Open Letter: UK Music Industry Solidarity with Trans
Table of Contents
- Statement of Solidarity
- Context and Rationale
- Legal Context: Equality Act 2010 & EHRC Guidance
- Industry Call to Action
- Signatories
- How to Sign / Additional Support
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Statement of Solidarity
We, the undersigned UK music industry professionals, stand in solidarity with the trans, non-binary, and intersex communities who have been impacted by the Supreme Court ruling on April 16th. We wish to add our voices to the growing chorus of concern (including the UK writers and the UK film and television industry) and call upon members of our industry and cultural bodies to join us.
The UK music industry is a vibrant, diverse landscape that thrives on creativity and inclusivity. We have long celebrated a multitude of voices and identities, and the music industry here in the UK is one of our most trailblazing and culturally vital assets - one which trans, intersex and non-binary people are woven into in every aspect of the industry, past, present and future. We must now urgently work to ensure that our trans, non-binary, and intersex colleagues, collaborators, and audiences are protected from discrimination and harassment in all areas of the industry - whether in studios, at venues, in offices, or at festivals.
The Supreme Court’s ruling that, under the Equality Act 2010, ‘woman’ is defined by biological sex, states that “the concept of sex is binary, a person is either a woman or a man”. We believe this ruling not only undermines the lived reality and threatens the safety of trans, non-binary, and intersex people living in the UK but also weakens legal protections at a time when trans people face rising hate crime, discrimination, and systemic barriers.
The Equalities & Human Rights Commission’s interim update on the ruling suggests that trans women are not permitted access to women’s facilities and trans men are not permitted access to men’s facilities, while further suggesting that trans people may also be excluded from using facilities that correspond to their sex assigned at birth. We believe this guidance exposes trans people to embarrassment and harassment, ultimately excluding and seeking to erase them from participation in public life.
We stand with the many voices who have condemned both the ruling and the EHRC guidance, highlighting the negative consequences that both will have for all individuals and the particular harm that trans, non-binary, and intersex people face as a result.
We commend organisations within the music industry who have already voiced their support for the trans community and call upon further influential companies and organisations, including but not exclusive to,
Major and Independent Record Labels, Publishers, Music Management Companies, Live Agencies, Promoters, The MMF, UK Music, the Musicians' Union, PRS for Music, PPL, AIM, BPI and beyond to join us in condemning the Supreme Court ruling. We urge them to use their power within the industry and public platforms to make meaningful commitments to protecting trans, non-binary, and intersex members, talent, and staff from discrimination within their respective organisations.
Music has the power to unite, to inspire, and to reflect the richness of the human experience. This is our moment to amplify voices that need to be heard, to champion inclusivity and real justice, and to ensure that our industry remains a welcoming and trailblazing space for everyone. Let us stand on the side of truth, equality, and respect.
TO ADD YOUR SIGNATURE CLICK HERE.
To show your support in other ways CLICK HERE for Queer House Party’s guidance on what more you can do.
