New Post: Melissa Etheridge Reflects On Early Career In ‘Gender Equity In Music Report’: ‘My Queerness Protected Me’ - https://lnkd.in/gGm_WQ3c - Today (March 8) is International Women’s Day, and to mark the occasion Tunecore has released its fourth annual Be The Change: Gender Equity In Music Report. Prepared by research firm Midia, the study offers key findings on progress and challenges around representation for women and nonbinary people in the industry. Beyond the findings, the study incudes a forward from rock pioneer Melissa Etheridge, who reflects on the discrimination she has experienced and witnessed during her four decade career. She notes that while women have dominated the charts for decades, “typically white, male executives have profited from our labor.” She also tracks some of the changes she’s seen during her long music career, noting that the industry has become more inclusive for women and gender expansive people since she started out in the ’80s, a time, she writes, when being gay protected her from some of the discrimination she saw straight women experiencing. She emphasizes how crucial it is to truly be the change one is hoping to affect, writing that “people are sometimes driven by their own misunderstanding and fear, so if you become the love you want to see, we hope they will feel that and change.” Read Etheridge’s foreward in full: It’s no secret that the music industry has historically been a boys’ club. There have been decades of music defined by incredible women dominating the charts, but behind the scenes women have often been pushed aside and prevented from reaching the same career heights while typically white, male executives have profited from our labor. When I started in the business back in the ‘80s, the A&R reps who came out to see me were all men. There were very few women in the business, and this was the norm at the time. In the late ‘80s, the industry started to change. There was finally a bit of interest in women artists’ music and experiences. In 1988, when I was finally signed and my album came out, women were starting to break through the industry wall. Tracy Chapman, k.d. lang, Toni Childs, and Sinéad O’Connor were writing and releasing songs, and people finally started paying attention and realizing we had something to say. In music—as in life—being a woman comes with its own set of obstacles, both seen and unseen. Ranging from unequal pay and a diminished sense of autonomy to the countless cases of sexual harassment and abuse that have come to light in recent years from all corners of the industry. And, these obstacles are compounded for women of color and gender expansive individuals. What was the hardest for me was also a blessing. I was lucky enough to find steady work in L.A.’s lesbian bars, so when I entered the music industry, it was already known that I was g
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Be the Change, a new report by MIDiA Research sheds light on gender equity in music. The report maps impact of forms of discrimination across the music industry, including results from a global survey of 4,146 respondents from 133 countries. #genderequity #genderequality #musicnews #musicbusiness #musicindustry #songwriter #musician
BE THE CHANGE Gender equity in music
midiaresearch.com
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New Post: Nearly Half of LGBTQ+ Professionals Say the Music Industry Doesn’t Provide Enough Resources - https://lnkd.in/gbyZYJ8Y - With an unprecedented number of openly LGBTQ+ artists making waves in the music industry, a casual observer could argue that representation in the business has reached a new high. But according to workers within it, representation is still severely lacking. In a new survey published by Queer Capita, in partnership with Billboard and The Orchard, nearly half of LGBTQ+ music industry respondents revealed that they felt insufficiently represented within the industry. The State of the LGBTQ+ Music Industry Professional Survey gathered responses from nearly 300 LGBTQ+-identifying professionals within the music business. Related Love Letters to the LGBTQ Community: Read the Notes From Doechii, UMI, Allison Ponthier… 06/01/2024 A majority of respondents (77%) said that they felt somewhat or very comfortable being open about their sexuality in the workplace, while 64% of respondents said that the industry fosters a somewhat or very inclusive and supportive environment for LGBTQ+ professionals. That outlook changed, though, when professionals were asked about representation across all sectors of the industry. While an overwhelming 92% of respondents referred to LGBTQ+ representation as either “important” or “very important” for the industry, nearly half (48%) said they felt the community is somewhat or very poorly represented across all sectors of the business. “As a manager, I feel good about my particular company. My concern is that as you get into the different formats and genres, many of them are not welcoming, and do not feel like supportive places as musical industries,” one respondent wrote in the survey’s open-ended response section. When it comes to active support for LGBTQ+ people in the industry, the survey found that a mere 8% of respondents felt that their companies provided “adequate resources” for LGBTQ+ employees. Meanwhile, 21% said that their companies provided no resources to LGBTQ+ employees. One respondent took that concern further, saying that the burden of support for the community should not fall solely on queer and trans professionals. “It’s critical to tackle unconscious bias for trans people. This should not fall on your resource groups or LGBTQ+ in addition to full-time jobs,” they wrote. “Many times, I was pigeonholed into DEI work on top of my full-time job. In reality, I don’t want to be in DEI, I want to work in music. We need to stop making our LGBTQ+ colleagues do all the work in addition to smashing glass ceilings.”
