Your
Workplace
Shouldn't
be the
Wild West
THE FACTS
Women are a valuable part of the music industry. In fact, more women are entering the industry than ever before (65% Women 35% Men - 2022 Workforce Diversity Survey) but, and it's a BIG but, the odds of us attaining a long-term career, in a safe and inclusive environment are against us.
The Annenberg report (March 2022) on Inclusion in Recording Studios revealed that women are missing in the workplace. Only 12.8% are artists, 12.7% are songwriters and a measly 2.8% are producers. Less than 1% of popular songs are written solely by women.
So where do recording studios fit into those figures? It's very simple, the recording studio is where most of us begin our journey in music, yet this is exactly where serious problems lie. The Musician's Union Report on sexual harassment in the music industry (2019) revealed that 48% of people surveyed had been sexually harassed and 58% had witnessed harassment.
As an organisation, we hear stories on a daily basis about how studios are breeding grounds for bad practices, including misogyny, bullying, bias and in the worst cases assault. This means women are inherently mistrustful of recording studios, with thousands of women learning to create 'bedroom studios' at home.
WHAT IS THE CHARTER?
The Cactus City Charter is a series of simple pledges, for studios and other music spaces to adopt to provide a safe, inclusive working environment.
The charter is aimed at commercial studios, of any size, that want to offer an environment where creativity can thrive. To do this we all need to work together to change the culture of the music industry to that of any other profession where safety and inclusivity are basic workplace standards.
BECOMING A CHARTER STUDIO
We believe that everyone should be able to do their job in a safe and inclusive workspace, which is why we are inviting recording studios to join our charter and show women and gender minorities that they are taking necessary steps to ensure their spaces are as safe and inclusive as possible. By signing up to the charter your studio is making a public pledge to support women in music.
WHAT ARE THE PLEDGES?
WHAT UK MUSIC SAY
"Cactus City are an organisation leading to the forefront of creating a safer music industry, through the Cactus City Charter of Good Practice.
This charter aims to create a safer and more equal environment for people in the music industry. The charter is made up of simple pledges which studios, and their users, can use to make a difference to the lives of women in the music industry.
Signing up to the charter shows commitment to bringing change in the industry for women and gender minorities without placing the onus on them."
UK Music's submission to The Women and Equality Commission Select Committee Inquiry into Misogyny in Music
REASONS TO JOIN
MORE BOOKINGS
Be found via the CC Studio Directory and give creatives more confidence to make a booking.
LEAD THE CHANGE
The issues of discrimination, abuse and inequality in the industry are systemic and part of the culture. We have to stand united to create real change.
PROACTIVE IN WOMEN'S SAFETY
Being part of the charter shows that your business has a proactive hand in improving women's safety.
POSITIVE DIGITAL FOOTPRINT
Those seeking safe spaces will be able to find you online easily via the directory leaving a positive digital footprint for 'safe space' searches..
BUILD A COMMUNITY
Cactus City is building a supportive community of like-minded studios, organisations and individuals. By joining the community you have access to a wealth of support and guidance.
THE CHARTER STUDIOS DATABASE
Charter pledge studios are all featured on our database.
Do you require wheelchair accessibility? Would you like to bring a chaperone? Would you prefer a female-only session? You can search for a Charter studio that can meet your needs.
If you would like to recommend a studio to us that would be suitable for our database, let us know at: hello@cactuscity.org.
FEEDBACK
What happens if there is a report about a studio you ask? We want to know as soon as possible if something has happened in a Charter Pledge studio, so we have a very easy feedback tool where people can tell us as much or little as they wish to.
After that, the studio will be removed from the database. We treat each report on an individual basis with the utmost care and compassion. This is to protect our community and our network of pledged studios.
IN THE MEDIA
Where the Cactus City Charter of Good Practice is Featured
Advocating for marginalised genders’ safety in music spaces
In response to the outpour of support since officially launching in 2020, Cactus City have also released a ‘Charter of Good Practice’. “Our charter provides music studios – a place where many people first find themselves in the first stages of their career – a straightforward way to supplement any policies they may already have,”