White male artists still dominate on-air across the top 20 Airplay charts in UK: Report
The report further says that in the Top 50 UK songs of 2022 across UK radio, 94% of songs featured were by artists/bands signed to a major label while 2% of songs were by artists/bands signed to an independent label.
An analysis of the top 20 domestic British artists/bands featured across UK radio stations during the period of August 1st, 2021-2022 reveals that white male artists still dominate on-air across the top 20 airplay charts.
The report further says that in the Top 50 UK songs of 2022 across UK radio, 94% of songs featured were by artists/bands signed to a major label while 2% of songs were by artists/bands signed to an independent label.
4% of songs featured in the Top 50 were by artists/bands signed to an independent label with major label distribution and 8% of songs featured were by POC solo artists/bands. 8% of songs featured were by ethnicity collab artists/bands and 10% of songs were by ED Sheeran (with 5 songs of ed's featuring).
A 1985 song 'Running Up That Hill' by British artist Kate Bush featured in the Netflix show Stranger Things, which led to her song becoming a surprise hit this year. It also landed Kate in the Top 50 most played tracks on British radio so far this year at 40.
Harry Styles is the Number 1 artist on UK radio so far in 2022. Of both UK & International artists in the Top 100, he is number 1 with his hit song ‘As It Was.’
In the Top 100 UK + International songs of 2022 across UK radio, 50% of songs are from domestic UK artists/bands. Therefore, British radio supports 50% of domestic artists in its Top 100 songs so far in 2022, in comparison to Irish radio which was only 18% Irish artists. 34% of songs in the Top 100 are from international bands from Europe, AU, and the USA among others. 16% of songs are from domestic UK/International collaborations between the artists.
International music artists are equally present in the Top 100 singles, regardless of gender. UK solo male music artists are present in the Top 100 x3 more than solo female music artists. Including solo and gender collaborations - UK male music artists are present in 80% of all top 100 singles, female music artists are present in 60% of all top 100 singles.
When UK artists collaborate with international artists in the Top 100, male music artists are present 94% of the time, and female music artists are present 56% of the time. UK, white-only music artists/groups are represented x10 more than POC-only artists/groups
Overall, among UK & International entries, solo male artists present twice as much as solo female artists in the Top 100.
“It’s a real shame that there's a muted desire to genuinely create change and represent a balanced view of music and essentially the storytelling and culture of our people by our musical creatives. Before these gender disparity radio reports, we never would have imagined that radio would proactively amplify, promote and essentially employ one section of society to the detriment of another. It is our hope that these data reports can continue to set the precedent for a lot of change to come. Change can happen at a quick rate when an unconscious bias is stripped back. We hope this report helps to make a structural change,” says Linda Coogan Byrne, Lead Data Analyst/Activist.
"It's Groundhog Day for the music industry, or certainly for UK radio. Whilst there are a few stations out there doing the right thing for gender equality (hullo Radio 6, Classic FM) most are definitely not and some have gotten significantly worse over the past year (Radio 1's figures are just grim) so it's clear that it's a deliberate policy to exclude women from the airwaves. Quite frankly, I'm pretty exasperated about it,” says Vick Bain, The F-List / DEI Speaker.
“As a curator, it's one thing to fall into an unconscious habit. However, once you're aware of it and yet you continue as you have done, I think it means that you either don't care about the impact that your role has in shaping national culture or you think that white men should be the authors of British culture with only space for footnotes by women, POC or the LGBTQIA community. It feels very 20th century and we're in the 21st century,” says Winnie Ama, Data Analyst & Activist.
“Our radio curators are hitmakers, game-changers, and the editors of our national soundtracks. We really hope that they move to consider that radio has a responsibility to promote a balanced version of our society that includes all its facets and flavours. We will continue as a collective to stand with our colleagues in working towards reaching an equal voice for women and artists of colour alongside the LGBTQIA community across every facet of our culture and we will never be afraid to ask the question why not her/them?” Ama adds.
The International Siddhashram Shakti Centre UK marked International Yoga Day with a spiritual and interfaith gathering at House of Commons. The event reflected the global theme, “Yoga for One Earth, One Health,” and was led by HH Shri Rajrajeshwar Guruji, global Sanatan Dharma and interfaith leader.
