The logo of the Finnish Composers’ Copyright Society Teosto on a wall. LEHTIKUVA
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Finland’s music industry is showing signs of progress on equality, but discrimination and inappropriate treatment continue to affect a large share of professionals, according to a new survey.
The 2025 equality barometer, conducted by Teosto in cooperation with ten other industry organisations, found that 53 percent of respondents viewed the music field as equal. This marks a slight rise from 49 percent the previous year.
Perceptions of fairness varied by gender and position. While 60 percent of men considered the industry equal, only 41 percent of women shared that view. Overall, just 43 percent of all respondents believed that everyone has equal opportunities to succeed in the sector.
Almost 1,500 professionals responded to the survey. Many reported working in multiple roles such as performer, composer, producer or educator.
Despite the growing awareness, nearly one-third of all respondents said they had faced discrimination or inappropriate treatment in the past year. Among women, the figure rose to 42 percent, compared to 18 percent among men. One in three women reported gender-based discrimination, while only four percent of men experienced the same.
Among minority respondents, about one-third reported discrimination based on gender identity or ethnicity. Freelancers, entrepreneurs and young professionals reported the highest rates of inappropriate behaviour. Age-related discrimination peaked among those aged 25 to 34, with nearly one in four affected.
Most respondents linked discrimination to negative impacts on their careers. Over two-thirds said it had limited their professional development, networking opportunities or creative output. Some young people reported that their experiences had caused them to consider leaving the industry altogether.
The most common forms of inappropriate treatment included dismissive comments, belittling of competence and having ideas ignored or questioned. Only a third of those affected reported the incidents. Many cited a lack of appropriate channels or feared repercussions for speaking out.
“There’s clearly a gap between recognising the problem and knowing what to do about it,” said Vappu Aura, Director of Communications at Teosto. “We need new, accessible reporting mechanisms.”
The survey found that 93 percent of respondents consider equality an important value, and over 80 percent want to see concrete action. Key areas for improvement include clearer reporting systems, fairer hiring and mentoring practices, and reforms in training and education.
According to Aura, recent years have seen encouraging shifts. Public discussion and stronger industry guidelines have begun to make an impact.
Three-quarters of respondents said the industry welcomes diversity, and 68 percent believed that people are generally treated with respect. However, only 47 percent of women, compared to 65 percent of men, agreed with that statement.
Respondents pointed to income insecurity, short-term contracts and the concentration of decision-making power as key structural barriers. Many, especially women and non-binary people, described access to networks as critical but difficult.
Public debate, role models and outspoken individuals were listed as the most effective tools for changing attitudes. Seventy-two percent said media discussion plays a key role, followed by courageous examples (60 percent) and the promotion of role models (41 percent).
The barometer also highlighted a shortfall in education. Fewer than half of music teachers said that equality and non-discrimination are adequately covered in their curricula. The report stresses the importance of addressing these issues in education, as teachers influence the values of new generations entering the industry.
The 2025 equality barometer was carried out by Tutkimustoimisto Vastakaiku Oy and coordinated by Teosto. Partners included Gramex, Music Finland, IFPI Finland, Finnish Musicians’ Union and others. The results were compared with the 2024 survey and have a statistical confidence level of 95 percent, with a margin of error of ±2.7 percent.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
