A two-year investigation into London's live music industry found that black and south Asian music events face disproportionate cancellations, restrictions and licensing barriers compared with white events, according to the Race Equality in Music Event Licensing (REMEL) report led by Black Lives in Music.
The report estimates that cancellations, displacement and prevented events cost London between £127m and £141m annually. Over five years, projected losses exceed £650m.
The investigation identified racial inequality as rife throughout the capital's live music sector. Many genres associated with black and south Asian communities are labelled "high risk" despite lack of evidence supporting that classification, according to the findings.
The research examined licensing decisions, venue access and regulatory treatment of live music events across different racial and ethnic categories. The disparities translate into tangible economic harm. Venues cancel events, relocate performances to less accessible locations, or fail to obtain necessary permits at rates that correlate with the racial composition of audiences and artists.
Black Lives in Music conducted the investigation over two years, suggesting systematic data collection across multiple venues, licensing authorities and event types rather than anecdotal reporting.
The £127m to £141m annual figure represents direct economic loss to London's music industry and venues. The five-year projection of over £650m assumes similar conditions persist without intervention.
The report does not specify which genres receive "high risk" classifications or name particular licensing authorities responsible for the disparities. It does not detail what evidence standards currently apply to risk assessments or what changes the investigators recommend.