A recent survey found alarming numbers of sexual harassment and assault within the United States music fandom. These findings point to a deeply concerning pattern that requires urgent action. We asked all 1,091 respondents to share their most recent experience at a live music event. We found that 61% of respondents have experienced non-consensual sexual behavior at some point in their lives. The survey brings to light the shocking gulf that lies between the experiences of women and those of men. Even more alarming, 82% of women said they had been sexually harassed or assaulted, compared to just 39% of men.
The survey shows just how often this happens. It paints a picture that one in five women say they’ve been harassed like this on a daily basis. This alarming data underscores the pervasive nature of inappropriate behavior in the music scene and raises questions about safety at live events. The majority of survey respondents, 66% of the respondents, were between the ages of 30 and 49 years old. This suggests a grim future in which younger generations are increasingly subject to these disturbing deaths of despair.
Reporting Barriers and Feelings of Helplessness
Even with such high rates of sexual harassment and assault, respondents often felt that they could not report these occurrences. Nearly half (48%) reported feeling they’d be unable to make a report about improper or harmful behavior, according to the study. At the same time, 42% thought that they could report harassment incidents but chose not to. This reluctance is due to a common assumption—the overwhelming belief that some kind of reporting would lead nowhere.
This was the cited reason of one-quarter of respondents—both male and female—who said they didn’t think reporting mechanisms would work. This feeling is the most disturbing, because it speaks to a culture of silence around these occurrences at live music events. Alarmingly, an overwhelming 88% of those who experienced bad behavior didn’t report it to the music venue in question.
“The high prevalence of [inappropriate sexual behavior] incidents reported in this study is disturbing as [these] incidents can have both short and long-term consequences to health and quality of life and unfavorable social, cultural, and economic impacts.” – researchers
Recommendations for Music Venues
Considering these results, scientists call on music venues to act responsibly. They urge the introduction of the opposite—as in, proactive measures to stop unwanted sexual advances. They recommend building upon or expanding prevention, training, and response initiatives to protect event participants. The implementation of comprehensive policies related to prevention, communication, reporting, and response is crucial to creating a safer environment for concert-goers.
This research will explore the existing practices and policies at local and stadium venues. The aim would be to gauge how powerful these resources prove to be in stopping cases of harassment and assault. 92% favor expanding the convention center to attract more events. A huge 67% of respondents are frequent or very frequent live music goers. This further emphasizes the need for venues to put safety first when planning operations and events.
“Music venues should develop or expand on existing [inappropriate sexual behavior] prevention, training, and response efforts. Future research might examine existing policies and procedures related to [its] prevention, communication, reporting and response.” – researchers
A Global Perspective on Inappropriate Behavior
The implications of the survey findings aren’t just confined to the United States. Survey and observational data from several countries indicate that unwanted sexual behavior is common at live music events. This global trend highlights an urgent need for concert organizers and venues worldwide to prioritize attendee safety and implement effective policies to combat harassment.
The music industry is thriving! Finally, let’s focus on creating a consistent and safe environment for all participants at in-person live events. It’s our hope that the alarming statistics laid out in this survey act as a call to action for industry stakeholders to come together and drive real change.