“How licensing bias is silencing black music events”
When we talk about event cancellations in live music, the immediate conversation usually centres on lost revenues or disappointed fans.
But there’s a less visible story that we urgently need to address – particularly when it comes to Black & Asian-led events: the issue of over-policing and discriminatory licensing practices. These aren’t abstract concerns; they’re real-world obstacles limiting opportunities for Black, Asian, and ethnically diverse artists, promoters, venue owners, anyone who works in live music, affecting their careers, cultural impact,…
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Dr Charisse Beaumont, CEO and co-founder of Black Lives in Music, discusses how black music events are over-policed and under threat
Comment 7 April 2025