Black musicians and performance artists in London are facing discrimination in decisions over the licensing of their events, City Hall has heard.
The charity Black Lives in Music (BLiM) told members of the London Assembly that black and ethnic minority artists were disproportionately impacted by restrictions placed on their events by councils, and that the issue is holding back the capital’s night economy.
Speaking at an inquiry into the state of London’s nightlife, held by the Assembly’s economy, culture and skills committee on Wednesday September 4, BLiM chief executive Charisse Beaumont said: “A lot of cancellation of events happen under four [licensing] objectives.
“Whether it’s ‘preventing crime and disorder’, ‘promoting public safety’, ‘preventing public nuisance’, or ‘protection of children from harm’… The word ‘safety’ always comes into effect.
“‘Are these events safe to put on?’ But safety, I would argue - and everyone will argue - is a racist narrative.
“Our events get cancelled - just because they’re a Bollywood event, or it could be jazz, or it could be drum and bass, it could be any genre that attracts a black and brown audience.”
She added: “It happens time and time again and it’s happening even today, where venue owners and promoters will have to fill out ‘temporary event notices’ just so they can put on an event after 9.30pm.
“Sometimes the event might be a jazz ensemble, playing at a cultural hub and they would get rejected [by the local council]. But when you leave that cultural hub and walk down the road, the pub’s still open, playing the same music that they wouldn’t be allowed to play.
“This happens week to week, there’s cancellations of events happening up and down the country, particularly in London… and it’s not spoken about because there is a culture of silence. There is fear of promoters losing their licence or not being able to put on an event again.”
As well as criticising councils and licensing officers, Ms Beaumont was also scathing of the Metropolitan Police, who she accused of unfairly pressuring venues to shut down events on dubious grounds.
She said: "[We have heard of] large venues receiving that call from the police, saying, 'please, we think you shoudn't put on this event - we encourage you not to do so'. Large organisations.
“So imagine if you're a smaller promoter, and you're getting that call from the police, saying 'we don't think your event should go ahead, and if it does, we may shut you down’. This is what black and brown entrepreneurs, promoters, [and] artists face every single day."
Ms Beaumont also pointed to a report published by BLiM in 2021, which included reports of some music professionals feeling “the need to change their name because of their race or ethnicity”.
After writing about the issue to mayor Sadiq Khan last year, BLiM is now working on a joint project to tackle the problem, chaired by London’s night czar Amy Lamé.
The Race Equality in Music Event Licensing (REMEL) scheme includes not only the Greater London Authority, but also the Met Police, the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime, and the Musicians’ Union.
Responding to Ms Beaumont’s comments about the police, the Met’s chief licensing officer, Ian Graham, said: “We want all Londoners to safely enjoy the wide range of night-time attractions the capital has to offer. That means we continue to target hotspot locations where violence takes place, using innovative tactics and high visibility patrols, as well as working closely with community groups.
“We also work closely with venues to better understand the landscape and diversity of London’s night-time economy and provide the support and guidance needed to keep people safe. We always encourage organisers of events to discuss with us any concerns or issues they identify.
“In circumstances where there has been an incident previously, we may consider a review of the premises’ licence. However, unless there are exceptional circumstances, we will always work with a venue first to discuss safety concerns and find solutions. This approach applies to all venues, styles and genres of music.”
