Black music events are cancelled and shut down at higher rates than white-led events, costing London up to £141m a year, report finds

A two-year investigation into racial inequality in London's live music sector has found that Black and South Asian music events suffer disproportionately high rates of cancellation, restriction and closure compared with white-led events. The Race Equality in Music Event Licensing report, produced under the leadership of Black Lives in Music, puts annual losses at up to £141 million, with projected five-year losses exceeding £650 million. Regulatory bodies routinely classify genres such as Afrobeats, drill, dancehall and reggae as "high-risk" without credible evidence to back that designation, while pop, indie and rock face little comparable scrutiny.

Police gave off-the-record briefings to promoters warning of future licence reviews to block Black and South Asian events.

Temporary Event Notices faced higher refusal rates in London's most diverse boroughs, while white-owned venues were "supported back into business" after incidents, whereas Black venues were shut down entirely.

Black Lives in Music chief executive Charisse Beaumont warned the problem extends far beyond London, with promoters nationwide unable to complete the survey because they faced the same barriers outside the capital.