Britain's world-class music industry has a dark secret: it's still a boys' club | Charisse Beaumont

A new parliamentary report damns the music business for its sexism - and the situation is even worse for Black women

• Charisse Beaumont is the CEO of Black Lives in Music

Today an important parliamentary report was published on Britain's music industry. Reflecting on the findings of the women and equalities committee's Misogyny in Music research, I felt deeply moved yet not surprised. The 74-page document is like a mirror, reflecting the systemic barriers and biases that women confront every day in the music industry. It captures a disturbing image of underrepresentation, discrimination and abuse that is cloaked in a culture of silence, and a lack of understanding about intersectionality.

As a Black woman in music, I recognise these challenges intimately. The report's revelation that women, particularly Black women, are grossly underrepresented in key roles, face persistent gender discrimination and sexual abuse and suffer mental health impacts owing to misogyny, resonates with my experiences and those of many others. It is disheartening yet reaffirming to see that our struggles are not imagined, but are rooted in a broader systemic problem.

Charisse Beaumont is chief executive of Black Lives in Music