There’s more attention on sexual harassment than ever before and Four 4 Consent is working on programs to assure consent on every dancefloor.
When it comes to sexual harassment in the dance music community, the last few years have been challenging. Any number of artists have either been called out or outright canceled due to their problematic behavior. The upshot is that the community at large has increased awareness of the problem and has been taking action to improve it.
While these are positive steps, what is often missing is an industry-based initiative that bands together those in positions to make the most impactful changes. The Nightlife Safety Summit from Four 4 Consent has stepped in to fill this gap.
Consider these statistics for a moment:
- 1 of every 2 people in the U.S. attend one or more music events each calendar year (Nielsen Music 360, 2017)
- Over 9 out of 10 (92%) Female Music Festival Attendees report experiencing harassment (Our Music My Body, 2017)
- Nearly 1 of every 2 (42%) musicians have experienced sexual harassment while working (Musician’s Union, 2019)
- Over 4 in 5 victims of harassment did not report it, primarily due to the industry culture (Musician’s Union, 2019)
That last statistic is particularly alarming as it may imply that the problem is even greater than we can empirically identify. Regardless, the problem is undeniably significant and needs to be addressed industry-wide. Enter Kay Brown and the Nightlife Safety Summit aimed to drive systemic changes. Kay has a nearly endless list of appropriate credentials, and the personality and perseverance to make a program like this successful.
[We] wanted to start the Nightlife Safety Summit program after so many individuals reached out to Four 4 Consent about wanting to make a difference in nightlife, but some of them did not have their entire team’s support. In some organizations, barriers occur to making changes, whether they cannot come up with funding or there are people on their staff who do not view ending sexual harassment and violence as a priority. Many people in the music industry feel like they are alone in wanting to take a stand against those committing abuse against others. Some of the industry feel like they have no power to make a difference because most music highly regards the same people causing harm. Someone’s top-of-the-charts release shouldn’t excuse them from being accountable. Four 4 Consent and the Nightlife Safety Summit are here to help the industry make a difference, from the dance floors to DJ booths!
— Kay Brown, Founder
Unlike other initiatives out there, the Nightlife Safety Summit has structured programming and credentialed instructors. This isn’t a simple one-off that can be helpful but has only a limited impact. Ambassadors are encouraged to apply up to the June 1 deadline as the year-long program begins a few weeks later.
If you are in the music industry, take a look at the Nightlife Safety Summit please consider getting involved. If you are a dance music fan, be sure to learn more about what Four 4 Consent has in place to keep you safe and happy in the scene!
