VICE and gal-dem Launch Editorial Partnership Exploring Abusive Behaviour in the Music Industry

Today, VICE and gal-dem launched Open Secrets, an editorial series that explores abusive behaviour in the music industry – and how it has been left unchecked for too long.  The series gives insight into individual stories of harassment and violence, the ways in which the industry sweeps these issues under the rug and the difficulty victims and survivors face in being heard.

It’s a question that comes up again and again: “Why hasn’t music had its #MeToo moment?” Despite the movement towards justice and accountability in Hollywood, there has been little to no reckoning in the music business, and no real or meaningful change for victims and survivors. According to the Musicians’ Union, almost half of musicians have experienced sexual harassment at work, with survey after survey revealing the extent of such abuse and over four in five victims of harassment decide against coming forward due to the “culture of the industry”. 

On VICE, writer Stephanie Phillips speaks to people who have quit the industry completely after experiencing harassment and abuse. Music journalist Nicolas-Tyrell Scott considers what it means when abusive lyrics get a pass from record labels and the public. In an extract from The Secret DJ, an anonymous musician recounts her experience with racism in the business, and a group of music industry insiders explain how the structure of the industry itself makes it difficult to come forward and report these stories.

For gal-dem, an anonymous DJ writes about their experience of speaking out about the abuse they faced in the underground music scene. Music supervisor and journalist Jumi Akinfenwa writes on the concept of whisper networks and how marginalised groups have worked to protect each other where institutions and the media have failed. Journalist Ray Sang looks at how useful 'muting' an artist is as a form of solidarity with survivors, and writer and lawyer Rahel Aklilu looks at the organisations and collectives trying to build something better and safer in music.

All articles will be published throughout the week across VICE and gal-dem. For a full list of resources related to the Open Secrets Series, visit the Open Secrets Resources page here.