy General Secretary provided a shocking truth in the introduction:
“The results of our research are clear, sexual harassment is widespread in the music industry. In 2018, the Musicians’ Union (MU) set up a Safe Space service for musicians to confidentially report instances of sexual harassment in the music industry. Through logging and responding to the hundreds of reports we have received, primarily from women, we have learned that harassment occurs in a wide variety of workplaces and that the freelance nature of the workforce in music, late night working and informal working environments such as tour buses, pubs and bars, means our members are particularly at risk. There is also a significant power imbalance in many working relationships in the industry which can be abused.
In 2019, the MU decided to conduct a survey of its members to more accurately assess the factors that contribute to this problem. Almost 800 musicians reported their experiences to us, revealing that sexual harassment is an all too frequent occurrence for musicians at all levels of their careers. Our detailed research exposes the barriers that musicians face when reporting their experiences and how harassment can limit or in some cases end the career of the survivor. The most shocking part of the research was how sexual harassment has become a normalised, almost expected, part of working as a musician. One member described sexual harassment as being an “occupational hazard”. We need the Government to listen to the experiences of our members and strengthen laws, so that all musicians are explicitly protected from sexual harassment. Sexual harassment should not be an accepted part of a freelance musician’s working life. As uncomfortable as it might be, we need to be able to speak about sexual harassment openly and discuss industry wide interventions and strategies to make sure no musician’s career is damaged because they’ve experienced or spoken out about sexual harassment. Improving protections in the law would also assist the thousands of employers and engagers of musicians who receive reports and want to take action but currently cannot adequately do so. Preventing sexual harassment remains a challenge for all of society. What’s needed is wholesale cultural change. It won’t happen overnight but we are encouraged that the industry is adapting and that inappropriate behaviour is far more likely to be challenged now than it was two years ago. We look forward to a brighter future for our members. Naomi Pohl Deputy General Secretary, Musicians’ Union”.
Sexual harassment, assault and abuse are endemic. There are wonderful bodies and organisations raising awareness, publishing data and looking to end a toxic working culture. From those working in P.R. and behind the scenes to female musicians, so many are being driven out of the industry. It is hard enough for music. The cost of touring and the lack of revenue many are receiving means too many great artists are being lost. We all need music so badly in our lives but, if people quit or are afraid to come into the industry, then that will have a devastating effect. I do understand all genders are impacted and affected by sexual misconduct and assault, but I do want to focus mostly on women. In terms of percentages, they are by far most at risk. In dire need of restructuring and rehabilitation, there are men in the music industry who are creating this incredibly dangerous reality. The stark truth is that many women feel that nothing has changed. Who can blame them?! I also feel male musicians and those in the industry are not doing enough to voice their concerns. To highlight the issue on a larger stage. Not that they are complicit or culpable if they remain silent, but all of the articles highlighting sexual misconduct are from women. One might say that, as they are affected and it is happening to them, there is an authenticity and urgency that you would not get from men. If they are not the ones being harassed or assaulted, does it seem shallow, ineffectual and inauthentic if they talk about it or write articles?!
It is not a case of only those who are being abused and harassed should speak and write about it. We are talking about highlighting facts and plain truths. In doing so, the aim is to help dimmish and eradicate a vile and relatively under-discussed problem. I would urge everyone to read articles, testimony and stories from women. Every day, sadly, I hear about cases of discrimination, harassment, abuse and assault. There does need to be change and pledges made this year – in the hopes that women are made to feel safer and feel like they are being listened to. Not only are women leaving the industry because of their experiences. The impact on their mental health is heartbreaking! I want to quote large chunks of an article from VICE that was published last July. The article was part of Open Secrets, a collaboration between gal-dem and VICE that explored abusive behaviour in the music industry – and how it has been left unchecked for too long. You can read gal-dem’s Open Secrets articles here, and read VICE’s Open Secrets articles here:
“When DJ Rebekah read about the allegations of sexual assault surrounding fellow DJs Erick Morillo and Derrick May in 2020, she saw the same instances of sexism and harassment that she experienced early in her career. “I just realised shit, this stuff hasn't changed,” Rebekah told me. “I've been around this industry for over 20 years and nothing's changed.”
As a survivor of sexual abuse in the industry herself, Rebekah set up #ForTheMusic, a campaign to expose the music industry’s sinister underbelly and was inundated with stories from people who left the industry. “I've had many women contact me and say their experience has pushed them out and they've lost so much confidence,” says Rebekah. “There's cases of women DJs having residences in clubs and bars and suffering from harassment, and then they've just stopped their residences.”
The cases Rebekah found align with industry reporting that points to an alarmingly widespread issue that has yet to be fully dealt with. In a 2019 report, the Musicians’ Union, which represents 31,000 musicians in the UK, found that 48 percent of respondents said they had experienced workplace harassment, and the union were aware of cases where artists left the industry completely after experiencing sexism or abuse. The prevalence of abuse in the industry was so widespread that according to John Shortell, Head of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at Musicians’ Union, many people saw sexual harassment as an “occupational hazard” that was “part and parcel of the job”.
Many in the industry believe these figures are a lowball estimate. “I think it's higher,” says Sarah Hildering, the Director of Dance & Electronic at Ingrooves Music Group. In 2020, she helped write the code of conduct on sexual harassment for the Association for Electronic Music. “Women discount sexual harassment for themselves, because they know there will be repercussions.”
Over the last few years, music fans have had to come to terms with allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse directed at some of the biggest names in the industry. These include the late Morillo, who was accused of sexual assault by numerous women; techno DJ May, who was accused of assault by four women and Def Jam co-founder Russell Simmons, who has numerous allegations of sexual misconduct against him detailed in the HBO Max documentary On The Record. In 2021, actor Evan Rachel Wood and four other women named Marilyn Manson as their abuser; in 2022, multiple women came forward to accuse former BBC Radio 1 DJ Tim Westwood of sexual misconduct. Westwood, Manson, Simmons and May have all denied the allegations against them.