The programme began with a minute’s silence for the victims of the Air India tragedy, followed by prayers from Guruji, Pujya Rishi Ji Maharaj, Shri Niranjan Swami, and Pandit Shiv Puri Ji, with a Navkar Mahamantra chant by Samani Malay Pragya Ji and Neeti Pragya Ji.
Bob Blackman MP praised yoga as “India’s gift to the world” and acknowledged Guruji’s leadership in bringing wellness into public life, including the NHS.
In his keynote, Guruji said: “Yoga is a sacred discipline that unites body, mind and soul. It brings balance, builds confidence, and fosters harmony.” He also led breathing exercises, underlining yoga’s role in modern wellbeing.
A special honour was presented to Pujya Rishi Ji Maharaj for his service to Sanatan Dharma and youth engagement.
Cultural performances by Chittal Shah’s team, reflections from young voices like Vanisha, Kavya, and Giya, and contributions from international guests including Mahendra and Prya Ramcharan added depth to the event. Representatives from the NHS, British Army, and faith groups also spoke on yoga’s relevance.
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People attend a protest against the US attack on nuclear sites, amid the Iran-Israel conflict, in Tehran. (Photo: Reuters)
IRAN on Monday warned of “serious” consequences following US air strikes on its nuclear facilities, as its ongoing conflict with Israel entered the 11th day.
Despite international calls for de-escalation, aerial attacks continued. Air raid sirens were heard across Israel, and AFP reporters confirmed several blasts over Jerusalem.
The Israeli military said it had hit missile sites in western Iran and destroyed fighter jets and helicopters at six Iranian regime airports.
US president Donald Trump said American warplanes used “bunker buster” bombs to strike facilities in Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz. “Obliteration is an accurate term,” he said, claiming the attacks had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
Other officials said it was too early to assess the full extent of the damage to Iran’s nuclear programme, which is seen by Israel and some Western countries as a key threat.
Iran calls strike a hostile act
Iran’s armed forces spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaghari said on state TV that the US “hostile act”, which followed over a week of Israeli bombardments, would lead to a broader conflict.
“The fighters of Islam will inflict serious, unpredictable consequences on you with powerful and targeted (military) operations,” he said.
Oil prices jumped over four per cent early Monday as markets reacted to the escalation. China called on both Iran and Israel to prevent the conflict from widening.
Oman, a mediator in stalled nuclear talks between Iran and the US, condemned the American strikes and appealed for calm.
Iran’s foreign ministry accused the US of undermining diplomatic efforts. “Future generations will not forget that the Iranians were in the middle of a diplomatic process with a country that is now at war with us,” ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said.
Britain, France and Germany jointly urged Iran to avoid any further actions that could destabilise the region.
Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called Israel’s bombing campaign, launched on June 13, “a big mistake”.
US issues alert as tensions rise
US secretary of state Marco Rubio urged China to help prevent Iran from closing the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of the world’s oil flows.
With Iran threatening US bases in the region, the State Department issued a global alert for Americans overseas.
In central Tehran, protesters gathered on Sunday waving flags and chanting against US and Israeli strikes.
In Semnan province, east of Tehran, 46-year-old housewife Samireh told AFP she was “truly shocked” by the attacks. “Semnan province is very far from the nuclear facilities targeted, but I'm very concerned for the people who live near,” she said.
Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian said the US strikes showed Washington was backing Israel in its campaign against Iran and promised a response.
Trump hints at regime change
The Pentagon said the US did not intend to overthrow Iran’s government, but Trump made comments suggesting otherwise.
"It's not politically correct to use the term, 'Regime Change,'" he wrote on Truth Social. "But if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn't there be a Regime change???"
He later repeated his claim of success. “Monumental Damage was done to all Nuclear sites in Iran, as shown by satellite images. Obliteration is an accurate term!” he wrote, without releasing any images.
Top US general Dan Caine said in a Pentagon briefing that all three sites had suffered “extremely severe damage”.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would stop its attacks once its goals were met. “We are very, very close to completing them,” he said.
IAEA calls for restraint
According to Iran’s health ministry, more than 400 people have died in Israeli strikes on Iran. Iran’s attacks on Israel have killed 24 people, according to official figures.
Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, told the UN Security Council that craters were visible at the Fordo facility but said it was not yet possible to assess underground damage. “Armed attacks on nuclear facilities should never take place,” he said.
Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, scheduled to meet Russian president Vladimir Putin on Monday, said the US had chosen to “blow up” nuclear diplomacy by joining the war.
Russia condemned the US and Israeli strikes but has not offered military support. It has also downplayed its commitments under a recent strategic agreement with Iran.
Russia, China and Pakistan circulated a draft resolution in the UN Security Council calling for an “immediate ceasefire” in Iran.
(With inputs from agencies)
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The DGCA’s latest action is not connected to the recent crash of an Air India Boeing 787-8 plane that killed all but one of the 242 people onboard. (Photo: Reuters)
INDIA’s aviation regulator has warned Air India over repeated violations in scheduling pilots beyond the mandated flight duty time, according to government directives.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has directed Air India to remove three officials involved in crew scheduling – a divisional vice president, a chief manager of crew scheduling, and one planning executive – for lapses linked to two flights from Bengaluru to London on May 16 and 17 that exceeded the 10-hour flight duty limit, Reuters reported.
The order, dated June 20, pointed to "systemic failures in scheduling protocol and oversights" and noted the absence of strict disciplinary action against those responsible.
Oversight unrelated to crash
The DGCA’s latest action is not connected to the recent crash of an Air India Boeing 787-8 plane that killed all but one of the 242 people onboard. However, it reflects increasing scrutiny of the airline’s operations.
Earlier this week, Reuters reported that authorities had also warned Air India for flying three Airbus planes that were overdue for mandatory checks on emergency equipment, including escape slides.
DGCA order highlights lapses
In its latest directive, DGCA’s assistant director of operations Himanshu Srivastava wrote: “Of particular concern is the absence of strict disciplinary measures against key officials directly responsible.”
Air India, in a statement to Reuters, said it has complied with the DGCA’s order. The airline also said its chief operations officer would oversee the Integrated Operations Control Centre for the time being.
“Air India is committed to ensuring that there is total adherence to safety protocols and standard practices,” the airline added.
The DGCA stated that the airline had voluntarily disclosed the pilot duty violations.
Previous safety warnings
Air India, which was taken over by the Tata Group in 2022, has faced various challenges in rebuilding its reputation following years of criticism over service quality.
The DGCA, like many global aviation regulators, routinely issues fines or warnings to airlines for safety and compliance lapses. In February, the Indian government told parliament that aviation authorities had taken action in 23 cases of safety violations last year.
Of these, 12 cases involved Air India and Air India Express. The largest penalty was a $127,000 fine on Air India for having “insufficient oxygen on board” during some international flights.
(With inputs from Reuters)
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Donald Trump delivers an address to the nation at the White House following US strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities. (Photo: Reuters)
US PRESIDENT Donald Trump said on Sunday that American air strikes had "totally obliterated" Iran's key nuclear sites, as the United States entered the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran. The move marked a major escalation in the regional crisis.
In a televised statement, Trump warned that the US would carry out more strikes if Iran did not agree to a peace deal soon. Hours later, Iran launched two waves of attacks on Israel.
"Tonight, I can report to the world that the strikes were a spectacular military success," Trump said from the White House. He confirmed that the targeted sites included Iran’s underground nuclear enrichment plant at Fordo, and other facilities at Isfahan and Natanz.
"Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. Iran, the bully of the Middle East, must now make peace," he added.
The air strikes followed Trump's earlier claims that he would avoid another long-term military engagement. His decision to intervene comes after Israel launched an unprecedented bombing campaign against Iran last week, prompting warnings from Tehran that it would retaliate if the US got involved.
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the US strikes and said, "Trump's decision to target Iran's nuclear facilities with the awesome and righteous might of the United States will change history."
Iran's armed forces responded by launching missiles at several locations in Israel, including Ben Gurion airport near Tel Aviv.
Israeli emergency services reported that at least 23 people were injured. Police confirmed at least three direct hits.
In Tel Aviv’s Ramat Aviv neighbourhood, one missile tore through apartment buildings.
"Houses here were hit very, very badly," said Tel Aviv mayor Ron Huldai. "Fortunately, one of them was slated for demolition and reconstruction, so there were no residents inside.
"Those who were in the shelter are all safe and well. The damage is very, very extensive, but in terms of human life, we are okay."
Israel said it had carried out further strikes on western Iran in response.
The Israeli military said it had "struck missile launchers ready to launch toward Israeli territory, soldiers in the Iranian Armed Forces, and swiftly neutralised the launchers that launched missiles toward Israeli territory a short while ago".
‘Many targets left’
Iranian state media confirmed that Fordo, Isfahan and Natanz were hit.
Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the strikes as "lawless and criminal", and said Tehran would defend its sovereignty.
"The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences," he wrote on X.
"Iran reserves all options to defend its sovereignty, interest, and people."
The UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency said it had not recorded any rise in radiation levels following the strikes. Iran also said there were "no signs of contamination".
Saudi Arabia reported no radioactive effects in the Gulf and expressed "great concern" over the situation.
Keir Starmer urged Iran to "return to the negotiating table" over its nuclear programme. Oman, which has acted as a nuclear negotiator in the past, condemned the US strikes and called for de-escalation.
Trump had earlier said he would decide "within two weeks" whether to support Israel militarily, but acted earlier than expected.
He warned that any future attacks would be "far greater" if Iran did not agree to a diplomatic settlement.
"Remember, there are many targets left," Trump said.
According to US media reports, the strikes involved B-2 stealth bombers using bunker-buster bombs, along with Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from submarines.
‘Full payload of BOMBS’
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said a "full payload of BOMBS" had been dropped on Fordo, adding, "all planes are safely on their way home. Congratulations to our great American Warriors".
Photographs released by the White House showed Trump wearing a red "Make America Great Again" cap in the Situation Room with senior national security officials before the operation.
After his address, Trump warned Iran against any retaliation. Iran and its allied groups have previously targeted US military bases in the region.
On Saturday, Yemen’s Huthi group had said it would resume attacks on US ships in the Red Sea if Washington entered the war.
Trump had increased pressure on Iran since Israel first struck on 13 June, repeating his stance that Iran must never acquire a nuclear weapon.
Israel and Iran have exchanged a series of strikes since then.
A senior White House official told AFP that Trump had spoken to Netanyahu after the attacks and that Israel was given a “heads up” in advance.
Iran maintains that it is not seeking to develop a nuclear weapon. On Saturday, Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian said the country’s right to pursue a civilian nuclear programme "cannot be taken away... by threats or war."
(With inputs from agencies)
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Adil Khan (left) and Qari Abdul Rauf. (Photo credit: Greater Manchester Police)
PAKISTAN may reconsider accepting two convicted leaders of the Rochdale child sexual abuse gang if direct flights between the UK and Pakistan are restored, a senior Pakistani official has said.
A judge had ordered their deportation to Pakistan, but both men renounced their Pakistani nationality just before their court appeals, effectively blocking the deportation process.
Since then, the UK has been unable to remove them, as Pakistan has refused to accept individuals without citizenship. Although courts have rejected their appeals multiple times, the two men remain in the country.
A senior official from Pakistan’s Foreign Office told The Times that talks are ongoing with British authorities, both over the deportation of the two men and the resumption of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights to the UK.
“This complex case involves several legal challenges, and we are currently in discussions with UK authorities, although no significant progress has been made yet,” the official said.
Direct flights by Pakistani airlines have been banned in the UK since 2021 due to concerns over aviation safety. The UK Civil Aviation Authority found that a number of Pakistani pilots had been flying with fraudulent licences. Pakistan has applied to be removed from the UK’s Air Safety List, but a decision is still pending.
British officials have insisted that the aviation review is entirely independent of the deportation issue.
Legal experts say deporting someone who has no nationality is generally against international law. However, UK law allows such deportations in limited cases, particularly if the home secretary believes the person may be eligible for another nationality.
Osama Malik, a UK-trained immigration lawyer, said it was unlikely Pakistan would accept Rauf and Khan without a change in their legal status.
“If these convicts have legally renounced their Pakistani citizenship, it would be very difficult for Pakistan to accept these deportations,” he was quoted as saying. “If they reapply for citizenship, they could be accepted, but that is unlikely.”
Malik also questioned the fairness of the approach: “They have lived most of their lives in Britain and have more ties to the UK than Pakistan. Once they’ve served their sentences, they should be treated like any other British convict.”
Meanwhile, former UK minister Michael Gove confirmed claims made by Dominic Cummings that civil servants had pressured him to stop The Times from publishing details about child sexual abuse in Rotherham. Speaking to GB News, Gove said some local officials believed the reporting could damage efforts to address the issue.