diversity is not a buzzword

Diversity is the watchword.

In the last look at the BPI 2014 Yearbook, one of the stark features on the list of top 10 global recording artists is the diversity, or lack there of. Being that this review is about how well British acts are doing internationally, taking out the American artists and AC/DC just for ease (even though it would go on to further this article) the five UK acts consist of all males and one of those being a person of colour - Zayn Malik, who, as we all know, isn’t a member of One Direction anymore, but does, of course, feature on the album in question, Four.

The only female acts on the list come from the American contingent and the same goes for people of colour (mostly because the list is only made up of US or UK acts save AC/DC). Overall, there are three women on the list - though one does take the top spot in Taylor Swift - and two other artists are of colour, Michael Jackson (as laughable as that is) and Beyonce.

Before we get carried away with these figures, I am very aware that they just pertain to the year 2014, so just because there are no UK female or ethnic minority acts on this list, doesn’t mean we have a diversity issue within the music industry. Or does it?

Let’s take a look at IFPI’s (International Federation of the Phonographic Industry - which is basically BPI’s daddy) music reports over the last couple of years. the top selling album of 2013 was Midnight Memories by One Direction. There was no other UK artist in the top 10 that year. In 2012 the UK fared a lot better with half the spots in the top 10 - two being taken by One Direction, who were joined by Mumford & Sons, Rod Stewart and Adele taking top spot.

Now, I’m sure when Adele drops her next album, she’s sure to clean up on the next global recording artists list (so long as Ms. Swift doesn’t also release an album), but Adele isn’t the only female recording artist from the UK. Nor is she the only one who’s made a name for herself internationally.

Okay, so this is where I do have to bring in some other statistics from the BPI yearbook. There has been headway in the international markets for Paloma Faith and London Grammar, who boast a female lead vocalist, in France and Australia. But what are we doing with the rest of our female acts? I would give a bit of insight into ethnic minority acts, but there just aren’t enough “mainstream” artists to pull figures up on them - and I don’t think it’s a genre thing either.

Of course, music isn’t the only industry struggling with diversity, nor is gender and race the only diversity issues within creative industries and as with everything, I have to swing over to film and television as I know this industry better.

Not too long ago, Christopher Eccleston put his two pence into the class debate in the British film industry and notably, acting.

I believe social mobility is a lot better, a lot easier in the UK than in other countries, say, the United States, but that doesn’t mean Eccleston doesn’t have a point, our top actors have always been of a particular ilk, just think of who the biggest British actors are at the moment - Tom Hardy, Eddie Redmayne and Benedict Cumberbatch. It’s a saturation of the industry that’s also been commented on by the likes of James McAvoy and Julie Walters.

Which is great. Actors have an awareness of the issues within their industry, but what are they doing about it? More importantly, what can we, as consumers, do about it?

I’m open to suggestions.

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