Racial Discrimination in London Music Licensing Costs £141 Million Annually
A report by Black Lives in Music has confirmed for the first time that concerts featuring Black and South Asian artists are more frequently canceled, and genres like Afrobeats and hip-hop are deemed 'risky,' reports Billboard.
The REMEL study revealed that licensing and police oversight in London unfairly restrict Black and South Asian musicians, promoters, and venue owners. As a result, the city loses between £127 million and £141 million annually on live concerts.
The report is based on two years of data, including surveys, interviews, freedom of information requests, and an analysis of authorities' decisions. It confirmed that events involving Black and South Asian artists are more often canceled, denied licenses, or subjected to stricter conditions. Genres such as Afrobeats, hip-hop, drill, R&B, and dancehall are automatically labeled 'high-risk,' despite no evidence of danger.
The authors propose 19 recommendations for reforming the system, including abandoning stereotypes and implementing transparent evaluation criteria. Currently, promoters cannot challenge refusals, and police use even random online data for inspections. In areas with a high number of migrants, temporary event permits are rejected more frequently.
