Today the Music Industry Review into Sexual Harm, Sexual Harassment and Systemic Discrimination report, Raise Their Voices, was released.
The report provides a blueprint on how we can take action to make the music industry safer, more inclusive, more respectful, and ultimately stronger. The report is based on robust evidence, drawing on a survey of almost 1,300 and the stories of over 300 music industry people who spoke to or wrote directly to the Review team.
As leaders in the Australian contemporary music industry, we accept the distressing findings of the Review. We acknowledge the harm documented by the Review, and we are sorry.
This Review has been a vital process of listening and truth telling. We thank all the participants for their courage in speaking out, in bravely re-living their experiences and engaging in this critical report. We acknowledge the impact of these behaviours on the lives of victim-survivors from our industry.
Everyone has the right to work in an environment free from bullying, sexual harassment, sexual assault and discrimination. As disturbing and confronting as the findings are, the Australian music industry is committed to change and to rebuilding trust. The music industry should – and will – foster safe, welcoming, respectful, creative, and fun environments.
We have been listening and have heard your calls for change. We can and will continue to do better. We all can.
As leaders and members of the music community, we all have a responsibility to model courageous leadership and do our best to bring an end to poor and destructive behaviour. We implore all in the music industry to continue working with us to implement long-term, sustainable change for the better. We all have a personal and professional responsibility to make our culture the best it can be.
We are committed to working through the recommendations of the report, doing the necessary work and being accountable, to ensure our industry is a safe, inclusive, and respectful workplace. Our work has already started, and it will not stop until we have a culture that is safe for all.
Signatories
[PIAS] Australia
Alberts
AMPAL (Australasian Music Publishers’ Association Ltd)
APRA AMCOS
ARIA
Artists Only
Association of Artist Managers
Australian Festivals Association Inc.
Australian Independent Record Labels Association
Australian Live Music Business Council
Catherine Haridy Management
Central Station Records
Chugg Music Pty Ltd
CMC Rocks Pty Ltd
Country Music Association of Australia (CMAA)
Electronic Music Conference
Eleven: A Music Company Pty Ltd
Frontier Touring
Future Classic Recordings Pty Ltd
GYROstream Pty Ltd
Inertia Pty Ltd
John Watson Management
Live Nation
Media Arts Lawyers Pty Ltd
Morph TV Productions Pty Ltd (t/a Morph Consulting Services)
Mushroom Group
Mushroom Publishing
Music ACT
Music NSW
Music NT
Music SA
Music Victoria
Nettwerk Music Group
Ourness Pty Ltd
PBS 106.7FM
Peninsula Hot Springs
PPCA
Queensland Music Network Incorporated
SECRET SOUNDS GROUP PTY LTD
Songlines Music Aboriginal Corporation
Sony Music Australia
Support Act
Sweat it out pty ltd
TEG
The Annex Creative
The Australian Music Centre
Thinking Loud Pty Ltd
Ticketek Pty Ltd
TMRW Music Group
Unified Music Group Pty Ltd
Universal Music Australia
Warner Chappell Music Australia Pty Ltd
Warner Music Australia
Support Services
The issues that the Review is examining may cause distress and can be unsettling. We offer a dedicated Sexual Health & Safety Support Line for musicians, managers, crew and music workers which is a free, confidential phone counselling service available to anyone who works in national music industry. It has trained sexual health & safety experts for callers to speak with and is accessible 24 hours a day by calling 1800 959 500 within Australia.
Remember: if you or someone you care about is in crisis or at immediate risk, dial 000.
You can also find support at a number of free helplines:
- Support Act Wellbeing Helpline: 1800 959 500 (Sexual Health and Safety Support Line – Option 5 on the Helpline)
- 1800RESPECT: 1800 737 732
- Lifeline Hotline: 13 11 14 or text their helpline on 0477 13 11 14
- SANE: 1800 187 263
- Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467
- Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636