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Grime Stifled In UK, According To Report
Christian Eede , March 19th, 2019 17:18

A report into the UK's live music scene that has been delivered to MPs says grime is being stifled due to "institutionalised racism"

The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) committee has published a report delivered to MPs today which highlights ongoing struggles experienced by the UK's grime scene.

The issues have been raised as part of a wider report on the UK's live music sector. It says that grime artists are facing particular struggles in sharing their music in live setting as a result of "institutionalised racism" which comes from heavy-handed police tactics and licensing authorities.

"Prejudices against grime artists risk stifling one of the UK's most exciting musical exports," the report says. Police cancelling gigs at short notice or venues choosing not to host grime or hip-hop events from fear of losing their licenses are cited as reasons for the struggle faced by musicians.

The report concludes that the government should issue new guidelines for police and local licensing authorities to "ensure that urban music acts are not unfairly targeted." UK Music, as a representative of the UK's live music industry, welcomed the report's findings saying: "We must root out discrimination wherever we find it."

You can read more on the report here.