Female representation within senior positions at U.K. music industry trade bodies has improved over the last year, according to a new report from Women in CTRL, which celebrates the progress while noting that improvements could still be made.

The report, titled Seat at the Table, found that across 12 organizations, 42% of board members are now women, which is up from 34% on 2020. Organizations surveyed include PPL, AIM, ISM, The Ivors Academy and BPI.

Last year, just 9% of Chairs were women, a figure that has since risen to 27%. CEOs remain unchanged at 27%, or three women. The share of board seats held by black women has doubled to 6% from 3% in 2020.

“Our work is far from done, the stats are still stark, and a far way off true equality,” said Nadia Khan, Women in CTRL Founder and Chair of AIM. “True diversity goes beyond female representation to minority groups, disability, socio-economic status, sexual orientation and education.

"Let’s try to fix the system and have real conversations. What is it about the system that doesn’t allow underrepresented groups to reach the top? Why don’t we see more women in Chair or CEO positions? Let’s identify the barriers and work together to break them down.”

Female representation within senior positions at U.K. music industry trade bodies has improved over the last year, according to a new report from Women in CTRL, which celebrates the progress while noting that improvements could still be made.

The report, titled Seat at the Table, found that across 12 organizations, 42% of board members are now women, which is up from 34% on 2020. Organizations surveyed include PPL, AIM, ISM, The Ivors Academy and BPI.

Last year, just 9% of Chairs were women, a figure that has since risen to 27%. CEOs remain unchanged at 27%, or three women. The share of board seats held by black women has doubled to 6% from 3% in 2020.

“Our work is far from done, the stats are still stark, and a far way off true equality,” said Nadia Khan, Women in CTRL Founder and Chair of AIM. “True diversity goes beyond female representation to minority groups, disability, socio-economic status, sexual orientation and education.

"Let’s try to fix the system and have real conversations. What is it about the system that doesn’t allow underrepresented groups to reach the top? Why don’t we see more women in Chair or CEO positions? Let’s identify the barriers and work together to break them down.”