Research Data on Harassment and Misconduct in the Classical Music Industry
by Editor, Katie A. Berglof
Sexual harassment and misconduct remain significant concerns across the classical music profession, affecting students, freelancers, orchestral musicians, and faculty in conservatories, universities, festivals, and professional institutions. Researchers frequently point to several structural characteristics of the field that contribute to the persistence and underreporting of misconduct.
One challenge in addressing the issue is the limited amount of comprehensive research focused specifically on the United States orchestral and classical music sector. While surveys and policy studies exist, the handful of the academic work examining harassment and power dynamics in classical music has been conducted in other countries. These studies provide valuable insight into patterns of misconduct within music institutions, but they also highlight a broader gap in systematic research within the American orchestral field.
Classical music education and employment often rely on highly hierarchical mentorship systems, where students and emerging artists depend heavily on teachers, conductors, and senior musicians for recommendations, auditions, and career advancement. The profession also places considerable emphasis on prestige, reputation, and institutional visibility, which can create incentives for organizations to protect prominent figures whose status helps attract donors, audiences, and financial support.
In addition, the culture of classical music has historically encouraged forms of hero worship around celebrated conductors, soloists, and pedagogues, concentrating authority in individuals whose influence over hiring, casting, and professional advancement can be substantial. Combined with the freelance nature of much orchestral work, informal hiring networks, and the competitive reputation driven structure of the field, these dynamics can make reporting misconduct particularly risky for musicians who depend on professional relationships and institutional endorsement to sustain their careers.
Another factor frequently identified in discussions of misconduct within the field is the pressure placed on musicians, particularly women and early career artists, to remain silent. Musicians who raise concerns about harassment or discrimination may fear professional retaliation, loss of future work, or reputational damage in a small and interconnected industry. As a result, many incidents go unreported, and conversations about misconduct have historically been difficult for institutions to confront openly.
Despite these barriers, a small number of surveys, academic studies, and policy reports have begun to document patterns of harassment, discrimination, and underreporting across the music profession, offering an important foundation for ongoing efforts to improve safety, accountability, and transparency within the classical music field. The resources compiled below offer a starting point for understanding the scope of the problem. They range from large-scale membership surveys to parliamentary inquiries to independent documentation projects, and together they paint a consistent picture: harassment is widespread, underreporting is the norm, and structural change remains slow.
Research and Reports
Musicians' Union Research on Harassment in Music Workplaces (Published in 2019)
One of the most widely cited surveys on sexual harassment in the music profession, conducted by the Musicians' Union in the UK. The survey gathered responses from approximately 725 professional musicians.
Main Page: https://musiciansunion.org.uk/campaigns/end-sexual-harassment-at-work
Key findings:
48 percent of musicians reported experiencing sexual harassment at work
85 percent of victims did not report the incident
61 percent believe freelancers are at greater risk of harassment
A list of UK orchestras whose members belong to the MU can be found here: https://musiciansunion.org.uk/about-the-mu/how-the-mu-works/music-industry-sectors/orchestra-sector
Musicians' Census: Gender Equity Findings (Published: 27 March 2024)
A wave of findings from the first-ever UK Musicians' Census, a joint project of the Musicians' Union and Help Musicians, conducted with nearly 6,000 musicians — making it the largest survey of its kind. This particular report focused on the experiences of over 2,500 women musicians.
Key findings:
33 percent of women reported being sexually harassed while working as musicians
25 percent reported witnessing harassment in the industry
51 percent of women reported experiencing gender discrimination
Musicians' Union Written Evidence on Misogyny and Harassment (Submitted 2022)
As part of the UK Parliament's formal inquiry into misogyny in the music industry, the Musicians' Union submitted a detailed snapshot survey as written evidence to the Women and Equalities Committee.
https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/110064/html/
Key findings cited in the submitted evidence:
48 percent of musicians reported experiencing sexual harassment
58 percent reported witnessing harassment
Many victims reported fear of professional repercussions as a primary barrier to reporting
The evidence highlights the particular impact of freelance employment structures and industry culture on reporting behavior.
UK Parliamentary Report on Misogyny in Music: Women and Equalities Committee (Published: 30 January 2024)
Report: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5804/cmselect/cmwomeq/129/report.html
Full PDF: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/43084/documents/214478/default/
This report was published by the UK Parliament's Women and Equalities Committee following a formal inquiry into misogyny and discrimination in the music industry. The inquiry gathered testimony from musicians, unions, advocacy groups, and industry professionals to examine systemic barriers and workplace misconduct across the sector.
