A new report putting the spotlight on the experiences of South Asian music creators and professionals working in the UK music industry says that two thirds of respondents feel poorly represented in the music business, while one third have experienced direct racial discrimination.
45% of respondents also say they face stereotypes about what kind of music they should make, while 40% deal with family concerns that music is not a stable career.
The ‘South Asian Soundcheck’ report has been published by Lila, a not-for-profit focused on empowering South Asian creators and professionals working in the UK music industry. It’s based on a recent survey of 349 music professionals.
“The biggest problem is representation”, the report reveals. “Nearly two-thirds say the lack of South Asian people in industry positions holds them back most. They cannot see people like themselves making programming decisions at festivals, signing artists at labels, or holding senior roles at streaming platforms”.
69% of those surveyed say they had seen improvements in South Asian representation in the music industry in the last two years, but 68% still feel poorly represented.
The report states, “The data reveals something important about recent changes. This means the progress people notice - more South Asian artists on festival line-ups, better media coverage - has not translated into real opportunities for career advancement”.
Elsewhere, the report reveals that "two in five face family or community resistance to music careers” because of “practical concerns about whether music can provide stable income rather than cultural opposition to artistic careers”. It adds that, “creating visible success stories and clearer professional routes would shift family attitudes alongside industry practices”.
Creatively speaking, respondents to the survey “work across seven different genres on average” and mostly target global audiences, rather than just South Asian communities. However, 71% think the industry has limited acceptance for artists working outside traditional categories, while nearly half worry that specialising in South Asian music will limit their broader industry opportunities.
The report identifies three key “requirements for meaningful progress”, including better industry mentorship and networking programmes; increased South Asian representation on stage and off stage; and dedicated funding and investment opportunities, because existing funding schemes “often feel inaccessible for respondents”.
Commenting on the report, Lila founder Vikram Gudi says: “The data exposes what we call the progress paradox. 73% of the people we surveyed earn some money from music, but only 27% earn enough to rely on it as a sustainable career. The Soundcheck gives us the evidence to enact real change and identifies three essential needs: mentorship, representation and investment”.