Report: Black and south Asian music events in London face more cancellations and licensing barriers

Mixed · 2A two-year investigation, the Race Equality in Music Event Licensing (REMEL) report, found that Black and south Asian music events in London face disproportionate cancellations, restrictions and licensing barriers compared with white events. 1 2 Mixed · 2It estimates that cancellations, displacement and prevented events cost London £127m to £141m a year, with more than £650m at risk over five years. 1 2 Mixed · 2The report was led by Black Lives in Music and involved the Greater London Authority, the Metropolitan Police Service, UK Music, LIVE, the Musicians' Union and promoters, artists, venue operators and community representatives. The Guardian says it was commissioned by the mayor's office. 1 2

Mixed · 2Genres such as Afrobeats (afrobeat), drill, dancehall, R&B and hip-hop were flagged as "high risk" despite a lack of credible evidence, while pop, indie and rock faced little scrutiny. 1 2 Mixed · 2Promoters described events cancelled on the basis of undisclosed information, online searches or unrelated incidents, and respondents reported informal police pressure, including off-the-record briefings suggesting future licence reviews. 1 2 Mixed · 2The report also found that Temporary Event Notices were more likely to be refused in London's most diverse boroughs, that licensing authorities were felt to misuse area-wide crime statistics, and that white-owned venues were often supported back into business after incidents while Black-owned venues were forced to close. 2 1

Left · 1The Guardian links the findings to the Met's Form 696, a risk assessment form introduced in 2005 and scrapped in 2017 after criticism that it discriminated against Black music events. Lead researcher Hakeem Stevens said police scrutiny is now harder to document because it happens through phone calls and verbal conversations. It also cites the Colour Factory, a Black-owned venue whose licence was suspended after an incident reportedly unrelated to it; the owner won a challenge but suffered heavy financial losses. 1 Mixed · 2The report makes 19 recommendations, including an independent review of the licensing system by a panel of experts appointed by the Home Office and the GLA, embedding equality and human rights law in licensing, clearer evidence standards, and annual publication of licensing decisions monitored by an independent panel. 1 2 Mixed · 2Charisse Beaumont, chief executive of Black Lives in Music, said the problems exist nationwide, that "it's about race", and that it is time to move from recommendation to action. Met commander Neerav Patel said the force would carefully consider the findings and would continue to make fair, evidence-based contributions to licensing while prioritising public safety. 1 2