Our new report, Just the Way It Is?, brings together insights from a series of focus groups with young people across the UK, supported by a Youth Music snapshot poll capturing additional lived experiences.

The report exposes widespread unsafe environments, low or no pay, discrimination and silencing across the music industries, particularly impacting women, LGBTQ+, Disabled, Global Majority and working-class creatives.

Download the report - accessible version (WORD)
Download the report - (PDF)

"The message was clear - don’t speak up"

The report opens with a powerful foreword from artist Victoria Canal, who reflects on her early experiences of harassment, exploitation and disability discrimination while on tour.

When I was 19, I had no awareness of the normalised harm young people face in the music industry…

Everyone else on the tour knew exactly the position I was in – management, crew, band included – but they’d signed NDAs and were afraid of losing their jobs. The message was clear – don’t speak up, or your career is over before it’s begun.
Victoria Canal
Singer-songwriter
Face of a person looking at a camera, with short hair, a string on hair over their face and a white shirt.

Victoria’s experiences reflect what many young people across the UK tell us about trying to build a career in music. Harm has been normalised in many parts of the music industries, and speaking up feels too risky. 

Young people speaking up and “The Raye Effect”

At Youth Music, we’re seeing what we’re calling ‘The Raye Effect’, where an increasing number of young people in the industry are speaking out following in the footsteps of established artists like Raye.

Too often, exploitation and inequality are commonplace for young people trying to break into music, and marginalised young people are suffering the biggest impact. We’re seeing what we’re calling ‘The Raye Effect’, where an increasing number of young people and artists alike are speaking out following in the footsteps of established artists like Raye. 

It's vital that the industry listens to this. While the new Employment Rights Bill is welcome, laws alone cannot reshape culture. Real change will come from the whole music community working together and moving from a place of quiet acceptance toward a culture of shared responsibility. 

We hope this report gives people the confidence, clarity and practical steps they need to help create safer, fairer working environments for young creatives.
Carol Reid
Programme Director at Youth Music
a person walking alone at night

I have spoken openly before about my experience of misogyny in the music industry. This report gives the stark reality of how it is for so many young people and, importantly, guidance on what we can do to make it better.
GIRLI
Artist

What young people told us

Produced in partnership with the Musicians’ Union and Music Guardians, the research draws on 19 testimonies from in-depth focus groups, alongside additional data from 50 respondents gathered through a social media snapshot poll.

The snapshot poll findings underline the key issues for young creatives:

  • 72% have felt unsafe in a music industry working environment
  • 90% have been paid unfairly
  • 90% felt unable to speak up about unfair practices
  • 75% have considered giving up their ambitions due to unsafe or unfair conditions
  • 85% said they felt encouraged by artists like Raye speaking out

The artist GIRLI gave her support to the report saying, 

what harm looks like

Across the testimonies, certain themes came up many times.

  1. Low and no pay: Many young people take unpaid or underpaid roles to get a foot in the door. 

    “I was being paid a tiny amount for the hours that I was putting in… I was basically doing full-time hours, and I was being paid for maybe seven hours a week.”
     
  2. Unsafe work environments: Late-night sessions, unsafe travel and alcohol-heavy spaces put young workers at risk. 

    “I tied the zip together in my tent and slept with my rape alarm in hand… I don’t think we should be at a state where people feel like they should have to do that.”
     
  3. Discrimination and tokenism: Sexism, racism, ableism and performative inclusion persist. 

"I’ve felt often that I’ve been approved onto certain things only because I’m a wheelchair user and it looks really good for them.”
 

  1. Exploitation and silencing: The absence of contracts and restrictive NDAs leave emerging creatives powerless and unprotected.

    “Any music that we made, we were never given a contract… we have an album that we’re still trying to get off them.”
     
  2. Barriers to reporting: Fear of blacklisting keeps people quiet.

    “When I tried to get safeguarding involved, I was taken into a room and told, ‘you’re being a rat… what happens in house stays in house.”
a person in a stage wearing white trousers and white all stars sneakers.

What needs to change

While the report paints a concerning picture, it also highlights examples of good practice from allies, grassroots organisations and collectives, showing that progress is possible when safeguarding, inclusion and fair pay are prioritised

There is no future without protecting young people, and we must all do what we can to make the music industries safer.
Dr Diljeet Bhachu
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Musicians’ Union

Collective Action: What Needs To Happen Next

The report sets out clear, practical steps for the whole music ecosystem:

  1. Industry employers: Ensure fair pay, transparent contracts and safe workplace cultures.
     
  2. Funders and policymakers: Close the gap around the safety, inclusion and rights of young creatives.
     
  3. Young creatives: Know your rights, trust your instincts and seek support.
Download the report - accessible version (WORD)
Download the report - (PDF)

More Resources

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resources

Safeguarding Hub

Discover Youth Music’s safeguarding expectations and access essential resources to ensure the safety and wellbeing of young people and adults in your care.

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