As members of the Live Entertainment and Production industry, today, Diversify The Stage releases the organization’s official mission statement and launches the DTS “Diversify The Stage” Inclusion Initiative.
“The tremendous efforts of everyone involved in this process thus far has been incredibly inspiring,” shares Noelle Scaggs of Fitz & The Tantrums and Diversify The Stage founder. “This collective push will encourage other artists to look at our touring businesses through a new lens, to see where we may have greater impact; but also, by creating safe spaces for our fans, care for our crews and everyone who works behind the scenes to make these shows come to life. I look forward to seeing how the goals of this initiative will help move the needle towards a more inclusive, fair, and equitable live events and production industry.”
Diversify The Stage recognizes that Black, Indigenous, Latin/Hispanic, Asian, and Pacific Islander Identifying persons, as well as Women of all backgrounds and identities, Gender Nonconforming and Non-Binary Individuals, LGBTQIA2+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning, Intersexual, Asexual, Two-Spirit and all sexual identifications), Disabled Persons, and all intersecting identities between these groups, have been marginalized and are drastically underrepresented in our industry.
To address this, several leading organizations, including Diversify The Stage, UTA, WME, CAA, Wasserman, ICM, Live Nation, C3 Presents, AEG Presents, TAIT, Touring Professionals Alliance, Omalilly Projects, TMWRK; NIVA AND NIVF, and others, have pledged to strengthen the industry’s diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility practices by creating and utilizing a strong pipeline of professionals from historically excluded, and or underrepresented groups, and increasing the experience, diversity and strength of the talent pool within this sector of the industry. We strive to encourage more fair and equitable systems for the benefit of all persons, including all social and intersecting identities, throughout the concerts, events and touring industry.
This DTS “Diversify The Stage” Inclusion Initiative provides guidance and recommendations aimed towards specific objectives on Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access (I.D.E.A) and a whole range of readily available resources to access in support of furthering the DTS mission. Diversify The Stage encourages considering these measures during recruitment, talent bookings, on-boarding, retention, promotion, rewards, benefits programs, succession planning and off-boarding procedures.
Please stand with us in activating this industry leading and UNIFIED effort towards change, across all stages.
To take the pledge, visit www.diversifythestage.org/dtsinclusioninitiative
Contributing Members:
Sam Kirby-Yoh, Kristen Saig, Kevin Bhatia, Shanique Bonelli-Moore, Marissa Smith: United Talent Agency
Kevin Shivers, Gisselle Ruiz, Romola Ratnam, Brian Edelman, James Rubin, Steve Gaches: WME/Endeavor
Ali Harnell & Lesley Olenik: Live Nation
Binta Niambi Brown: Omalilly Projects
Rob Light, Ina Jacobs, Niloofar Shepherd, Sharoni Little: CAA
Jessica Blanc, Denise Melanson, Stephanie Morris, Lindsay LaBennett: Wasserman
Shakira Gagnier: Lightbay Capital
Jae Pi’ilani Requiro: AEG
Marni Bobich: AEG Presents
Tadia Taylor: W.O.Q.E & The DoLab
Aluna: AlunaGeorge
Mike Kadziulis: Talent Manger- Aluna/AlunaGeorge
Matthew Walt: Thrive Entertainment/ Hustle Like You Broke.
Susan Eisner: PRG
Talia Ortisi: Contractor, Music Festivals
Adam S Harrison: FullStop Management
Rob Gibbs, Joi Brown, Yves Pierre, Julia Johnson, Travis Merriweather: ICM
Lotje Horvers: Tour Manager