Report: Ethnicity & disability in music
- Title: ‘Unseen. Unheard. Race and Disability – Black disabled experience in the UK’s music industry’
- Authors: Black Lives In Music, Attitude is Everything
- Published in: June 2023
- Keywords: anti-racism, disability, intersectionality, ableism, racism
The ‘Unseen. Unheard.’ report is a collaborative effort between Black Lives In Music (BLiM), an organization advocating for equal opportunities for black, Asian and ethnically diverse musicians in the UK music industry, and Attitude is Everything, which works to enhance accessibility for people with a disability in the music and live events industries. The report explores the experiences of black British disabled music creators and professionals, drawing from a survey conducted for BLiM’s October 2021 report, ‘Being Black in the UK Music Industry.’
Some key findings:
- 74% of black disabled music creators felt there are specific barriers to success in the industry because of their race or ethnicity. For comparison: 58% of black non-disabled creators felt the same way.
- 70% of black disabled music creators and professionals said that they have experienced racism or racial bias towards them. 22% have accessed counselling as a result of these experiences.
- An overwhelming 91% of black disabled creators and professionals said they felt unsatisfied with how they are supported by the music industry.
Even though ‘Unseen. Unheard.’ is based on a UK-only survey, experience tells us that the situation is likely similar in other countries. The report suggests that black disabled industry professionals are not yet reaping the benefits of existing campaigns and are not feeling represented.
Because of this, the report delves deep into the intersectionality of ethnicity and disability, discussing problems one barrier and one experience at a time. “‘Intersectionality’ refers to the ways in which people can face barriers and discrimination based on multiple identities at the same time including gender identity, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability and class,” the report reads. It also frames relevant perspectives and recommended actions that industry professionals can take.
“It is essential that the music industry understands and learns directly from the experiences of those who are impacted by both racism and ableism both in society at large and in their professional and creative practice,” it is said in the report. If you want to hear directly from those affected, check out the podcast series accompanying the report on YouTube, featuring in-depth interviews with black disabled creators and industry professionals.