Unpacking the Harsh Realities of the Music Industry: A Call for Change
The glitz and glamour of the music industry often mask a darker undercurrent of exploitation and unfair practices, particularly for emerging artists. Spanish-American singer-songwriter Victoria Canal, 27, has become a vocal advocate for change, drawing from her own difficult experiences. “I’ve looked back and realised how much of what I went through was due to a lack of awareness and education,” Canal shares. “It really matters to me to raise awareness and be vocal about the fact that young people in particular are vulnerable. It’s pretty easy to bite your tongue and not complain, to feel lucky to be an artist… but if you grin and bear it, a lot of people will take advantage of that.”
Canal’s candid reflections come in the wake of a damning report released by Youth Music, a leading UK charity dedicated to supporting young people in the music sector. The report, published last December, exposed a pervasive environment of unsafe working conditions, woefully inadequate or non-existent pay, and a deeply entrenched culture of discrimination and silencing. These issues disproportionately affect women, LGBTQ+ individuals, disabled creatives, and those from working-class backgrounds.
The findings from Youth Music paint a stark picture:
* A staggering 72 per cent of respondents reported feeling unsafe in their music industry workplaces.
* A staggering 90 per cent revealed they had been unfairly compensated for their work.
* A significant 75 per cent admitted to contemplating abandoning their artistic aspirations due to these unsafe or unjust circumstances.
Last year, Canal bravely shared a detailed account on social media, detailing what she described as a protracted and abusive relationship with a senior, influential figure in the music industry. This individual had played a key role in launching her career after discovering her at the tender age of 19. While she chose not to name the person involved in the alleged abuse, musician Michael Franti of Michael Franti & Spearhead issued a statement acknowledging infidelity within his marriage but firmly denying any allegations of sexual abuse or grooming. Franti asserted that his relationship with Canal was consensual, but he did take responsibility for “not better recognising the power imbalance, as she was younger than me, and I was the headliner on tour.”
Canal, however, claims that other individuals on the tour were privy to her compromised position but were bound by non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) and feared for their employment. She felt isolated, with no one to turn to. “When you don’t have any family or friends in the industry, nobody knows what the standard is,” she explains. “So then everyone’s just like, ‘It’s amazing you have a job in music. Maybe you should just try to keep your head down and keep your job.’”
This sentiment aligns with an earlier assessment in 2024 that characterised the music industry as akin to “the wild west,” highlighting a severe lack of established protocols for addressing complaints related to fair pay, sexual harassment, or discrimination. “There’s no infrastructure whatsoever,” Canal laments. “You’re just jumping in a van or a bus and hoping for the best. It’s a social experiment that lasts months on end, 24 hours a day with people that you might not really know at all.” She acknowledges that while she has experienced positive tour environments, there’s a prevailing “lack of professionalism – everything’s made up as you go along.”
Carol Reid, interim co-CEO of Youth Music, corroborates Canal’s experiences, stating that her story resonates deeply with the feedback the organisation has received from young people across the nation for its “Just the Way It Is?” report. “Too often, exploitation and inequality are commonplace for young people trying to break into music, and marginalised young people are suffering the biggest impact,” Reid states. “We’re seeing what we’re calling ‘The RAYE Effect’, where an increasing number of young people and artists alike are speaking out following in the footsteps of established artists like RAYE.”
RAYE herself made significant headlines in 2021 when she publicly accused her record label, Polydor, of obstructing the release of her debut album. Following this dispute, RAYE and the label parted ways, paving the way for her to release her highly acclaimed, Brit Award-winning album, My 21st Century Blues. The pop sensation, whose real name is Rachel Keen, has actively channelled her personal struggles into a campaign advocating for enhanced rights for musicians and songwriters.
“It’s vital that the industry listens to this,” Reid urges. “Real change will come from the whole music community working together and moving from a place of quiet acceptance toward a culture of shared responsibility. We hope this report gives people the confidence, clarity and practical steps they need to help create safer, fairer working environments for young creatives.”
For those affected by rape and sexual abuse, support is available:
* Rape Crisis England and Wales: 0808 802 9999 | www.rapecrisis.org.uk
* Rape Crisis Scotland: 0808 801 0302
* Rape Crisis Northern Ireland: 0800 0246 991
* RAINN (US): 800-656-HOPE (4673)
