Black Lives in Music CEO joins Chancellor and Deputy Prime Minister at Hospitality and Leisure Roundtable

07 April 2025 - Press release

DISCUSSES IMPORTANCE OF BLiM's REMEL SURVEY 

TAKE PART IN THE SURVEY HERE

 

Charisse Beaumont, Chief Executive of Black Lives in Music (BLiM), today joined the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Mayor Of London Sidiq Khan at a high-profile government roundtable on Friday, April 4, 2025, focused on reducing red tape in the hospitality and leisure sectors.

The event, taking place at the iconic Ronnie Scott's jazz club in London's Soho, brought together key industry stakeholders to discuss the government's newly announced measures to boost the British night-time economy, particularly for venues like pubs, clubs, and restaurants.

Beaumont's participation comes at a critical time as she leads BLiM's groundbreaking REMEL Survey, commissioned by the Mayor of London. The REMEL (Race Equality In Music Events Licencing) survey is being launched with the Musicians' Union, UK Music, LIVE and Mayor of London.

It addresses over-policing and discriminatory licensing practices in the UK live music industry, with a focus on gathering data and stories from black and brown artists, promoters, and venue managers who have experienced unfair cancellations and discriminatory licensing practices.

The REMEL initiative examines the legacy of Form 696, which was used by the Metropolitan Police Service until 2017 to inform licensing decisions about live music events. It required promoters and venues to state the expected ethnic make up an event's audience. Although discontinued, its impact continues to affect licensing decisions and interactions within the industry. BLiM's research has uncovered concerning patterns, including cultural venues with predominantly Black and Brown music programming being unable to secure the longer operating hours necessary for economic viability, last minute cancellations and more, despite no evidence of adverse effects.

"This roundtable represents a crucial opportunity to connect our REMEL Survey with the government's new initiatives to reduce red tape in the hospitality and leisure sectors," said Beaumont. "The discriminatory licensing practices we've documented directly impact the viability of music venues that showcase diverse artists and programming. We're encouraged to see the government taking steps to address these barriers to growth."

Charisse spoke about unlocking the full economic potential of the UK's night-time economy by removing discriminatory licensing barriers that disproportionately impact Black and Asian-led events. Research indicates that reforming the current system could generate over 10,000 additional events annually, creating substantial employment opportunities across music, hospitality, and production sectors while boosting tourism through international demand for UK Black music genres. Practical solutions include fast-tracking inclusive license applications and introducing start-up grants and insurance subsidies for Black and Asian-owned venues and events. This is a social justice imperative and a strategic economic opportunity for London's creative future.

The government's announcement highlights that the UK hospitality sector employs over three million people and is worth approximately £62 billion to the British economy. The new measures are part of the government's Plan for Change, aimed at driving economic growth and increasing prosperity.

The roundtable was also attended by the Mayor of London, who has been a key supporter of BLiM's work on the REMEL Survey. The government's initiative includes a landmark pilot that could see more alfresco dining and later opening hours in London, with the Mayor being granted new "call in" powers to review blocked licensing applications in nightlife hotspots.

 

For more information about Black Lives in Music and the REMEL Survey, visit http://www.blim.org.uk