Hollywood Diversity Report 2024: Awards and Recognition in Streaming and Television
Awards symbolize creativity and excellence in technique and serve as an industry standard for inclusion and representation. This research looks at how persons of color (POC), including Black, Hispanic or Latino, Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI), Native American, Multiracial, and Arab American professionals, have been recognized at major award ceremonies. In addition, we examine the ramifications of gender diversity and industry practices, providing insights for people of color looking to negotiate these changing dynamics.
Overview of Diversity in Award Nominations and Wins
Key Statistics
In 2023, streaming and television content dominated award circuits, reflecting their central role in the entertainment industry. POC representation saw a slight increase in general awards—including the Emmy Awards, Golden Globes, and Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards.
POC Nominations: Up from 28% in 2022, acting nominations went up 3% to 31% in 2023.
POC Wins: POC secured 24% of acting wins, a slight increase from 22% the previous year.
Women of Color: Women of color represented 12% of acting nominations, a significant increase from 2022’s 9%.
Although there are improvements, disparities are still present, particularly for Arab American and Native American professionals, whose presence remains scarce in major awards categories.
Representation by Demographic
Black Professionals: Black performers and creators received nominations in 18% of acting and creative categories, driven by outstanding performances in Abbott Elementary, Quinta Brunson and Zendaya were standout winners.
Hispanic or Latino Professionals: Hispanic or Latino talent garnered just 7% of the acting nominations. In particular, Jenna Ortega’s performance on Wednesday marked a rare win, but overall Hispanic and Latino representation is still far behind proportional population benchmarks.
AAPI Professionals: AAPI nominees accounted for 9% of acting categories, a significant increase from 6% in 2022. This increase is likely due to Netflixs hit TV show Beef.
Native American Professionals: Representation remained below 1% in 2023, reflecting the limited number of television series created with Native American talent in mind, which restricts their chances of being recognized. Notably, there were no nominations for Reservation Dogs despite its critical acclaim. This highlights the systemic barriers Native American talent continues to face in gaining recognition, both in the creation of opportunities and in awards acknowledgment.
Arab American Professionals: Arab American professionals received no major nominations in 2023, the primary issue is the lack of access to a greater number of roles that could potentially be nominated.
Multiracial Professionals: Multiracial talent accounted for 4% of acting nominations, indicating gradual growth but space for more inclusion.
Diversity in Creative and Technical Categories
Writers and Directors
In 2023, POC made up 23% of nominees in writing and directing categories, an increase from 20% in 2022. However, these gains were uneven across demographics:
Black Writers/Directors: Represented 12% of nominees, with highlights including Donald Glover (Swarm) and Marissa Jo Cerar (Women of the Movement).
Hispanic or Latino Writers/Directors: Accounted for 5% of nominees, with limited wins despite strong critical acclaim.
AAPI Writers/Directors: Reached 6%, buoyed by Beef and shogun.
Native American and Arab American Writers/Directors: Remained at 1% and no Arab American nominations.
Technical Awards
POC participation in technical categories including cinematography, editing, and production design had 15% nominations. Women of color were accounted for for only 3% of nominations in these sectors.
Gender Diversity in Awards
Women in Leading Roles
Women made up 45% of acting nominees across streaming and television, which is very good, however, women of color comprised 15% of that 45%. There were differences in behind-the-camera roles, where women held just 27% of nominations for writing and directing.
Opportunity Challenges
Women of color have a unique experience within Hollywood that is often layered by historical inequalities in relation to access to opportunities in front of and behind the scenes. That will change over time as more efforts have been put in place to diversify the industry. Thus, in the long run, that will lead to more organic opportunities for WOC to be nominated for awards.
The Business Case for Inclusive Recognition
Audience Engagement
Awards recognizing diverse talent drive audience engagement, particularly among younger, multicultural viewers. Data from the report shows that series with award-winning diverse casts:
Achieved a 22% higher streaming viewership compared to less diverse content.
Attracted broader global audiences, enhancing platform visibility.
Industry Impacts
Inclusive recognition fosters innovation by encouraging the exploration of varied narratives. For POC professionals, awards visibility can open doors to high-profile projects and creative control, amplifying their industry impact.
Lessons for POC Professionals
1. Advocacy and Representation
Developing Alliances with Advocacy Groups: Form alliances with industry associations and grassroots organizations committed to diversity and inclusion. These organizations can contribute data, insights, and lobbying strength to effect systemic change.
Engaging Awards Committees: Work directly with awards organizations to promote openness in judging procedures and varied representation on their decision-making committees.
Educating industry stakeholders: Organize seminars and discussions to teach voters and industry experts about unconscious biases and the value of identifying varied talent.
2. Leveraging Visibility
Creating Visibility efforts: Create focused efforts to promote the accomplishments of POC nominees and winners, stressing their effect on the industry.
Inspiring Negotiation Tactics: Share instances of achievement on how the award’s recognition has helped to negotiate equal pay and roles, motivating others to do the same.
Building Community Networks: Encourage networks of POC professionals to exchange opportunities, methods, and resources for using visibility to achieve long-term career improvements.
3. Strengthening the Talent Pipeline
Scholarships and fellowships: Create programs to subsidize education and skill development for underrepresented populations in fields such as screenplay, directing, and cinematography.
Partnerships with Higher Education: Work with universities, film schools, and technical academies to provide mentoring and internship opportunities for POC students.
Promoting Success Stories: Highlight and celebrate the experiences of successful POC professionals who began with these programs, motivating fresh talent to join the sector.
4. Harnessing Digital Platforms
Creating Online Communities: Establish and participate in platforms that allow artists from all backgrounds to exchange resources, seek guidance, and promote their work.
Crowdsourcing and Crowdfunding initiatives: Use platforms like Kickstarter or GoFundMe to fund and promote proof-of-concept initiatives, demonstrating their commercial feasibility to major industry players.
Amplifying Audience Voices: Encourage diverse audiences to actively support POC artists through reviews, social media campaigns, and direct contact with award organizations to increase demand for representation.
The 2023 awards season revealed the evolution of representation. While streaming and television continue to outpace traditional film in recognizing POC talent. Greater representation for Native American, Arab American, and multiracial professionals, in front of and behind the screen, could improve their potential for awards nominations.
For POC professionals, the data underscores the need for strategic advocacy, collaboration, and leveraging visibility to drive industry change. As Hollywood evolves, embracing the business and creative potential of diversity will be essential for building a truly inclusive entertainment landscape.