Nearly Half of LGBTQ+ Professionals Say the Music Industry Doesn’t Provide Enough Resources
shipwr3ck.com
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Celebrating Queerness: Top LGBTQ+ Musicians You Need on Your Playlist Now https://buff.ly/3xgiPJb Celebrating the diversity of LGBTQ+ musicians is essential for showcasing the talent and creativity within the community. From iconic artists like Elton John and Freddie Mercury to newer talents such as Hayley Kiyoko and Troye Sivan, the music industry is filled with incredible queer voices that deserve recognition. These musicians bring unique perspectives to their art, often sharing personal experiences of love, identity, and resilience through their lyrics and melodies. By including LGBTQ+ musicians in your playlist, you not only support their work but also contribute to a more inclusive music landscape. In fact, studies have shown that representation matters in music, with listeners of all backgrounds seeking out artists who reflect their own identities and experiences. By actively seeking out and listening to LGBTQ+ musicians, you are not only expanding your musical horizons but also supporting a more diverse and equitable music industry. So, whether you're into pop, rock, hip-hop, or any other genre, there's a wealth of LGBTQ+ musicians out there waiting to be discovered. Take the time to explore their work, add them to your playlist, and celebrate the incredible artistry and talent of queer musicians. #LGBTQ+Musicians #QueerAnthems #LatinxQueerSounds #Pride2024 #PlaylistNow #ResilienceAndLove #InnovativeSounds #TrailblazingBeats #DiverseVoices #CelebratingQueerness
Celebrating Queerness: Top LGBTQ+ Musicians You Need on Your Playlist Now
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The language in writing about women musicians must not describe them as outliers but reflect them as an integral part of the industry. For instance, when writing about a particular achievement of a music star, their gender need not be the focus. They should not be described as one of the best ‘female’ music stars, but rather as one of the ‘best music stars.’ Read more on the underrepresentation of women within the music industry at https://lnkd.in/ggXTNkuV #WomenInMusic #MusicWithoutBias #FemaleEmpowerment
With Gender Equality, African Artistes will make more wave
https://naijafeministsmedia.org.ng
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Share the Air - Representation on Canadian Radio ( 2013-2023 ) - Executive Summary ( SongData + Women in Music Canada + National Arts Centre - June 2024 ) - TOP 150 SONGS ON THE YEAREND REPORTS ( 2013 to 2023 ) reveal that songs by women and Trans* artists ( including transgender, nonbinary, genderqueer ) have been underplayed - - on Country, Alternative Rock and Active Rock radio, songs by women are most under-programmed ( average of 8.0% across formats ), women of colour ( average of 0.7% ) - on Top 40, Mainstream AC and Hot AC radio, there was more diversity on the yearend reports, with songs by women averaging about 1/3 of the airplay. However, this was mostly for songs by white women, as songs by women of colour averaged just 6.5% across these formats Throughout the analysis of the top 150 songs played on the 6 mainstream formats, a significant racial inequity was observed wherein songs by white men received the most airplay and those by artists of colour – especially women – were under-programmed. Perhaps most disconcerting of these findings is the near absence of songs by Indigenous artists from all 6 formats. Because the industry has historically been an inequitable cultural system, developed around racial segregation and gender discrimination, and because each sector of the industry has historically relied on the data generated by their own internal processes to make business decisions, they are reinforcing and indeed exacerbating pre-existing inequalities and discriminatory practices. See - Executive Summary ( English ) - https://lnkd.in/eGQGcMa5 Full Report ( English ) - https://lnkd.in/e_sVspwH See - Share the Air + Partageons les Ondes - https://lnkd.in/ebKXTTzK
songdata.ca
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International Women’s Day (IWD) was established by the UN in 1975, aimed at driving focus on celebrating women’s rights as well as establishing global harmony. I was only one year and two and a half months old at that time! Fast forward to 1994. A fresh-faced young lady who studied mechanical engineering going into achieving her degree focused on marketing and communications, studying part-time and working full-time. Oblivious to the ins and outs of the corporate world, I saw myself making a name for myself, taking my career life to higher levels, and making a difference. In the past 30 years, I have worked three times harder to get noticed, studied, and developed skills, with some successes and other disappointments. I stood up, dusted myself off, and kept on pushing. I was not scared to speak out and contribute to the conversation, all with the aim of adding value. At times, I was heard but mostly ignored or had my colleagues’ turn their backs on me. IWD significance focuses on Anti-Sexism Day and Anti-Discrimination Day, with this year’s theme being “Investing in women: Accelerate Progress." The mere fact that there needs to be a day to address these kinds of topics is disturbing, to say the least. Integrity, mutual respect, fairness, diversity, empowerment, and sustainability are some of the values that several major brands align themselves with. So, why are we still having the conversation about investing in women, when the narrative has not changed? A personal friend of mine working for a US multinational organisation was bullied out of her job called me yesterday just to catch up and share her experience and healing journey. “Authentic” is the new buzzword used by organisations and PR agencies, where PR agencies are used to place band-aids on scandalous events. Amazon’s value of “having a backbone” resonates with me. I challenge organisations and PR agencies to have a backbone, truly act authentically, admit to mistakes, take the knock on the chin honourably, and move forward to a new day. In 1998, the buzzword was “paradigm shift.” It is time for a paradigm shift where all people are treated the same, equally, and fairly despite their sex, race, and/or nationality. Madonna’s speech at the Billboard Women of the Year 2016 rings true for me. I confirm that “the most controversial thing I did was to stick around." https://lnkd.in/dVMkgdkD #IWD2024 #iwd2024womenleadingtheway #fairness #intergrity #honesty #opinion #equalityforall #Beheard
Madonna Woman of The Year Full Speech | Billboard Women in Music 2016
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Women are almost invisible on some radio formats in Canada, according to an extensive study by Dr. Jada Watson through her research program SongData. Share the Air: A Study of Gender Representation on Canadian Radio (2013-2023) was prepared in collaboration with Eugénie Tessier and in partnership with the National Arts Centre and Women in Music Canada. Share the Air: A Study of Gender Representation on Canadian Radio (2013-2023) aims to address this gap and focuses on radio as an entry point to discovery and exposure within the industry and examines gender representation across six radio formats in Canada. Taking an intersectional approach, this study investigates the rate of airplay for songs songs played between 2013 and 2023 to consider how often their songs are played across the national Country, Alternative Rock, Active Rock, Top 40, Mainstream Adult Contemporary, and Hot Adult Contemporary radio formats. This study was supported by Creative BC and the Province of British Columbia. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/e3W9VwKG
Share the Air: A Study of Gender Representation on Canadian Radio - Creative BC
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Exciting news from the University of Southern California's Annenberg Inclusion Initiative: The 2023 report shows a remarkable improvement in women's participation in the music industry's biggest hits! 👩🎤 Key Highlights: - 35% of the credited performing artists on last year's top tracks were women—the highest since 2012! - A groundbreaking 56% of the most popular songs had at least one female songwriter. This progress is especially significant as it marks a shift towards greater inclusivity, with women of color leading the surge in songwriting roles. 🚀 Yet, There's More to Achieve: While we celebrate these achievements, it's crucial to acknowledge that women still represent a small fraction in technical roles like production. Only 6.5% of top songs had a female producer in 2023. 📢 Let’s Keep the Momentum Going! How can we continue to support and empower women across all areas of the music industry? What strategies should we adopt to ensure sustained growth? Share your insights, experiences, or suggestions in the comments below. Let’s brainstorm together to keep breaking barriers and building a more inclusive music world! #MusicIndustry #WomenInMusic #Inclusivity #Empowerment #AnnenbergInclusionInitiative #ChangeMakers #thoughtsfromCEO
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The recent MusicSA report on the Economic Contribution of the Music Industry to South Australia is an important piece of research highlighting the critical economic role that the music industry plays, while also acknowledging the significant challenges and transformations that the sector is experiencing. We need to continue to ask questions about how we value and position arts within society, including but not limited to an economic lens, and how we can support creativity when it rarely provides a sustainable income. We also need to develop detailed understandings of the lived experiences of those who participate in the sector, and how opportunities might be experienced unevenly, ensuring that targeted support strategies reach the spaces they need to most. CP3 Members Dr Rosie Roberts and Dr Jess Pacella are working on a current CP3 pilot project examining intersections between ageing and gender for musicians in the SA music industry, pointing to the ongoing devaluation of women’s roles in music. Experiences of sexual harassment, underrepresentation in gig line-ups, career stagnation due to caring responsibilities, gendered pay gaps, artist invisibility and a lack of creative control, were just some of the issues highlighted by interviewees. Read more about the project in this link: https://lnkd.in/eZHXawwm #MusicSA #musicians #ageing #gender #womeninmusic #livemusic #creative
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🎵 "Breaking Down Barriers: Women in the Music Industry" 🎵 🔥 When #MeToo shook Hollywood, the music industry couldn’t escape the spotlight. Now, it’s time for our own reckoning. 💥 🚫 Gatekeepers—those industry insiders—hold the keys. They decide who gets airplay, who shines, and who stays silent. But here’s the twist: they’re also responsible for diversity. Let’s break the mold! 🌟 🎤 Empowering artists means diversifying gatekeeper roles. It’s time to amplify women’s voices, challenge norms, and create equal opportunities. 🙌 💰 Equal pay? Still a battle. But let’s bridge gaps—race, LGBTQ+, and beyond—through community and empowerment. 💡 👉 Read more 🔗 https://lnkd.in/eqqerr7a 🎶 #BreakingBarriers #MusicIndustry #WomenInMusic
Breaking Down the Barriers: Women in the Music Industry
music-jobs.com
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