GENDER GAP SHRINKING IN MUSIC TRADE ORGS

Female representation in senior positions at U.K. music industry trade bodies has improved over the last year, according to a report from Women in CTRL, which celebrates this progress while noting that improvements could still be made.

Titled Seat at the Table, the report found that in the 12 organizations surveyed—including PPL, AIM, ISM, The Ivors Academy and BPI—42% of board members are now women, up from 34% in 2020.

Last year, just 9% of chairs were women, a figure that has since risen to 27%. CEOs remain unchanged at 27%, or three women. The share of board seats held by Black women has doubled to 6%, from 3% in 2020.

“Our work is far from done; the stats are still stark and a far way off true equality,” said Nadia Khan, Women in CTRL founder and AIM chair. “True diversity goes beyond female representation to minority groups, disability status, socio-economic status, sexual orientation and education level. Let’s try to fix the system and have real conversations. What is it about the system that doesn’t allow underrepresented groups to reach the top? Why don’t we see more women in chair or CEO positions? Let’s identify the barriers and work together to break them down.”