Gender equality improves in UK music industry boardrooms

Twelve trade bodies, including the British Phonographic Industry and UK Music, have added female board members since disparity highlighted in 2020

Gender equality in UK music industry boardrooms has improved over the last year, with the boards of 12 major trade organisations now averaging at 42% female – a rise from 34% in 2020.

The organisations include the British Phonographic Industry, the central trade body that runs the Brit awards and Mercury prize and monitors music sales; royalties companies PPL and PRS for Music; plus the Association for Independent Music, Incorporated Society of Musicians, Ivors Academy and others, including umbrella advocacy organisation UK Music. Three of the organisations now have chairwomen, up from only one in 2021.