Equality in Audio Pact launches phase two, led by the UK Audio Network and Content is Queen

On stage at The Podcast Show in London today, UK Audio Network (UKAN) and Content is Queen have jointly announced the next phase of the Equality in Audio Pact [EAP] under their stewardship. This announcement is a necessary response to the critical need for accountability and progress in the podcasting industry, as the clamour for equality continues to reverberate globally.

Phase Two of the EAP represents a bold step in evolving audio industry standards three years after the initial call-to-action and pact sign-up process. This phase will bolster the EAP by creating actions from the original pledges and by creating organisation certification to allow companies that sign up to display that they operate within EAP guidelines.

Laura Blake, Owner of the UK Audio Network, warned, “This is putting the industry on notice. Our pay transparency survey results remind us that we have systematic gaps to fill and that talent is being ignored, underpaid and under-invested in. If you are not white and not a man, you are being paid less than three years ago. Time to say less and do more."

Similarly, Imriel Morgan, Founder and CEO of Content is Queen, emphasised that the Equality in Audio Pact’s initial stage was a significant step to incite the audio industry towards broader participation and access.

“The next phase is to ensure the pledges made by our signatories are upheld, to reward those who meet the agreed standards and to hold accountable those who fall short. Token gestures are no longer acceptable,” Morgan added.

The urgency of this next phase is underscored by the unsettling findings from the 2023 UKAN survey. As women advanced in their careers, the pay disparity between genders was disturbingly amplified. Men with 3-5 years of experience garnered, on average, £39,408, whereas women with the same tenure earned £34,500. The divide escalated for individuals with 6-10 years of experience, with men earning an average of £49,489 compared to women’s £37,364 - a gap that has increased since 2020. Even more concerning, men’s salaries have risen by £8,605 since 2020, while women’s have dropped by £2,415.

The inequity was even more pronounced for those with more than a decade’s experience. Men at this level received an average of £50,069, while women earned a considerably lower average of £41,392 - a decrease of £5,408 in women’s earnings compared to 2020.

The survey also illuminated a profound racial disparity in the industry. White producers earned an average of £42,035 in 2023, reflecting a gain of £2,511 since 2020. In contrast, the average salaries of BIPOC producers had fallen by £1,789 compared to their 2020 earnings, averaging at a concerning £33,301 in 2023.

These sobering figures serve as a powerful reminder of the systemic imbalances within the industry that Phase Two of the EAP is determined to confront.

UKAN and Content is Queen are seizing this opportunity to push forward the agenda for change within the industry. With over 350 signatories, including BBC, Bauer Group, Acast, Spotify and iHeart Media, the EAP is poised to drive change in the audio industry.

For more information on this new phase, please visit the Equality in Audio Pact website: https://www.equalityinaudio.com/