In recent years, people have increasingly recognized the need for greater diversity in the music industry. Numerous studies have scrutinised and highlighted the industry's shortcomings in representation. In response to the growing awareness of these challenges in the industry, various organisations and initiatives have emerged. These span multiple levels, encompassing the creative sector, music creators, and the music industry at large, with a particular focus on supporting and increasing both gender and Black representation across the music industry.

 

While these initiatives continue to be essential for catalysing real change in the music industry, there are nonetheless communities that remain largely overlooked. Specifically, there is a lack of focus in the UK on South Asian communities in the commercial music industry. Indeed, while there is a general sense that South Asians are underrepresented in the UK music industry, we lack the data to quantify this representation meaningfully, and fully understand where resources should be directed to increase representation. Outside of a few specific projects, there is little in the way of structured initiatives promoting South Asian representation in music such as: