Racial Bias in Live Events Licensing Costs London’s Music Scene $185M Annually, Says Landmark Report
The report has been in the making for the past two years and features data and testimonies from a wide range of contributors.
A groundbreaking two-year investigation, known as the REMEL Report, has revealed that racial bias in London's live event licensing costs the city's Black and South Asian music scene up to £141 million ($185 million) annually. The comprehensive study, which gathered data and testimonies from various stakeholders, including the Greater London Authority (GLA), Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), U.K. Music, and Live venues, found that Black events are more often canceled, restricted, or blocked compared to white-led events.
The report also highlighted that Temporary Event Notices (TENs) are more likely to be denied in London's most diverse boroughs, limiting opportunities for promoters. In 2024, it is estimated that £1.1 billion ($1.45 billion) was spent on Black and South Asian live music in London, yet licensing bias still hinders venues and promoters from hosting events.
Over the past five years, this bias has resulted in a loss of up to £650 million ($856 million). One example of racial bias highlighted in the report is the case of Blue Note London, which faced objections from the Metropolitan Police based on a "crime and disorder" risk associated with Black music genres, despite a petition from the public leading to the venue's license being granted.
Charisse Beaumont, CEO of Black Lives in Music, emphasized the need for a fair, transparent, and evidence-based licensing system that protects people without profiling them and recognizes the value of Black and South Asian music in London's cultural and economic life.
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