An extensive report which surveyed deaf and disabled musicians has found that the music industry, UK venues, and rehearsal spaces are seriously failing disabled and deaf musicians.
How are artists disabled by the music industry?
Find out in our #NextStage survey, released today, highlighting the obstacles artists with access requirements face when trying to make a career in music.
Read the full results and next steps here ⬇️ https://t.co/zlbwoF5tMW
— Attitude is Everything (@attitudetweets) May 9, 2019
Attitude is Everything, a charity that aims to improve “deaf and disabled people’s access to live music”, surveyed almost 100 musicians in the study.
A substantial 70% of those surveyed said that they hid their disability so as not to damage relations with promoters, venues, and festivals.
Responding on Twitter, Mystery Jets‘ lead vocalist Blaine Harrison, who also has spina bifida, described the results of the survey as “absolutely heartbreaking. Making a living from music is tough enough. But for musicians with access requirements, it can be even tougher.”
Now is the time for the music industry to stand up and support deaf and disabled artists @guardian https://t.co/0QLgvNu4Wq
— Blaine (@blaineharrison) May 9, 2019
“Now is the time for the music industry to stand up and support deaf and disabled artists.”
Half of the respondents of the survey described encountering barriers due to their health when searching for rehearsal spaces, while 45% came across barriers relating to their disability in recording studios.
One respondent said: “The [rehearsal spaces] that are affordable are usually not accessible, in terms of step free and toilet facilities.”
Half of the disabled and deaf musicians surveyed said that they experienced barriers at live venues, with a fifth had been forced to call off a show because of physical access issues.
“I would never perform if I did not force myself up and down more flights of stairs in one night than I would comfortably navigate in a month,” one respondent explained.
The report also found that non-physical disabilities such as autism were further overlooked within the industry: “Often times we’ve been paid in alcoholic drinks. As someone with severe mental health issues this is a problem.”
But respondents remained hopeful, with 96% expressing that they believed the industry has the ability and potential to make the vital changes which would level the playing field by giving adequate access and support for deaf and disabled artists.
Attitude is Everything said: “These artists need the music industry to commit to true diversity and access.”
Photo by seabass creatives on Unsplash
