Robert D. Riley’s Post

Check out this fascinating blog post about how The Kinks revolutionized the music industry with a queer rock ballad in 1970. Discover how they paved the way for gender-fluid representation in music years before it became mainstream. You won't want to miss this insightful piece. Read the full article here: [How The Kinks casually made this queer rock ballad a smash hit in 1970](https://ift.tt/sSWby1V)

DONNE | Women in Music have released a vital report about women and people of the global majority in composition. It's a damning indictment: from the 111 orchestras assessed over the past year, here are a few of many important findings: ➡ Global Majority Women Representation Falls: Dropped from 2.1% to            1.6%.       ➡ Black Women Composers: Declined from 1.02% to 0.59%.       ➡ White Male Dominance: Works by deceased white men constitute an             overwhelming 78.4%, up from 76.4%. Kudos to the fantastic team at DONNE | Women in Music for their important work. Reports like these show us, starkly, how much more work we have to do and it’s great that that organisations like them are willing to do the work. "Despite years of discussions about the importance of inclusivity, the representation of women and global majority composers in the 2023-2024 season has marginally declined, signalling an urgent need for change in the classical music industry." Link to full report here ⬇ ⬇ ⬇ https://lnkd.in/dbEw3yEm

Today I am featured in Music Week alongside the amazing music industry disruptors on the UK Music Ltd futures board.  “As long as safety within music venues is a risk for transgender and non-binary people, we as an industry will struggle to see improved representation. Minimal safety measures create a barrier for transgender and non-binary people to continue returning to these scenes and spaces where they should be able to safely get their feet in the door and begin their musical journeys. Simply talking about inequality is not enough; proactive allyship consisting of real changes to policies and practices must be implemented.”  Find out more about the actions being put in place to tackle this barrier:https://lnkd.in/e3m5GjnE

Music has always been a powerful tool for resistance, a means of escape, and a source of comfort for the soul. Historically, Native American women’s participation in music has often been overshadowed, with traditional practices frequently relegating them to background vocals in many gatherings. But times are changing. Today, Native women are reclaiming and redefining their roles in the music world. From acapella groups that have performed on global stages like the Olympics, to composers and producers creating their own music, to youth who refuse to wait for mainstream recognition—they are making their voices heard. Carrying the sounds of their ancestors and cries for justice, Native women are solidifying their place in the music industry, creating art that is as powerful as it is transformative. Sources: https://lnkd.in/gPpBVe7Z  https://lnkd.in/gQBt_c9w https://lnkd.in/gwS-WqVX https://lnkd.in/gRAGupQv https://lnkd.in/guJrsirG #WCAPS #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth #IndigenousPride

Often, music and art capture and even precede societal trends and emotions before they are widely recognized, providing early insights into the collective consciousness. So that's why I started another experiment. I've created a new Persona called the World Mood Music Analyst (quite a complicated Persona to get right by the way). This Persona gauges the current global mood by analyzing popular music. It works like an auditory thermometer or barometer, measuring how people are feeling based on the music they listen to. An example (I left out the rest of the prompts leading to a final conclusion). Me: What's the current global mood based on popular music? World Mood Music Analyst: The global mood, as reflected in today's popular music, seems to be a complex mix of nostalgia, resilience, and a yearning for connection. Let's break it down: 1. Nostalgia and Escapism: Songs with retro vibes and sounds from the '80s and '90s are dominating the charts. Artists like Dua Lipa with "Levitating" and The Weeknd with "Blinding Lights" are bringing back synth-heavy tracks. This suggests people are craving the comfort of the past, perhaps as a way to escape current uncertainties. 2. Resilience and Empowerment: There's a strong theme of overcoming adversity and self-empowerment in the lyrics of many hits. For instance, Lizzo’s "About Damn Time" and Miley Cyrus's "Flowers" highlight themes of self-love, resilience, and empowerment. These tracks resonate with listeners looking for strength and positivity amid challenges. 3. Yearning for Connection: Amid social distancing and digital interactions, there's a noticeable longing for genuine human connection. Songs like Olivia Rodrigo’s "drivers license" and Justin Bieber’s "Ghost" reflect themes of longing and loss, indicating a collective sentiment of missing loved ones and deeper connections. 4. Social and Political Awareness: Many artists are using their platforms to address social issues and inspire change. Tracks like Billie Eilish’s "Your Power" and Lil Nas X’s "Montero (Call Me By Your Name)" tackle topics like personal autonomy and LGBTQ+ rights, reflecting a growing awareness and activism among listeners. 5. Fun and Lightheartedness: Despite the heavier themes, there's also a desire for fun and lightheartedness. Tracks like BTS’s "Butter" and Doja Cat’s "Kiss Me More" offer a dose of carefree joy and playfulness, which many are gravitating towards to balance out the more serious aspects of life.