Signed:
Tom Rasmussen, Artist
Tom Mehrtens, Head of Music & Entertainment, SATELLITE414
Martha Kinn, Artist Manager / Founder, Kinndred Management
Olly Alexander, Artist
Alison Goldfrapp, Artist
Anna Calvi, Musician
Arlo Parks, Artist
Astrid Sonne, Artist
Babymorocco, Artist
Bambie Thug, Artist
Bimini, Artist / Podcast Host
Bob Vylan, Artist
Caity Baser, Artist
Cassyette, Artist
Charli xcx, Artist
Chaz Salt, Bass Player, Blossoms
Chloe Qisha, Artist
CMAT, Popstar
Cosha, Musician
Dan Gillespie Sells, Artist
Danny L Harle, Producer / Artist
Dave Bayley, Musi
cian, Glass Animals
Dot Major, Artist/Composer, London Grammar
Dua Lipa, Artist
Ellie Goulding, Artist
Faris Badwan, Artist
Floating Points, Artist
Florence Welch, Artist, Florence & the Machine
Four Tet, Artist
George Riley, Artist
Grace Chatto, Musician, Clean Bandit
Hard-Fi, Band
Heather Baron-Gracie, Artist, Pale Waves
Holly Johnson, Artist, Singer/songwriter
Hugo Silvani, Musician, Pale Waves
I. JORDAN, Artist
Imogen Heap, Artist
JADE, Artist
jasmine.4.t, Artist
Jessie Ware, Artist
Jimmy Somerville, Artist
Jodie Harsh, Artist
Joe Seaward, Musician, Glass Animals
Jordan Stephens, Artist
Kele Okereke, Musician
La Roux, Artist/Producer/Writer
Lava La Rue, Artist
Lauren Mayberry, Artist, CHVRCHES
Leigh-Anne, Artist
Lucinda Chua, Artist
Mabel, Artist
Mae Muller, Artist
Marea Stamper, The Blessed Madonna
Marina Diamandis, Artist, MARINA
Midland, Producer
Mura Masa, Musician
Neneh Cherry, Artist
Nina Nesbitt, Artist
Nova Twins, Band, Nova Twins
Oliver Sim, Artist
Paloma Faith, Singer/songwriter
Peaches, Artist
Perrie, Artist
PLANNINGTOROCK, Artist
Rebecca Lucy Taylor, SELF ESTEEM, Artist
Rina Sawayama, Artist
Rose Gray, Artist
salute, Artist
Sam Smith, Artist
Sigur Rós, Artist
sim0ne, DJ/Artist
Siobhán Donaghy, Artist, Sugababes
Sophie Ellis Bextor, Artist
Sophie Scott, Artist, Sophie and The Giants
Shura, Artist
Shygirl, Artist
Tom Grennan, Musician
Uzo ‘MNEK’ Emenike, Musician, MUZO by UZO
Walt Disco, Band
Will Gregory, Artist (Goldfrapp)
Wolf Alice, Band
Zero 7, Artist
Michael Smith, Manager, Kinndred Management
Coda Nicolaeff, TRANS VOICES
ilã Kamalagharan, TRANS VOICES
Liam Konemann, Music journalist
Michelle Kambasha, Publicist, lecturer, journalist
Alim Kheraj, Journalist
Claire Coulton, Head of Press, SATELLITE414
Jess Kinn, Agent, One Fiinix Live
Will Frost, Manager & CEO, House of Us
Mofe Sey, Senior Publicist, SATELLITE414
Sunni Lekh, Publicist, SATELLITE414
India Allen, Manager/A&R, Illa Mgmt/Night Department
Olivia Hobbs, Founder, Blackstar Agency
Olivia Wickings, Marketing Assistant, Blackstar Agency
Robyn Elton, Head of Audience, Blackstar Agency
Peter Jarrett, Director, Sweat Entertainment
Phoebe Gold, Manager & CEO, Up Close Limited
Liv West, Senior Producer, Dimz Inc
Sally Dunstone, Talent Agent, Primary Talent International
Milkie Way, Artist
Sam Matllock, Artist
Tanya Sassi, Associate Director/Business Development, Genni
Fiona McAuley, Senior Director - Digital Marketing UK & Europe, BMG
Dylan Stebbing-Boulet, Social & Audience Manager, Blackstar Agency
Douglas Greenwood, Entertainment Editor, i-D
Teneil Throssell, Music Producer and DJ, HAAi
Becky Wixon, Creative Director, Balance the Mix
Mika Sellens, Producer / Writer / Mixer / Educator
Dita Garbo, Drag Artist & Performer, Freelance
Tom Baxendale, Videographer
Saoirse Ryan, Artist, Body Movements
Sam Spencer, Head of Operations, Broadwick Live
BISHI, Artist / Composer, Gryphon Records
Patricio Alvarez, Music Producer, Pat Alvarez
Nitin Sawhney, Composer