Key findings:
Evidence of widespread sexism, harassment, and discrimination across the music industry
Structural issues in freelance and reputation-driven careers that make reporting misconduct difficult
Concerns that power imbalances between senior figures and emerging musicians create environments where harassment goes unchecked
Testimony indicating that many musicians fear career retaliation or loss of work if they report misconduct
The report concludes that misogyny and harassment remain significant challenges and calls for stronger institutional accountability, better reporting mechanisms, and improved legal protections for freelance musicians.
UK Parliamentary Follow-Up Report: "Misogyny in Music — On Repeat" (Published: 4 June 2025)
Full PDF: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/48117/documents/251887/default/
A follow-up inquiry conducted by the reconstituted Women and Equalities Committee, revisiting the findings of the January 2024 report. The committee found that most of the previously recommended reforms had not been implemented and that conditions for women in the music industry had not meaningfully improved.
Key findings:
Sexual harassment remains pervasive, particularly for women from minority backgrounds, disabled women, and LGBTQ+ women
Reporting rates remain low due to fear of professional consequences
Freelancers continue to lack adequate legal protections under the Equality Act
Non-disclosure agreements are still being used to silence victims
ISM "Dignity at Work" Report on Discrimination in the Music Sector (Published: April 2018)
The Independent Society of Musicians (ISM) is the UK's largest non-union representative body for professional musicians. Founded in 1882, the ISM champions the importance of music and protects the rights of those working in the music sector.
Full report: https://issuu.com/ismmusicjournal/docs/ism_dignity-at-work-april-2018
Key findings:
60 percent of respondents reported experiencing sexual harassment in the music profession
72 percent of those who reported harassment were self-employed at the time of the incident
77 percent of those who experienced sexual harassment did not report it, with fear of losing work cited as a primary reason
The report focuses primarily on musicians working in classical and professional music settings and was one of the first systematic surveys of its kind in the UK music sector.
ISM "Dignity at Work 2" Report on Discrimination in the Music Sector (Published: September 2022)
A follow-up to the ISM's 2018 survey, based on responses from 660 musicians and music sector workers. The report found that levels of discrimination and harassment had increased in the four years since the original study.
Full report: https://www.ism.org/dignity-at-work-2-discrimination-in-the-music-sector/
Key findings:
66 percent of respondents reported experiencing discrimination while working in music, up from 60 percent in 2018
58 percent of reported discrimination was identified as sexual harassment
78 percent of reported discrimination was committed against women
88 percent of self-employed respondents who experienced discrimination did not report it
72 percent of incidents were committed by someone in a position of power or influence
The report concludes that freelance employment structures leave musicians particularly vulnerable, as most lack access to formal HR protections or legal recourse under current UK equality legislation.
Field Resources and Documentation Projects
We Had No Idea Project (Established in 2025)
https://we-had-no-idea.org/
The We Had No Idea project is an independent documentation initiative that collects publicly reported cases of sexual misconduct in classical music. The site compiles documented allegations, institutional responses, and patterns of misconduct in order to highlight systemic issues and encourage transparency.
While it is not a statistical survey, the project serves as a field resource documenting patterns of misconduct across classical music institutions and educational settings.
Queen of Filth Digests
https://katherineneedleman.com/queen-of-filth-digests
The Queen of Filth Digests, created by oboist and writer Katherine Needleman, compile anonymized messages and stories submitted by musicians describing experiences of harassment, sexism, and discrimination in classical music environments. The digests were created after musicians began sharing their experiences with Needleman following public discussions of misconduct in the field.
The project serves as a community archive of first-hand accounts from musicians, documenting a wide range of experiences — from gender discrimination and harassment to broader issues involving power dynamics in orchestras, conservatories, and freelance performance settings.
While the digests are not a formal research survey, they illustrate the volume and diversity of reported experiences circulating within the profession and contribute to broader conversations about culture and accountability in classical music.
Final Note from the Editor
Several statistics appear consistently across multiple studies and reports: nearly half of musicians report experiencing sexual harassment at work, approximately one in three women musicians report sexual harassment specifically, and more than four out of five victims do not report harassment due to fear of professional repercussions.
© Unbound Symphony 2026. All Rights Reserved.