Equity and Access Commitee

Published in the Research School of Physics Event Horizon
Vol43 Issue59 5–9 March 2018

From the RSPE Equity and Access Commitee

Music festivals pledge 50/50 gender equality

The days of male-dominated music festivals could be drawing to a close, after 45 events pledged to achieve a 50/50 gender balance by 2022.
Brighton's Great Escape, the Cheltenham Jazz Festival, Liverpool Sound City and the BBC Proms are among those who have signed up to the initiative.
Last year, 80% of festival headliners were male, a BBC study discovered.

The commitment to gender equality was drawn up by Keychange and the PRS Foundation, with the aim of creating a "better, more inclusive music industry for present and future generations”. "Last year, on average, women made up 26% of the festival line-ups in the UK, so we're talking about doubling that in a five-year timeframe," said Vanessa Reed, CEO of the PRS Foundation. 

"That's quite ambitious but it's achievable.”

For more information, please see: http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-43196414