Akeem Adams, Drag Performer, Social Inc
Pixie Polite, Drag Artist / Singer
Guy Pelly, Promotions Manager
Lottie Lander, Head of Entertainment and Brands, Satellite414
Divina de Campo, Drag Artist
TAAHLIAH, Artist
Sabrina Hines, Marketing Manager, Blackstar Agency
Jessica Winter, Artist, Jessica Winter
Sandy Dworniak, Director, Twisted Talent
Peter Tsatsamis, Artist
Perusi Kakaire, Manager, Native Management
Patrick Hanrahan, Manager, Red Light Management
Rosie Cain, Product Manager, Defected Records
Andrew Gallimore, Makeup Artist
Cate McGivern, Publicist, LD Communications
Charlotte Birkett, Label assistant, One Little Independent Records
Lauren Devlin, Brand Partnerships
Beau Tiger Rae, Stylist
Holly Turner, Live agent, United Talent Agency
Luke Fono, Manager, House of Us
Caspar Harvey, Manager, House of Us
Courtney Rosemeyer, Co-founder, Cute Communications
Gerard Malone, Director, Twisted Talent
Alex Hehir, Managing Director, Wixen Music UK
Amy Lilley, Operations & Community Manager, Music Ally
Madelene Aldridge, Artist Manager/Social Media Manager, Gato Management
Sean Johnston, Artist Manager, Trace Management
Molly Jean Wright, Producer
Cat Cook, Label Manager, Defected
Lois Marshall, Head of Radio & Club Promotions, Defected
Dan Garber, Manager, TAPE Music Company
Sarah Seukeran, Marketing Manager, Soundway Records
Steven Braines, Co-founder, HE.SHE.THEY
Jazz Rocket, Artist Manager, 67 Artists/Lateral
Mack Hofberg, A&R, Maximum Boost Publishing
Nick Heyward, Singer-songwriter
Sara Heyward, Manager
Barney Rudkins-Stow, Producer
Scout, Artist
Sophia Kearney, Co-founder, HE.SHE.THEY
Ben Cross, Founder, Cloud X Records & Cloud X Festival
Lindsay Mclaren, CEO, MAC ARTISTS
Robin Simoes da Silva, Musician
Toomey To You, Social Media Manager
Kate Meyher, DJ/Presenter, Gaydio
Paul Allen, Manager, The Weird & The Wonderful / Electric Ibiza
Tom Murphy, Logistics Coordinator, MAC ARTISTS
Alexa Coyle, Day-to-day Manager, Solar Management
Rachel Savage, Booking Agent, MAC ARTISTS
Jake Murg, Artist/DJ
Bobby Lambkin-Williams, Director, Atomic Canyon
Mitch Nunn, Talent Booker, Defected Records/Glitterbox
Nimmy Garcha, Artist Manager, Diaspora Artists
Surya Sen, Artist
Cameron Brown, Head of Radio, Defected Records
Alexis Michallek, Label Manager, Megaphonic Ltd
Terry Ferguson, Director, TURBO MGMT
Sophia Wardman, Manager, Tiny Saturn/Seven7
Rio Tashan, Artist and A&R
J. Aria, Artist
Connie Madon, Management Assistant, Solar Management
Alex Pickering, Artist/Label Owner, Alex Virgo / Pomme Frite
Mitch Stevens, Founder, Revenant Earth
Andy Hannah, Owner/Director, BDT Sounds
Hannah Beasley-Garrigan, Manager Repercussion mgmt
Jake Murgatroyd, DJ & Producer
Ed Carruthers, Head of Streaming, Anjunabeats
Ellie Ball, PR & Radio Plugger, Someone Great PR
Sarah Maynard, Director, publicist, Major Press
Henry Evans Harding, Publicist, SATELLITE 414
Amy Azarinejad, Director/Publicist, After Hours PR
Fanchon Dehillotte, Music Touring Assistant, United Talent Agency
ABSOLUTE., Artist
NIGHT manoeuvres, Artist
Daniel Ingham, Director of Creator Marketing, Universal Music Group
Thiago Jorge, Songwriter
Joshua Edwards, Artist Manager, silencio
Jack Carney, Day-to-day Manager, Solar Management
Meg Atkinson, Publicist, Plugged In PR
Matt Benton, Director, Hold Tight
John Craig, Proprietor, Forge AMP / Desperado Artist Management
Mei, Music Manager, Watchmegrowin' MGT
Aimee Phillips, Music Journalist
Sean Price, Label and Artist Manager, Brook Records
Becca McLeish, Publicist, Nightswim
Robyn Foley, National Radio Plugger, Plugged In PR. Ltd.
