LITTLE Mix were asked by their record label to “flirt” with influential industry figures to get their music played on the radio, the band have claimed.

The British group said they were also told they shouldn’t be allowed to write their own music because they are women, in yet another #MeToo revelation.

The band are signed by Columbia Records in the US but have not named who asked them to flirt Credit: James Robjant

Opening up about their experiences in the US, Jade Thirlwall said: “We went to a radio event in America, full of VIPs. Someone from the label said, ‘Go and flirt with all those important men.’

“I was like, ‘F*** off. Why have I got to go in and flirt to get my song on the radio?’

The girlband are signed in the States by Columbia Records but did not specify the details of who asked them to flirt.

Jade, 25, Perrie Edwards, 25, Leigh-Anne Pinnock, 27, and Jesy Nelson, 27, who won the X Factor in 2011, have scored four UK No1 singles during their career and will release their fifth album LM5 on Friday.

Little Mix will release their fifth album LM5 this Friday Credit: Getty - Contributor

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Speaking about their time in the industry, Jade continued: “In the beginning, we were told we shouldn’t be involved in our music videos.

“One producer told us we shouldn’t be writing, we should just be given songs.

“We realised we — as women — have to work ten times as hard, which is really bloody annoying cos we do write songs.”

The Sun revealed this weekend how the group have split with their mentor Simon Cowell, 59, and his Syco record label in the UK after a clash between the mogul and their management team.

Little Mix say they have always had to work harder as women to prove themselves in the industry Credit: Getty

The bad expressed their concerns in a strongly-worded email to Simon, who went on to clash with their management firm Modest.

He has since decided to cut all ties with the company and Little Mix, along with last year’s X Factor winners Rak-Su, have now moved to fellow Sony label RCA.

But in a new interview with ASOS magazine released today they admitted to feeling like underdogs even at the beginning of their career because of their gender.

Leigh-Anne said: “We weren’t even going to go through to live shows on X Factor, they didn’t believe a girlband could do it.

The band recently split from mentor Simon Cowell and his company Syco after a clash over songwriting credit Credit: Splash News

“So, you’re already putting women and girls down. We threw that idea out the window.”

Jesy added: “When I first started out, I struggled.

“I never thought I would get over thinking people thought certain things about me. I still get upset when I talk about it.

“I’ll never get those years back. I was so miserable, I should have been enjoying my f***ing life.

Little Mix say they have felt like underdogs from the beginning when judges didn't think a girlband could work Credit: Planet Photos

“This is why we feel so passionate about what we’re saying on this album.

“The more we talk about it, the better it will be for kids growing up. We want people to know they’re not alone.”