The industry body describes their new initiative as “a powerful response from the industry for the industry.”
The Association For Electronic Music (AFEM) has launched a new Code of Conduct regarding sexual harassment and gender/gender identity discrimination within the electronic music industry.
In a press release this week, Greg Marshall, General Manager at AFEM said: “We want to bring about an electronic music culture where everyone involved feels safe, respected and free from sexual harassment and risk of assault, to ensure safe environments for fans and professionals and to advocate for a culture of support for victims of harassment and assault to ensure they are encouraged to come forward and feel they will be supported when they do.”
The new Code of Conduct is a response to the recognition that the dance music industry has an on-going problem with gender discrimination and sexual harassment. AFEM note that much of the electronic music industry is made up of small and medium-sized businesses who may not have HR departments or specific sexual harassment or gender discrimination policies. The code aims to fill this gap by providing a set of guidelines for businesses within electronic music “to identify and correct the mechanisms and attitudes within electronic music culture which enable and facilitate perpetrators of sexual harassment and abuse to go unchallenged and unreported”. The code is intended to complement existing equality legislation.
AFEM board member and co-author of the Code of Conduct Matthew Adell: “As a straight white cis-gendered man who has spent 30 years loving and enveloped by music created largely by the Black American LGBTQ community, it is my responsibility to listen to and stand up for others without my privilege.”
The initiative has received widespread support from the electronic music industry and the AEFM membership, including DJ Mag, Mixmag, Traxsource, Resident Advisor, Beatport, Boiler Room, PRS for Music, Soundcloud and Amsterdam Dance Event.
The AFEM Code of Conduct can be viewed and downloaded via their website.