Black artists and promoters in London face nightlife licensing discrimination, say Black Lives in Music
nme.comA post shared by Black Lives in Music (@blacklivesinmusic)“Our events get cancelled – just because they’re a Bollywood event, or it could be jazz, or it could be drum and bass, it could be any genre that attracts a black and brown audience.”She added: “It happens time and time again and it’s happening even today, where venue owners and promoters will have to fill out ‘temporary event notices’ just so they can put on an event after 9.30pm“Sometimes the event might be a jazz ensemble, playing at a cultural hub and they would get rejected [by the local council].
But when you leave that cultural hub and walk down the road, the pub’s still open, playing the same music that they wouldn’t be allowed to play.“This happens week to week, there’s cancellations of events happening up and down the country, particularly in London… and it’s not spoken about because there is a culture of silence.
There is fear of promoters losing their licence or not being able to put on an event again.”This follows a 2021 survey from Black Lives in Music where 86% of Black musicians reported experiencing barriers to progression in their careers.
The organisation was formed in 2021 with the goal of empowering Black musicians and professionals in the music industry.Beaumont also claimed the Metropolitan Police have unfairly pressured venues to shut down events unnecessarily.Ian Graham, the Met’s chief licensing officer, responded to the claims, saying: “We want all Londoners to safely enjoy the wide range of night-time attractions the capital has to offer.
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