New music industry Report Card rates companies on commitment to social justice

A new study published by the Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC) takes a comprehensive look at music industry efforts to promote equality.

Just one year after many major music companies pledged new policies and initiatives, the new MIA Report Card offers a detailed look at how each company has followed through.

A mixed grade

“few created mechanisms to tackle and change issues and systems such as talent and promotion pipeline”

“Overall, the report reveals that while companies took the generous and needed, but relatively easy lift of donating funds or matching employee donations – some with a devised strategy – few created mechanisms to tackle and change issues and systems such as talent and promotion pipeline internally,” wrote Naima Cochrane, the lead author of the report. “Only a handful had full, multi-tiered plans of action that covered both internal changes and community engagement and giving, and only two labels publicly addressed some form of revising agreements for heritage artists – and that is a crucial aspect to working towards parity and equity.”

“Our hope is that the MIA Report Card, especially coming on the heels of the Annenberg Study, will spur more conversations and efforts towards, in some cases, disruptive change,” Cochrane continued. “We’re applying pressure, and we challenge more companies to take that next step towards honest and transparent dialogue moving forward.”

Highlights

• On “company representation on a senior executive level.” UMG and the RIIA got a C and WMG a D

• Most streaming services were graded as Satisfactory overall except Pandora which got a U (unsatisfactory) and Apple an N (needs improvement).

• Promoter Live Nation scored an S, but competitor AEG was graded U

• All the major booking agencies “Need Improvement” except Paradigm who scored a U.

Read the full Music Industry Action Report Card

Bruce Houghton is Founder and Editor of Hypebot and MusicThinkTank and serves as a Senior Advisor to Bandsintown which acquired both publications in 2019. He is also the Founder and President of the Skyline Artists Agency and a professor at the Berklee College Of Music online.