Becky Young, Head of Operations & Community, EarthPercent
Lauren Hales, Founder, Halestorm PR & Management
Jodie Luckie, Senior Publicist, Toast Press
Jamila Scott, Manager, Made Management
Julia Kuhnert, Press Assistant, Hale-storm PR
Rachel White, Director, Brick PR
Holly Johnsen-Fontanelli, Label coordinator, EarthSonic
Alice Mortimer, Head of Publicity, Plugged in PR
Kiimi, Artist
Amy Greig, Talent Agent, Runway
Andrew Bunton, Senior Audience Strategist
Gunther Walker, Business Affairs/Senior Manager, Solar Management Ltd.
Natasha Nur, A&R, Because Music
Rob Charlton, Publicist, SATELLITE414
Rob Harrison, A&R, Island Records / Listen Generously
Amy Lilley, Operations & Community Manager, Music Ally
Eve Fairley-Chickwe, Head of A&R, AMF Records / Black Butter
Katerina Muszanskyj, Social Media, Rolling Stone UK
Ruben Bermudez-Alcalde, Copyright Coordinator, Universal Music Group
Alexi Cory-Smith, CEO/Founder, Bella Figura Music Ltd
Tiff Czech, Creative Assistant, Reservoir
Mike Hough, Vocal Coach/Director, Kaizen Collective
Patrick Ross, COO, Music Ally
Rob Milton, Writer/Producer
Jamie Muir, Head Of Festivals / Contributing Editor, Zeitgeist / Dork
Frazer Lawton, Director, RYKO PR
Genevieve Taylor, PR Manager, Glisten PR
Will Richards, Senior Writer, Rolling Stone UK
Rae Lemeshow, Product Manager, Dirty Hit
Angie Rance, Agent, Earth Agency
Nick Reilly, Content Editor, Rolling Stone UK
Thea Manolache, Client Services Assistant, Music Ally
Elodie Hall, Management Assistant, Maximum Boost
Danny Trachtenberg, Producer
Amy Azarinejad, Director/Publicist, After Hours PR
Chanel Kadir, Director, Dawn. Creative Agency
Sophie Bee, Creative Director, The Warehouse Project
Nicole Fermie/LuxJury, Artist
Meg Carnie, Artist Manager & Cofounder, South Lanes Studios
Giorgio Tarantino, Artist
George Wrench, Promoter & Artist Manager, Echo Chamber
Lee Barter, Senior Audience Strategist, Universal Music Group
George Baker, Manager, North Pole Management,
Holly Lintell, Director, TripTik Management,
Theo Adams, Creative Director,
Simon Jaeckel, Artist
Tom Booth, Radio and Media Division, Universal Music
Ashley Matthews, Head of Online Press, MBC PR
Ines Martinez Llinas, Booking Agent, MAC Artists
Natalie Wilde, Day-to-day Manager, Red Light Management
Gareth White, Artist, producer & label manager, Hannah Management
Alice Potter, Promoters Assistant, Live Nation
Kai Bosch, Artist
Lucy Harbron, Music Journalist, Far Out Magazine,
Alex Hatcher, Producer/DJ
Leila Hebden, Artist Manager, Maverick Management
Julian Trott, Theatremaker and Singer
Henry Crawshay-Williams, A&R, Island Records
George Campbell, Producer, Mix Engineer, Radio Imager
James Downs, A&R, Island Records
Robin Pasricha, Artist Manager, Tap Music
Beth Arzy, EA, BMG
Anna Phoebe, Musician + Composer,
Joe Dougan, Director, Shine
Bradley Kulisic, Artist Manager, Singing Light Music
Matt Baty, Sync and Publishing, Wipe Out Music
Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs, Band
Darren Struwig, Content Producer, Freelance
Esme O’Keeffe, Label Manager, Modern Sky UK
Jed Kellett, Director/General Manager,AMF Records
