UK Music industry unveil equality and diversity charter

The UK music industry has made a commitment to increasing equality and diversity in the music sector following the launch of a new charter.

UK Music's Equality and Diversity charter is designed to encourage the industry to improve equality and diversity.

UK Music are hoping to get at least 100 individuals, companies and organisations to sign up to the charter by 2012 and commit to accomplishing at least two of the four actions of the charter to include ethnic minorities, women and the disabled in the music industry workplace.

The four actions are to recruit from a wide talent pool; improve equality and diversity at senior decision-making levels; participate in or run activities that promote equality and diversity in the music industry; and share methods of increasing equality and diversity.

A number of key organisations have already signed up to the charter and they are confident there will be 100 signatories by the end of 2012.

Jo Dipple, U.K. Music's CEO, said,

"Our creative talent and the audience who enjoy our music is diversity personified. Promoting that key strength to the companies and organisations in between can only be good for our business."

Remi Harris, U.K. Music's director of operations and the ADMM's chairperson, added,

"Large broadcasters had invested in a diversity charter and made a success of it; we wanted to do the same."

Baroness Hussein-Ece OBE, Commissioner at the Equality and Human Rights Commission and Adviser to the Deputy Prime Minister on community cohesion, said,

“I welcome the move by the music industry to show leadership on improving equality and diversity, which chimes with the Deputy Prime Minister’s Business Compact for Social Mobility. I very much hope it leads to wider participation that reflects modern society, and look forward to seeing what is achieved by this initiative.”