Barriers facing black and south Asian music events ‘cost London up to £141m a year’

A two-year investigation into racial inequality in London's live music industry has found that Black and South Asian music events face disproportionate cancellations, restrictions, and licensing barriers compared to white events. The Race Equality in Music Event Licensing (REMEL) report estimates that these barriers cost London up to £141 million annually, with projected losses exceeding £650 million over five years.

The report found that genres like Afrobeats, drill, and dancehall are often labeled "high risk" despite a lack of credible evidence, while indie, pop, and rock events face comparatively little scrutiny. Events such as reggae gatherings, jazz nights, and community events also face stringent restrictions. Charisse Beaumont, CEO of Black Lives in Music, emphasized that the discrimination extends beyond genres, highlighting the pervasive issue of race-based discrimination.

The investigation found that police scrutiny has become harder to document, with unverified police intelligence and verbal conversations playing a significant role in event cancellations. Promoters reported receiving little explanation for cancellations, facing substantial security costs, and having limited opportunities to challenge decisions.

The financial and reputational consequences can severely impact mental health. The report recommended 19 changes, including more transparent, evidence-based licensing decisions, an independent review, clearer evidence standards, better reporting of licensing outcomes, and stronger accountability. The Met Police promised to carefully consider the report's findings, emphasizing their commitment to fair, evidence-based contributions to the licensing process while maintaining safety as their priority.