Pop
Young artists call for industry reform as Youth Music warns of unsafe and exploitative conditions in the music industry
Youth Music has released a shocking report about working conditions and unfair treatment of young music professionals.
A growing number of young artists are speaking out about unsafe and exploitative conditions in the music industry, with Victoria Canal and GIRLI among those urging the sector to confront long‑standing issues highlighted in a new Youth Music report.
Canal, who began touring as a teenager, says her early experiences included harassment, exploitation, disability discrimination and being groomed by an older artist — all while those around her stayed silent.
She shared: “When I was 19, I had no awareness of the normalised harm young people face in the music industry.
“And though everyone else on the tour knew exactly the position I was in… they’d signed NDAs and were afraid of losing their jobs. The message was clear – don’t speak up, or your career is over before it’s begun.”
Her story reflects the findings of Just the Way It Is?, a new report from Youth Music, the UK charity supporting marginalised young creatives. The research paints a stark picture of unsafe working environments, discrimination, low or no pay and a culture of silence — with women, LGBTQ+ artists, Disabled creatives, Global Majority musicians, and those from working‑class backgrounds facing the harshest conditions.
Carol Reid, interim Co-CEO at Youth Music, says the charity is seeing what it calls “The Raye Effect,” as more young artists feel empowered to speak publicly about mistreatment like the BRIT Award-winning artist, RAYE, who has spoken out about misogyny and being blocked from releasing her debut album by her label.
She explained: “Too often, exploitation and inequality are commonplace for young people trying to break into music.
“While the new Employment Rights Bill is welcome, laws alone cannot reshape culture. 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.”
GIRLI, who has previously spoken about misogyny in the industry, says the report confirms what many already know.
She said: “This report gives the stark reality of how it is for so many young people and, importantly, guidance on what we can do to make it better.”
The report, produced with the Musicians’ Union and Music Guardians, draws on testimonies from 19 young creatives and a wider snapshot poll of 50 respondents. The numbers are sobering:
72% have felt unsafe in a music‑industry working environment
90% say they’ve been paid unfairly
90% felt unable to speak up about unfair practices
75% have considered giving up their ambitions
85% say they feel inspired by artists like Raye, whose advocacy has helped shift the conversation
