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Racial bias in London music event licensing, report says
Overview
A report commissioned by the Greater London Authority and carried out by Black Lives in Music has concluded that black-led music events in London face disproportionate restrictions, cancellations, and higher scrutiny due to racial bias in licensing and policing. Genres such as Afrobeats, hip-hop, drill, R&B and dancehall are routinely flagged as high risk, whereas indie, pop and rock events face less scrutiny. The report outlines 19 recommendations, including a review of the licensing system, transparent evidence standards, and cultural impact assessments.
Key points
- Black-led music events in London face disproportionate restrictions and cancellations due to racial bias in licensing and policing.
- Genres including Afrobeats, hip-hop, drill, R&B and dancehall are routinely flagged as high risk compared to indie, pop and rock nights.
- The Race Equality in Music Event Licensing (REMEL) report was commissioned by the Greater London Authority and conducted by Black Lives in Music.
- Researchers noted that a lack of race-disaggregated licensing data and rejected Freedom of Information requests made certain patterns difficult to measure.
- The report highlights that unverified police intelligence is often used to justify heightened scrutiny, extra security costs, and economic exclusion of black and South Asian events.
- The report sets out 19 recommendations, including a review of the licensing system, transparent evidence standards, and cultural impact assessments for major licensing decisions.
- The Metropolitan Police stated they would carefully consider the report's findings while maintaining a focus on keeping Londoners safe.