Women and ethnic minorities under played at UK music festivals

Britain’s top music festivals are failing to book headline acts that reflect the diversity of the UK music scene, new research suggests.

Around six in seven top spots are filled by all-male acts this year – almost exactly the same proportion as 10 years ago.

Only a third of headliners feature at least one black, Asian or minority ethnic (BAME) performer – despite half of this year’s number ones coming from BAME artists.

A Tribe Called Quest and Jay Z are two of just nine BAME acts handed headline slots this 0 PJ Harvey was one of the only female headliners summer, compared to 18 allwhite groups or performers at events including Glastonbury and Reading and Leeds.

Meanwhile, headline appearances by singer-songwriter PJ Harvey at Green Man and US pop star Pink at V Fest are the only ones by all-female acts.

When considering groups with at least one female member it rises to four with Arcade Fire’s headline slot at Isle Of Wight earlier this month and The xx topping the bill at Bestival in September.

The investigation by the Press Association also shows that of 321 headline acts at the biggest festivals over the past ten years, 89 included at least one member who was BAME. Green Man scored best for the number of female artists with just under one in three headliners including at least one woman.