Emily Street, Artist Manager, Interland Music Management
Lex Luca, DJ/Producer, OpenDAW
Matthew Burns, Streaming Director, BMG
Ruby Atkin, A&R/Manager, Neighbourhood
Simon Jones, Simon Jones PR
Jess Plumber, Artist Manager, Solar Management
Max Lutkin, Music Marketing Consultant
Abbey Raymonde, Manager, Bella Union Artist Management LTD
Jamie Porten, Day to Day Manager, Red Light Management
Ben Easton, Musician, diary
Rebecca Hawley, Musician, Stealing Sheep
Theresa Peuker, Music Marketing Specialist
Fred Roberts, Artist
Lewis Allen, Sam Ryder Manager, Loobalew Music
Tony Poland, Artist Management, D-E-F Ltd
Harriet Quare, Agent Day To Day, One Fiinix Live
Sarah Richardson, Director, All Stripes
Steve Backman, Director & Agent, Runway
Rob McGee, Booking Agent, One Fiinix Live
Grace Carter, Artist
Emma Davis, General Manager, One Fiinix Live
Finn Marlow, Songwriter/Session Musician
Janet Devlin, Artist
Nina Kehagia, Head of Content & Marketing, shesaid.so
Nikki McNeill, Publicist, Global Publicity
Jazmine Foote, Day-to-Day, One Fiinix Live
Gaby Domanski, Agent Day to Day, One Fiinix Live
Maddy Smith, Artist Partnerships, YouTube
Shannon Carragher, Senior Editor, Spotify
Emer Marcus, Agent Assistant, Runway Artists
Becky Jones, Songwriter/Artist
Ellie Giles, Music Manager, Step Music Management
Tony Ereira, CEO, Come Play With Me CIC
Jen Walker, Agent, Solo Agency
Jesley Faye Fantolgo, Editor, Spotify
Jess Rowe, Marketing Manager, Nettwerk Music Group
Hector Barley, A&R Director, Because Music
Fergus Cooper, Senior Client Manager, Solar Management
Anna Bewers, Agent, Wasserman Music
Just Pickles, Engineer Manager, AIR Management
Ryan Hughes, Senior Talent Director, PARALLEL
Richard Lodge, Streaming Manager, Concord
Jay Singh, Publicist
Jo Eales, Artist Manager, Attention Management
Rhian Emanuel, Managing Director, Because Music UK
Sophie Williams, Staff Writer, Billboard UK
Luna Cohen-Solal, Senior Audience Manager, Atlantic Records UK
Laura Molloy, Journalist
Murray Matravers, Artist, hard life
Jenna Jones, Head Of Press, Fire Records
SPIDER, Artist
Jenny Cotter, Senior UK Touring & Festival Executive, Live Nation
Sophie Lane, Artist Manager, Attention Management
Amelia Case, Creative Licensing Manager, Lemon Wax
Ben Hockett, Business Manager, CC Young & Co
Glyn Fussell, Director, Mighty Hoopla
Matilda Milward, A&R Assistant, Island EMI Label Group
Hollie Geraghty, Journalist
Annie Persson, Artist Manager, Solar Management
Natalie Chua, Artist
Yasmin Leung, International Marketing Director, All Flowers Group
Mark Walker, Managing Director, Free Focus
Will Smith, Senior Campaign Manager, PACT Digital
Harriet Brown, Campaign Manager, PACT Digital
Harry Moore, Founder, PACT Digital
Ash O’Neill, Campaign Manager, PACT Digital
[Note: The remainder of the signatories continues in the original document, including numerous industry professionals, managers, journalists, agents, and artists.]
How to Sign / Additional Support
TO ADD YOUR SIGNATURE CLICK HERE.
To show your support in other ways CLICK HERE for Queer House Party’s guidance on what more you can do.
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