London Music Licensing Biased Against Black-Led Events, Report Finds
A new report commissioned by the Greater London Authority concludes that racial bias in licensing and policing disproportionately restricts and cancels events featuring genres like Afrobeats, hip-hop, and drill.
Black-led music events in London face disproportionate restrictions and cancellations due to "racial bias" in licensing and policing, according to a new report. The Race Equality in Music Event Licensing (REMEL) report, commissioned by the Greater London Authority, found that events led by Black organizers were blocked at higher rates than those led by white organizers, with South Asian-led events also experiencing restrictions.
The report indicates that music genres such as Afrobeats, hip-hop, drill, R&B, and dancehall are routinely flagged as "high risk" by licensing bodies, while genres like indie, pop, and rock face less scrutiny. Cameron Leslie, chairman of the mayor's London Nightlife Taskforce, welcomed the report and its recommendations.
The Metropolitan Police stated they understand the "concerns and differing views" on the issue and will "carefully consider the report's findings." London Councils, which represents local authorities, has been contacted for comment.
The research, conducted by Black Lives in Music, utilized interviews, focus groups, workshops, a survey, and internet research. Freedom of Information (FOI) requests were submitted but were often rejected or only partially answered, hindering the ability to quantify certain patterns due to a lack of race-disaggregated licensing data. The report also noted that South Asian music was "largely invisible within licensing records," though it suggested such events were often allowed to proceed through negotiation and modified conditions.
Dr. Hakeem Stevens, a co-author and lead researcher, noted that issues related to race in licensing decisions date back to the early 20th century. The report discussed the legacy of the Metropolitan Police's Form 696, a risk assessment tool scrapped in 2017 that had been criticized as "racist." Introduced in 2005 following a series of shootings at London club nights, it influenced similar forms used by other police forces.
The report asserts that licensing decisions are influenced by risk assessments and "racialised assumptions about culture and safety," leading to "institutional racism" being reproduced through routine processes rather than explicit policies. Organizers reported that "police intelligence," often unverified, was used to justify heightened scrutiny of Black and South Asian events, sometimes requiring organizers to fund police presence or private security. These practices, the report concludes, act as a "hidden form of economic exclusion," making events logistically or financially unviable.
The REMEL report offers 19 recommendations, including a review of the licensing system, transparent evidence standards, and the implementation of cultural impact assessments for major licensing decisions. It calls for a licensing system based on "fairness, transparency and equality," emphasizing that "safety must never be used as a cover for racial bias, cultural misunderstanding or disproportionate restriction."
Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association, described the report as highlighting an "uncomfortable reality" and providing "evidence, recommendations and a platform for change." Commander Neerav Patel of the Metropolitan Police affirmed the force's commitment to fair, evidence-based contributions to the licensing process, balancing venue, promoter, artist, and community interests while prioritizing public safety.