Our Unseen Unheard report and podcast, created in collaboration with Black Lives in Music, was eye-opening. It revealed that 91% of Black disabled creators and professionals surveyed felt unsatisfied with how they are supported by the music industry.
On top of this, the Musicians Union census revealed a £4,000 pay gap between non-disabled and disabled artists. If you’re part of the Global Majority the ethnic pay gap is almost £1,000.
This summer’s far right riots, as well as countless tragic examples of police brutality have no doubt impacted the wellbeing and safety of people of the global majority.
With all this in mind – as well as Black History Month 2024’s theme of reclaiming narratives – our Artist Development Manager Hillary, brought together three brilliant artist and professionals to talk about reclaiming narratives for rest in the music industry.
How does rest show up for Black artists? What about when they’re disabled and also sit at other intersections of marginalisation?
“Rest isn’t an individual pursuit, it’s a collective one”
Panellist, Attitude is Everything trustee, and mum of two Ray Pope says, “rest in one form is a myth to me”, highlighting the panel’s collective support of the seven types of rest. Now working for ATG Entertainment, Ray highlights the need for companies to invest in lunchtime wellbeing sessions, restful social events, and team activities which allow for various types of rest. “Don’t be afraid to take those opportunities at your company to recalibrate. You have to hit that recalibrate button otherwise you’ll fall over – particularly if you’re neurodivergent.”
Nyrobi, one half of the sister duo ALT BLK ERA, shared, “I was afraid of the discrimination in the industry, so have only started speaking about my hidden disability in the last few months”. She’s found that “connecting with other disabled people has opened [her] eyes to disability riders” and advocating for “things you actually need – to not have to run up two flights of stairs!” for example.
The panel spoke about the power of mentors who can understand the intersection of race and disability, of the exacerbated barrier this brings. Nyrobi tells us that “mentors have reinforced that rest is a right and not a reward”. They help you to “reach for the things that people say you shouldn’t reach for”. The duo received a Youth Music NextGen Fund and vouch for Youth Music’s support for young artists.
“Demand your space, claim it” – Nyrobi
“Having someone who’s got your back and knows the system” is a huge benefit, says Attitude is Everything trustee Miss Jacqui. “We’re an industry, we’re an ecosystem. We have to take care of each other to make the ecosystem work.”
For more support, Hillary shares Music Minds Matter from Help Musicians, as well as access to lawyers if you’re part of Musicians Union.
Setting boundaries as a Black disabled artist
Miss Jacqui tells the audience – many of whom are disabled artists – that we all need “firm, strong boundaries, but you have to be gentle with yourself”. When thinking about her own needs, and how she can be creative and productive in a sustainable way, she poses the question, “what can I ask for to remove some of those barriers in the work that I do?”
Like many artists, Miss Jacqui is her own manager, bandmate, and stylist, amongst other things. So, she was working 24/7 as an independent artist, but now schedules meetings and work in a way that best suit her needs. She says, “I won’t have a meeting before 11am or after 5pm. I want to spend this time being creative, seeing friends, or just watching Netflix!”
The biggest boundary Nyrobi implements in her career is, “learning how to say no without guilt – much easier said than done!” She calls for, “peace and acceptance within yourself” and affirmations of, “I deserve to be in these spaces as much as anyone else”, and “my needs and my work are undeniable”.
“You’re not required to set yourself on fire to keep everyone warm” – Ray Pope
Dreaming of a better future
“There’s been some really good strides in accessibility, but it feels like there’s an element of virtue signalling”, says Ray. She calls for organisations to “stay on the course with these initiatives and have DEI [diversity, equity, and inclusion] baked into every practice so that people can trust that the organisations are providing meaningful change that’s going to stick”.
Miss Jacqui calls on the industry to “do better!”. “Don’t make us jump through 65 hoops to get what we need.”
“I’d dream of a future where the industry values creativity over conformity,” says Nyrobi. “I’d wish for an industry where creatives can create without the barriers that the same industry puts on us.”
How do you envision a stronger, inclusive, and more accessible music industry, that prioritises rest?
