Grime under threat from institutionalised racism, MPs say

DJ Target

A new report highlights how grime artists are experiencing continued discrimination.

A parliamentary report, published by the Digital, Media, Culture and Sport Committee, is calling for action to safeguard the UK’s live music scene. One of the sections within the piece focuses on grime, with the report stating that the genre is being stifled by “institutionalised racism”.

The report identifies grime as “one of Britain’s most successful musical exports in recent years,” with DJ Target calling it “the best time we have had for creatives and musical talent coming out of this country”. However, despite the abolition of the 696 Risk Assessment form in 2017, Target says the “issues are still there”. Rapper ShaoDow also spotlights the bias against artists making hip-hop and grime, with venues cancelling shows over fears of having their licenses revoked.

“I had a venue cancel on me on the day that I was meant to go there,” he recalls. “I was booked for a performance in a club and called them ahead of time to say, ‘I am on my way’, and they said, ‘Oh, by the way, we were just listening to your music. You make Hip Hop’. I said, ‘Yes’, and he said, ‘Oh, we cannot do that here, we will lose our licence.'”

The report gives multiple examples of how grime “is not being supported by local councils, by licensees”. Target suggests that smaller venues and promoters are not in a position to question the pressure coming from local authorities. Reporting on solutions to this problem, the committee states that venues should have access to “the knowledge and confidence both to manage risks and defend their programming if it is questioned by licensing authorities”.

The report also poses live venue closures in the country as an “urgent challenge”, and calls for there to be a review of business rates in place to help struggling venues.

Furthermore, ticketing site Viagogo comes under fire for causing “distress for too many music fans for too long”. The committee advise against selling or buying through the online ticket marketplace.

Read the full report here.