Welcome to the July edition of BPI’s Diversity Roundup! 1) UK Music Ltd have released the 2024 Diversity Report, outlining areas of progress across gender and ethnicity while highlighting areas where more progress is needed. bit.ly/3xM5rfV 2) University of Westminster's Black Music Research Unit have announced their symposium on 12th July at the British Museum reflecting on the historical context that defines Black British music bit.ly/3XIe71w 3) The PRS Foundation POWER UP programme have announced the Year 4 Participants. Check out the 40 Black music creators and industry professionals who have been selected to become part of POWER UP’s now 160-person strong network. bit.ly/3RTDppP 4) DONNE | Women in Music have launched their report: Equality & Diversity in Global Repertoire. The report examines music played by 111 Orchestras across the 2023/2024 Season and reveals a stagnation in the diversity of repertoire programmed globally. bit.ly/3RUK3vL 5) Attitude is Everything are recruiting a Head of Commercial Services. Check out the exciting opportunity to join the Attitude is Everything Team bit.ly/3XPnCMm 6) Parents & Carers in Performing Arts have launched the Balancing Act:Take Two report highlighting deepening struggles for parents and carers in the performing arts amid industry uncertainty. Read more of the report here bit.ly/4cokxHG Hailey Willington

From Britney vs. Christina to Taylor vs. Beyoncé, the media has a long history of pitting successful female artists against each other. Our new article explores how these rivalries are constructed and the profound effects they have on the industry and the artists themselves. Let’s challenge these harmful narratives and support women in music. #FemaleRivalries #MediaImpact #WomenInMusic #Collaboration https://lnkd.in/dWY8C3AK

This review identified the contribution that First Nations’ music, arts and creative practices can make to the social emotional wellbeing of Queer First Nations Peoples https://lnkd.in/g2q4n65s

Sometimes Music Reflects Society, Sometimes It Leads It! Socially driven music can be a powerful way to raise awareness and effect change in diverse, troubling issues, including Democracy, Discrimination, Climate, Mental Health, Bullying, Substance Abuse, Anti-Semitism, Equality, Homelessness, Veterans, Suicide,Terrorism, Gun Control, Women’s Productive Rights, Food and Clean Water Insecurity, Cancer and other illnesses, Animal Rights Advocacy, Environmental Justice, Oceans, LGBTQ+ rights, etc. Each of these social impact initiatives comprises a large, passionate community which includes music fans who are energized when descriptive, compelling music speaks loudly (emotionally) to them. Visceral reaction to music with a purpose can also be harnessed to influence the zeitgeist, and can be particularly effective in persuading political collaborative action and circumventing the inaction of obstructionists to the progress that the majority of us desire. Music has always been a powerful tool for social change and has proven its ability to inspire action on important issues. Today more than ever, we need non-partisan socially poignant music that moves us viscerally and implores us to join in a call-to-action. Where is this music and how do we activate it? We implore musicians, fans, brands supportive of positive social causes, as well as political entities at all levels - starting with local campaigns - to return focus on socially poignant music (metaphorical, entertaining, thought-provoking) in addition to customary themes. Let's use this universal language of music as a strategy against divisiveness while fostering collaboration towards positive change: #Music4APurpose Please sign this petition if you believe in the power of music as an instrument for positive change and want to join our proactive consortium of music creators, fans, social impact causes and supportive brands. Local emerging songwriters and music artists are encouraged to Contact Socially Driven Music with their wishlists of established music peers and causes and local politicians with whom they'd like to collaborate on furthering issues important to them. We'll get to work connecting you and ensuring that your political representatives are hearing you when you let us know who they are! https://chng.it/t2Yvzpbk9f

🚀 New report launch: Industry Analysis and the Value of Black Music Black music is a cornerstone of Canada’s music industry, driving revenue through #recordsales, #streaming, #liveperformances and more. Its influence extends beyond music, shaping fashion, advertising and film while fuelling collaborations that boost profitability across industries. Despite these profound contributions, systemic racism and under-representation remain critical barriers for Black musicians and industry professionals in Canada. Our newest partner-led report with ADVANCE explores these inequalities and prejudices through a societal and organizational lens and offers critical recommendations to address disparities. Key findings: ➡️ 75% of Canada’s top 100 songs on Apple Music in 2019 were Black music. An analysis of Apple Music’s top 100 songs in Canada from 2019 to 2022 highlights the undeniable influence of Black music. ➡️ 47.5% Nearly one-half of Black business owners surveyed have not received financial support or investment. ➡️ Over one-third of survey participants (39.1%) felt that their work was undervalued because of their race. How can we dismantle these barriers and build an industry that values its musicians? Explore the findings and recommendations in the full report: https://bit.ly/3CEowTt. ✒️Report authors: Dr. Charlie Wall-Andrews, Dr. Wendy Cukier and Dr. Mohamed Elmi #equity #Diversity #Inclusion #BlackEntrepreneurs @thecreativeschl #TMUBold