Only 8% of board members across the 15 live music industry organisations represented by LIVE (Live Music Industry Venues & Entertainment) are women from non-white ethnic backgrounds (aka a global majority background), according to a new report from Women in CTRL.

The Seat at the Table: LIVE Edition report, commissioned by LIVE, also found that just 27% of CEOs across LIVE’s member organisations are women and not one CEO or chair comes from a global majority background.

LIVE said the Seat at the Table: LIVE Edition benchmarking report is the first of its kind for the UK live music industry organisations, setting an important precedent for transparency and accountability: “The findings make it clear that urgent steps are still needed to improve representation at senior levels and to implement succession planning, which will ensure long-term diversity.”

On the back of the report, LIVE and Women in CTRL will host a virtual roundtable on 23 April, bringing together organisations from across the sector to discuss its findings. LIVE said the aim is to establish an industry-wide pledge, with organisations setting clear targets for gender and ethnic representation in leadership while publicly sharing their progress.

“As an industry, it’s clear that we must do more to improve gender representation at the highest levels,” said LIVE head of partnerships Gaby Cartwright (pictured left). “That’s why we are committed to achieving at least 50% gender equality and 16% global majority representation of women in senior leadership positions across LIVE and its 15 member organisations by 2030, in line with the 2021 national census data. Reaching this goal will require collective effort, accountability, and meaningful action—but momentum is building. This report provides crucial insight into the challenges we face, and the concrete steps needed to drive lasting change.”

Women in CTRL founder Nadia Khan (right) added, “We know from experience that what gets measured gets done. This report is an essential first step; by setting a clear benchmark, we are providing the industry with a roadmap for action, not simply reflection.”

The report’s key findings:

  • 41% of board members across LIVE and its 15 member organisations are women and/or non-binary people.
  • Only 8% of board members are women from a global majority* background.
  • Just 27% of CEOs across LIVE’s member organisations are women.
  • 0% of CEOs or Chairs come from a global majority background.
  • 30% of Chairs across LIVE’s member organisations are women.
  • 4 out of 16 organisations have 50% or more women and/or non-binary board members.
  • Music Venue Trust (MVT) leads with 61% of its board identifying as women and/or non-binary.
  • The report also highlights positive work in this space such as the LIVE Statement of Commitment and AIP diversity database
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