Annie told the House of Commons committee that an alarming number of stories have yet to emerge. Her further comments on the music industry were that it was a “boys club” and “the system is kind of rigged against women.”

Author of the new book The Mess We’re In, Annie Mac, gave evidence to the committee at the House of Commons, where she told them of a young singer and a record producer who kept asking her not to go home, and “then when they go out in the street, he sexually assaulted her,” she said.

@itvnews DJ Annie Mac says music industry has ‘tidal wave’ of sexual abuse cases and is ‘boys’ club’ #itvnews #anniemac #music ♬ original sound – itvnews

Musicians Union published survey evidence to UK Parliament in 2022, were the idea of the music sector being a “boys club” was reported in the latest stats. They MU published this statement, “Respondents to the MU 2022 snapshot survey commented on the lack of women in workplaces across the sector and a distinct lack of female role models and women in leadership positions. More than one participant commented “it’s a boys club”. This emerged as a main theme and one of the reasons why respondents felt that many cultures and working environments in the music industry are misogynistic by nature” “The 2020 UK Music Diversity Taskforce survey found that in there is an underrepresentation of women in senior positions within the sector. Women represent 40.4% of the sector at senior level. “

Musicians Union is the UK’s trade union for all musicians across the UK, working in all sectors of the music business. They help members negotiate with major employers in the industry and offer a range of support services for musicians; however, most are unaware of them.

Annie further comments, “There needs to be some sort of a shift in women feeling like they’re able to speak out without their careers being compromised.”

Further reports from the MU snapshot survey presented statistics on sexual harassment. At 48%, almost half of the 800 musicians surveyed reported sexual harassment; 58% said they had witnessed sexual harassment; 85% had experienced sexual harassment but did not report it; and 40% did not report it for fear of losing work.

Macmanus told the MP’s “That is that women, especially young women in the music industry, are consistently underestimated and undermined, and freelance women are consistently put in situations where they are unsafe.”

Findings by the Musician Union allegedly found that there were power imbalance’s between freelancers and the people who engage them. The common views of many members during the survey said “When a freelancer relies on an individual for work, they are less likely to speak out.”

Misogyny in the music industry, suggests it may spread further than just alleged claims of a sexual nature but to supposed pay gaps, mental health, a lack of access to professional training and development, and being passed over for promotions. These alleged claims come from Be The Change case study of sexual harassment in the music industry in 2023.

The UK Parliament Women and Equalities Committee launched its ‘Misogyny in Music’. This brought in evidence from the BBC, that last year only one in ten headliners were female at the UK’s top music festivals. It also has MP’s asking questions about the safety of female musicians at UK music festivals.

Annie Mac said she has not “experienced or witnessed any sexual misconduct firsthand.” and believes her 19 years working with the BBC provided her with a “shield of protection to talk about such issues.” but most concerning she added “The thing that worries me the most is the rapes that are going unreported. That’s what concerns me the most – the fact that women feel like they can’t speak up.”

To purchase Annie Macmanus’s new book click the link here.

Adam Clayton is a fucking spenk. My “girly stuff” shits on what you do. pic.twitter.com/DrCDdsiKwf

— Nadine Shah (@nadineshah) December 4, 2021

In the actual body of the tweet, Shah also said that “Adam Clayton is a fucking spenk. My “girly stuff” shits on what you do.” The comments on the post seem to be in general agreement, noting certain female bass players who helped bring about some of the best pop music of the last century (notably Carol Kaye of Pet Sounds and Spector fame as well as Tina Weymouth of Talking Heads).

Shah has been particularly concerned with how women are treated in society recently, especially after being sexually assaulted last September, sustaining some scratches and bruising.  Posting and then deleting photos on social media, she reposted them after being verbally assaulted the month after. The singer took to Instagram to say “Call out your mates, don’t defend your friend or husbands of their foul behaviour. Call them out. Tonight I relived the abuse all over again and I wasn’t believed again. It fucking hurts. I’m lucky in that I have access to this platform where I can speak to thousands of you. Thousands of women dont [sic] #belivewomen”.

Here’s me a month ago after being sexually assaulted by four random men in the street. Tonight a man verbally abused me and it brought back all that fear again, so much so I’m gonna leave my new home of Ramsgate. I’m so fucking tired. Leave women the fuck alone! pic.twitter.com/akiOyvDmof — Nadine Shah (@nadineshah) October 3, 2021

Aside from these unfortunate incidents, Shah has also made sexism one of the topics of her latest 2020 album Kitchen Sink, with songs like “Buckfast“ and “Trad“, and has also been seen supporting artist rights as streaming services are accused of underpaying musicians. Back in 2020, she told a government committee looking into the matter that she was still struggling to pay rent, despite her success as an artist.

If you’re interested in watching the documentary where the offending comments were made, or you’re just a big fan of Thin Lizzy, Phil Lynott: Songs For While I’m Away can be seen here today, or any day for the next 11 months whilst it’s still on the iPlayer. As for Nadine, if you’re interested in buying her latest album, or catching up on any upcoming performances, you can look here.