Professor’s Research Examines Sexual Misconduct at Live Music Events

After publishing a study on sexual harassment and assault at live music events, Dr. Anna Price plans to focus on prevention

Key Highlights

• ^{Sacred Heart University public health professor Anna Price published a study on sexual misconduct at live music events in the journal Injury Prevention.}
• ^{Collaborated with GrooveSafe, a nonprofit organization working to raise awareness and prevent sexual harassment at concerts nationwide.}
• ^{Aims to foster a “consent culture” in the live music industry through research, awareness and prevention strategies.}

Anna Price, a public health professor at Sacred Heart University and longtime concertgoer, turned concern into action after witnessing troubling behavior at live music events. Her new study on sexual misconduct in live music spaces appears in the latest issue of Injury Prevention.

To aid in her research, Price teamed up with GrooveSafe, a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness and stopping sexual misconduct at concerts around the country. Price’s published study is titled “Prevalence and reporting of sexual harassment and sexual assault at live music events in the USA.”

“I was drawn to this topic through both personal experience and my connection to the live music community—I’m a regular concertgoer, and my partner is a working musician, so live events are a big part of my life,” she said. “Unfortunately, like many others, I’ve experienced unwanted touching and groping by strangers at shows, and I know far too many friends who have, too.”

It’s that personal connection, combined with her partnership with GrooveSafe and its founder, Ashley Driscoll, that impelled Price to research the topic.

“Through conversations with Ashley, I realized that while sexual harassment and assault are widespread in these settings, there’s shockingly little U.S.-based research documenting the problem,” said Price. “So, we partnered to collect population-level data to see whether the numbers reflected the same troubling stories we were hearing from concertgoers who had experienced or witnessed sexual misconduct.”

While others have shied away from such a serious topic, Price has not. She uses her experiences as a catalyst that gives her the strength to complete her work.

“This is a complex and heavy issue, but that’s exactly why I’m motivated to keep going,” she said. “The more we understand about how and why sexual misconduct happens in live music spaces, the better we can design strategies to prevent it and support those affected.”

Although Price is proud of the work she’s accomplished so far, she recognizes that now is not the time to stop and celebrate, but rather to push on and find meaningful solutions. Having her research published is a significant step in the road to promoting a “consent culture” in the live music ecosystem, but she said it is just the start.

“My next study will involve interviews with venue managers, owners and security leaders to understand what prevention and response look like from their side,” said Price. “I hope to build momentum, to spark ongoing conversations between researchers, the industry and fans, that lead to real, sustained action to make live music spaces safer for everyone.”