Ex-BBC Radio 1 DJ Annie Macmanus told lawmakers that there’s a big wave of stories about sexual assault in the music world that haven’t been shared yet.
Annie Macmanus, a broadcaster and writer, told a group of important people in the government that there are many stories about bad things happening that we haven’t heard yet. She said that in the music world, it’s mostly men in charge, and the way things are set up makes it hard for women. Many women are scared they’ll lose their jobs if they talk about bad things that happened to them. Annie Mac, who used to be known as Annie Macmanus, talked about this to the committee that looks at making things equal for women.
She said, “We need a change where women can speak up without worrying about their jobs. I’m not sure how that can happen. Just from talking today, it’s clear that there are many stories that haven’t come out yet. It’s really frustrating that so many women have stories about bad things that happened to them but keep quiet. It’s just hard to believe.
“So I think if someone with a big reputation talked about it and it got in the news, a lot more stories might come out. Definitely.
Annie Macmanus shared that during her 19 years at the BBC, she felt secure enough to talk about issues like sexual misconduct, even though she hadn’t personally experienced or seen it. She spoke with various women in the industry, including agents, managers, producers, photographers, artists, and DJs. She noticed a common theme: young women, especially freelancers, are often not taken seriously and face risky situations.
She gave an example of an artist who went out with a boss from a record label. He kept insisting she shouldn’t go home, and later, he sexually assaulted her in public. Many women told her they often feel unsafe in places where men hold more power.
Annie believes the music industry heavily favors men, especially those with money and influence. The system, she says, doesn’t work in favor of women.
Rebecca Ferguson, a singer and former X Factor contestant, spoke to the MPs who are looking into how women are treated unfairly in the music industry. She said that the mistreatment of women in music is just the beginning of a bigger problem. She mentioned that there is bullying and dishonesty happening, and that men in charge even tried to interfere with her personal relationships.
Ferguson also said she saw other performers being pushed into sending inappropriate messages to each other. She shared that sometimes people are put in situations where they feel uncomfortable and where others are using their power unfairly.
But what worries her most is that some cases of rape are not being reported. She’s concerned that women feel like they can’t speak up. She mentioned a lady who told her, “I’ve wanted to speak up my whole life. But if I do, he’s so powerful, I’ll never get to work in this industry again.”
SOURCE: BBC