Women may be starting to come forward, but the music industry still seems behind the times when it comes to tackling abuse. Why are people leaving the industry and what can be done to stop this exodus?
PHOTO CREDIT: PeopleImages/Getty Images
Stories of artists who quit music after being harassed are commonplace at Good Night Out, an organisation that helps bars and venues better respond to sexual harassment – so much so that many have questioned the mark such a loss has made on the industry. “You mourn the lost potential of the survivors who've been harmed to the extent that their creativity just ended there,” says Kai Stone, the head of communications and partnerships at Good Night Out. “All of those records and gigs that didn't happen because of somebody else's abusive choices and us not having the set up in place to either prevent that or respond to that.”
Many see the problem of abuse in the music industry as a gendered issue. Shortell tells me anecdotally that around 95 percent of reports of harassment or abuse to the Musicians’ Union are from women. Calls for more women in leadership positions have been touted as a key way to end this toxic work culture, but the experiences of some show how important it is to view the issue through an intersectional framework.
When former musician and gig promoter Alex spoke about an assault they experienced at a venue, they were expelled by their community and their identity as a queer, non able-bodied person made them feel even more of a target. Their name has been changed to protect their identity. “All these people that I was involved with were cis, able-bodied white people. I'm not cis or able-bodied. There were all these guys against me, telling everyone that I was crazy now.”
Louise, a woman of colour who has worked in music PR since she was 21, describes the toxicity of the industry as “like high school” and stressed that racism, along with sexism, played a huge part in the abuse she received in her job. Like Alex, she is speaking anonymously to protect her identity. “One thing I've really experienced is abuse from white women,” she tells me. “That translates into repetitive personal attacks, bullying, and gaslighting. Every person of colour that works in my sector of the industry has mental health problems and that's exacerbated by all these various types of abuse”.
I think that many would heartedly commend and applaud every organisation that is helping to end sexual harassment and abuse within music. The bravery of the women who share their experiences should also be congratulated. This bravery is not being rewarded with change. It needs to go right up to governmental levels. I am not sure how things differ in nations like the U.S., but there is an industry-wide problem. Similar to that VICE article, D.J.s, those in P.R. and every level are being subjected to simply appalling abuse and assault. I opened by saying that Hollywood, in a small but promising start, is trying to turn the tide when it comes to the occurrences of sexual harassment, abuse and assault. By ensuring that sets and productions start off by background checking actors and crew makes sure that they are doing their best to detect any warning signs or potential issues. Some may say that seems radical and extreme but, as it is a job and this is for the protection of women, then why would any man on a film set object?! If they have nothing to hide, then this formality should not irk or inconvenience them. I know there are cases where false accusations are made and cases are dropped, but they are very rare. In music, Marilyn Manson has just been cleared of sexual assault - but you wonder why this was and whether it was because of a lack of evidence. He is someone who has been in the news more then once for sexual assault accusations.
Many bands and artists have been dropped by their band or label because something unseemly and nasty has come to light. From Arcade Fire’s Win Butler to R. Kelly, there is this horrific and seemingly unending stream. I know Rex Orange County was accused of sexual assault, but any charges were dropped against him. There are incidences of cases being dropped, but that is not to say that this is common. I am not in a position to say why certain cases are not brought to trial and whether it is evidence-based or something else. What we do know is of the hundreds (and possibly thousands) of reported cases. It takes me back to that idea of structures and checks in music. I also think men across the industry need to do more. I am not accusing them of being uncaring, but it is not a good look when it is women alone fighting for their own safety. It is almost like they are not being taken seriously. I know the acting and music industries are different, in the sense it might be easier to regulate and police the former. A lot of assault and abuse cases come at festivals and live gigs, and that is so tough to monitor. Unless you make every ticket-holder go through checks, you are always going to get incidents. I would say a lifetime ban for anyone accused or sexual assault is a no-brainer. Regardless of circumstance or excuse, they should not be allowed to attend live gigs. I know artists who are accused or convicted of sexual assault do have their music removed from streaming sites. That is not true right across the broad. It should be. Th same goes for sites like YouTube. They should not be able to profit or benefit in any way.
Beyond that, what cane be done to help tackle and (hopefully) extinguish the year-in-year-out problem of sexual abuse, assault and misconduct? Extending bans to social media. I think any user who jokes or makes light of sexual abuse and assault should be banned. Anyone seen to promote sexual misconduct should be made accountable and removed from social media! I think venues and festivals are doing a lot to try and make their spaces safer for women. I know there are some festivals that have safe spaces/areas for women where they can go during gigs if they need to or feel threatened. It is tough to stop all incidents but venues can definitely increase security and vigilance to ensure anyone who attacks or abuses a woman is removed, banned and prosecuted. Also there can be more campaigns online. I have said how many male musicians and those in the industry seem inactive or silent. That is not a lack of concern or support. I know there have been podcasts and interviews where men have got together to see what they can do. A wider campaign on T.V. or social media where there is a concentrate effort to raise awareness and help to stamp it out should happen his year. It is appalling having to read on a daily basis women who feel unsafe going to gigs or share these harrowing stories of being assaulted. The fact many are leaving the industry because of it proves that action needs taking. Aside from some wonderful organisations helping to highlight the problem alongside brave women speaking out, there are opportunities for more. That thing about sexual misconduct not going anywhere. It is not good enough! Let us hope that, through this year, there are…
DEFINITE steps forward.