Open letter highlights regression in non-male artist bookings and urges industry-wide action to address imbalance.
An open letter from UK collective NOT BAD FOR A GIRL (NBFG) is drawing attention to a stark decline in gender diversity across club and festival line-ups. Written by Founder and Director Martha Bolton, the letter cites newly released statistics showing that some 2026 events feature as few as 10% non-male artists — a significant drop from 28% in 2022.
Bolton’s message urges promoters, bookers, fans and fellow artists to take practical steps towards reversing the trend, warning that continuing in this direction threatens the sustainability and cultural richness of the UK’s dance music scene. The letter has already been endorsed by artists including Jyoty, Jamz Supernova, and Saoirse, alongside key industry figures from Defected Records, the Featured Artists Coalition and He.She.They.
Representation in Decline Despite Earlier Gains
The open letter outlines a series of observations from upcoming 2026 festival and club line-ups, comparing them to diversity benchmarks established in previous years. At one major UK festival, NBFG notes that nearly 80% of booked acts are male, with all headline slots filled by all-male groups. Another event shows similar trends, with no visible representation of trans or non-binary artists.
In the club sector, the pattern is repeated. A Manchester venue recently announced a season with 75% male artists, while a London club features at least one line-up composed entirely of men. These figures suggest a marked backslide from the upward trend seen in the Jaguar Foundation’s 2022 report, which tracked gender-diverse representation rising from 14% in 2018 to 28% in 2022.
The implications, Bolton argues, are far-reaching. “Fewer bookings lead to less income, reduced visibility, and fewer chances to progress into headline slots,” the letter states. “Over time, this creates a cycle where artists are deemed 'too risky’ because they were never given the chance to build momentum.”
A Call for Industry-Wide Commitment
NBFG’s letter outlines four calls to action. Promoters and bookers are urged to commit to more inclusive programming at all levels — including headliners. Fans are encouraged to support events with diverse line-ups through their purchasing choices. Artists are asked to use tools like inclusion riders and platform-sharing to support underrepresented peers. And all industry participants are invited to sign the letter and speak up against inequality when they see it.
The tone remains collaborative rather than confrontational. Bolton writes, “We’ve chosen not to name names because the market is hard enough, and we don’t believe that finger-pointing is a useful tool for positive change.”
NOT BAD FOR A GIRL has spent the past seven years advocating for non-male and gender-diverse artists in dance music through club nights, festival stages, workshops, and label releases. Their latest campaign builds on that work, encouraging supporters to take an active role in shaping a more equitable future for the scene.
Supporters can read and sign the open letter on NBFG’s website. Read and sign here.
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