While diversity initiatives in the music industry have often amounted to little more than performative gestures, UK Music’s innovative ‘Five Ps’ framework is challenging organizations to fundamentally transform their approach to inclusion. Launched in 2022 and subsequently refined through extensive sector consultation, the framework addresses the persistent gap between the industry’s cultural diversity and its operational reality.
The ‘Five Ps’ – People, Policy, Partnerships, Purchase, and Progress – offer a thorough roadmap for embedding diversity across all aspects of music business operations. Rather than simply making public pledges, companies are now expected to nurture diverse talent, reshape policies through transparency, collaborate with new partners, review procurement practices to support underrepresented groups, and track tangible progress.
Moving beyond symbolic commitments to measurable action, the ‘Five Ps’ transform diversity from aspiration to operational imperative.
Led by Ammo Talwar MBE with Paulette Long OBE serving as vice-chair, UK Music’s Diversity Taskforce has evolved its approach from the earlier Ten-Point Plan to this more integrated framework. The framework builds on findings from previous Diversity Reports to ensure organizations implement substantive changes rather than superficial adjustments. The taskforce has emphasized data collection and amplification of lived experiences as vital tools for holding the sector accountable for meaningful change.
Industry response has been significant, with many organizations enthusiastic to integrate the framework into their business models. This enthusiasm reflects growing recognition that surface-level diversity efforts fail to address systemic barriers faced by marginalized communities in the music sector. For musicians, this initiative complements efforts to diversify their income streams, creating more equitable opportunities across various revenue channels. Understanding the role of collecting societies in representing diverse creators has become increasingly important as the industry seeks to ensure fair compensation for all artists.
The ‘Five Ps’ represents a deliberate departure from tick-box approaches to diversity, which often prioritize visibility over substantive inclusion. By focusing on structural and operational changes, UK Music aims to create enduring transformation within an industry that has historically struggled to reflect the cultural diversity of its creative output. The initiative strives to equip music organizations of all sizes with tools to create equitable environments where underrepresented groups can thrive.
As implementation continues across the sector, the framework’s success will ultimately be measured by its ability to reshape industry culture and create equitable opportunities. For a sector that prides itself on being a “mixtape of cultures, genres, and ideas,” the ‘Five Ps’ offers a practical pathway to guarantee its business practices finally align with its creative diversity.
