BPI invites applications to join its Equity and Justice Advisory Group (EJAG)

 

UK record labels association the BPI is from today opening its annual recruitment for new members of the Equity & Justice Advisory Group (EJAG) and is inviting members of the music industry and the wider creative sector to apply.

Following a successful recruitment process in Autumn 2024, the BPI welcomed nine new members to EJAG in January 2025. Now, in line with EJAG’s terms of reference, the BPI is seeking new members to join the previously recruited cohort, assisting the BPI in advocating for the progression of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) work across the sector, in line with the BPI’s Five-Year Strategy for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

 

To apply, those interested can fill out and submit the online application form by 5pm on Tuesday 28th October 2025 with a short statement or video outlining their professional experience and the areas of DEI/dimensions of diversity they are interested in advocating for.  Questions can be directed to the BPI’s Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Hailey Willington, at hailey.willington@bpi.co.uk.

 

The BPI is looking for individuals who are committed to improving diversity, equity and inclusion in the recording industry and who are willing to bring their skills, knowledge, and professional and lived experience to supporting and advising on the BPI’s DEI work.

 

Though the BPI is made up largely of record label members and represents the recorded music industry, it is also interested to hear from those who work in different areas of the music or creative industries who may be keen to contribute. No prior advisory group or board experience is necessary and applications are invited from individuals from all roles, levels of seniority, regions of the UK and all protected characteristics/diversity dimensions. It is important to the BPI that EJAG is representative not only of the recording industry as it currently is but also the diverse sector it aspires to be.

 

EJAG meets at least six times a year with three 90-minute meetings online and three meetings in person. Members are expected to read prepared agendas and papers ahead of meetings. Self-employed Members, i.e. those not employed by a ‘sponsoring organisation’, will be paid an £80 stipend by the BPI per meeting attended. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to those who require support to access meetings.

 

YolanDa Brown, BPI and EJAG Chair, said:

“Since its founding in 2016, EJAG has played and continues to play an important role in the development of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion work at the BPI. We are incredibly grateful to EJAG’s founding members for their important legacy and to the new members who joined us in 2025 for their additional perspectives, and look forward to appointing new members to join EJAG in January 2026 as the group works to continue the legacy of its founding principles.”

 

Alexandra Hannaby, EJAG Deputy Chair, said:

“Joining EJAG this year has reminded me how much impact bringing diverse perspectives together can have. The experience has been both inspiring and practical, with the EJAG working closely alongside the BPI’s team to shape DEI strategy and help embed inclusion into everyday practice, particularly with the BPI’s support to members. I’d encourage anyone considering it to apply — your voice really does make a difference for industry-wide change.”

 

Hailey Willington, BPI Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, said:

“EJAG’s guidance is invaluable as the BPI continues to work through its Five-Year Diversity, Equity and Inclusion strategy with an increasing focus on our work connecting and supporting the BPI’s members. The diversity of the BPI’s membership is wide-ranging in terms of size, location and context, and it’s equally important for EJAG to represent a wide breadth of experiences that can help inform our approach to supporting our members across the UK. We look forward to receiving applications from those who are equally passionate and committed to improving diversity, equity and inclusion in the recorded music industry.”

In 2016 the BPI, then chaired by Ged Doherty, set up its BRITs Diversity Advisory Group in the wake of a #BRITsSoWhite online campaign. The BRITs Diversity Advisory Group was instrumental in contributing to changes in the BRITs Voting Academy, which have been maintained since. Four years later, in 2020, this group evolved to become the BPI’s Equity & Justice Advisory Group. 

 

The group initially saw its purpose as to be able to work collaboratively and progressively to advocate and push for positive (intersectional) change and representation across the sector, with an initial focus on race and gender, for the benefit of the music industry and its current and future workforce at all levels.

 

Since then, EJAG’s members and role have continued to evolve in order to better enable meaningful change in the industry, including around other protected characteristics and dimensions of diversity, such as disability, sexual orientation and socio-economic background.

EJAG is chaired by BPI Chair YolanDa Brown OBE DL and Alex Hannaby serves as the current elected Deputy Chair. Founding members of the Equity and Justice Advisory Group were drawn from the original BRITs Diversity Advisory Group, and included deputy co-chairs Kwame Kwaten and Paulette Long OBE, Amanda Maxwell, Arit Eminue MBE, Baroness Ayesha Hazarika MBE, Indy Vidyalankara, Jasmine Dotiwala OBE, Meenal Odedra, Mervyn Lynn, and Sharon Brooks. Other current members include Asma Siddique, Ben Price, Eve Horne, Iona Rodge, Laura Lewis-Paul, Mackinlay Ingham, María Cecilia Ayalde Ángel, Martina Connors, Matt Cham, and Trenton Tomlinson.

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