Over the last decade, LGBTQ+ music fans have seen representation among popular artists steadily rise to new heights. At the same time, queer professionals have become more visibly integral to the music business — and have helped many of these talents achieve their massive accomplishments. Across all sectors of the industry, these 30 executives are working to create a more diverse, more equitable future for music’s LGBTQ+ community.David Furnish felt a rush of endorphins wash over him.
“Even the concession stands in the back closed down so that they could watch the show,” Furnish recalls, still flabbergasted nearly a year later. “The crowd just filled in around the stands and along the entire north barrier. It was a sea of joy.” The performance would break records for the annual festival: Along with that in-person crowd, John’s performance garnered 7.3 million overnight viewers on BBC One, making it the most-watched Glastonbury set in history. And if not for Furnish, it never would have happened.