Rape and Abuse: the music industry’s dark side - BBC News

The Victoria Derbyshire Programme has been told by women in the music industry that abuse and harassment is “endemic" in the business, with "dangerous men" at the top abusing their power. They say there are occasions where people have been raped and assaulted, but encouraged to keep quiet. Here, four women speak out about their abuse and harassment for the first time, including "Amy", who says she was groomed by her music manager when she was 15.
Produced and Reported by Jean Mackenzie
Shot, Directed and Edited by Benjamin Barfoot.

[stannats]

Is it me or the music industry is just a scam?

[haque]

Fame won't give you peace, Music won't give you peace, Sex & Desires won't bring peace but your good relations with your Creator Almighty will.

[zackzallie]

There's a reason why many musicians died at the age of 27. From Brian Jones to Amy Winehouse, the music industry pushed their mentality to the edge and abused to death.

[untaughtbiblelessons]

i applaud these girls for having the strength to turn away from fame and fortune to preserve their souls and their dignity. do not feel ashamed girls, those pedophiles should be the ones who feel shame and not you. more power to you girls.

[theylied]

Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

[JoannaBorne]

It happens so often, I’m constantly dodging bullets, failed to dodge a few and continue to feel fear associated with this at every industry event, every performance, every meeting. I no longer feel the passion I once did, I’m so full of anger.

[valerycole]

That's terrible. My son wants to get in the music industry and I'm telling him the evil that goes on in these industries. I pray he gets a change of heart.

[izzygraze]

Don't read the comments. Full of people justifying abuse and trying to silence victims.

[kristintheartist]

Thank you for covering this. I still only know a couple females who have not been raped, groped, or molested in their life. That means there are a lot of perpetrators out there. This is a worldwide problem, an assault against half the population. Every human on earth should be concerned about the safety of their mothers, sisters, and children at the very least. No one should just accept this problem.

[Martial-Mat]

This is a power issue. Any time you give people this much control over the dreams of others, they have unreasonable leverage over them. Whether it's male teen aspiring actors, boy and girl singers, or women in Hollywood, it's about the power that others have. The solution is to reduce the power that individuals have but they will not give it up willingly. I think many many of their lives will have to be destroyed before it becomes so dangerous that others in their position seek their jollies like normal people do.

[queen]

This is why, since I started doing music it's just me and my momma working together, so I'm just going to stay independent.

[phildobson]

What about disturbing *X Factor* when Sharon Osbourne accused Simon Cowell of having "a relationship with those girls" after he devastated them with his "you're not through" verdict?

[UpYours]

Very noble of the BBC to make a documentary on this topic... almost as noble as protecting Savile for decades!

[GingerGingie]

Literally EVERY woman deals with this kind of thing at some point in their life. It's ridiculous that schools can't make just a couple hours a year for a focus on sexual misconduct-- for all students.

[Apup]

I told my mum I wanna be a rapper but she said that u can but it’s very risky cause the music industry will destroy u

[autumnpaul]

I have a feeling Simon cowell is among the men

[fragileasglass]

Now I understand why some of Chlöe's music videos got deleted from YouTube, or, at least that's what I think, but either way, this is so wrong. It doesn't matter how it happened, sexual abuse/assault, rape, etc, all of that is awful and unacceptable, and the ones who do that must be punished.

[grashew]

Predators everywhere, whether it’s in movies, modelling, or music industry

[lenahbrighton]

Abusers are protected worldwide. All will, must are going down with a domino effect. All done in the dark MUST come to surface in order to be healed. So be it.

[prosperousmusician]

Alcohol and drugs so seem to be a common denominator here. If you get drunk or off your face with someone of the opposite sex then it greatly increases the chances of mad shit happening.