Grime and urban artists face “continued discrimination” which is putting the future of the genre at risk, MPs have warned.
The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Committee said it has “uncovered evidence of persisting prejudice against urban music and grime artists”.
The report suggests that, despite the success of artists such as Stormzy, Wiley and Bugzy Malone, many others face challenges when trying to perform live across the country.
In 2017, the Metropolitan Police announced they were repealing their controversial 696 live music order form, which was originally introduced as a risk assessment for live music to prevent violence, but was frequently accused of unfairly targeting specific genres on a racial basis.
However, the DCMS Committee said in the report that, although it welcomed the abolition of form 696, it is “concerning to hear that prejudices against urban acts persist”.
In its report, the committee calls for “cross-departmental action by Government to develop guidance for licensing authorities, police forces and music venues on risk management to ensure that urban music acts are not unfairly targeted”.
DCMS Committee chairman Damian Collins said: “When it comes to live performance, it’s shocking to hear that grime artists are continuing to face prejudice, which risks hampering the success of one of our most successful musical exports.”
