FEATURE:
A Platform for the Mainstays and Newcomers Alike
IN THIS PHOTO: St. Vincent
2020: A Year Where Gender Equality Needs to Come into Sharp Focus
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I have written plenty of articles…
IMAGE CREDIT: Coachella
asking whether we will get gender equality across the board very soon. Last year was a pretty poor one when it came to festivals putting women at the very top of their bill. I can understand why you would not have a majority of women headlining every festival, but the vast majority of festivals last year has all-male headliners. Look at the footage from Glastonbury and so many of the best sets were from women – including Lizzo and Janelle Monáe. Next year will see one female artist headline Glastonbury (Taylor Swift), and I suspect Glastonbury will be the first festival to hit a fifty-fifty gender balance. Look at all the major festivals in the U.K. over the past decade and the lack of women headlining is shocking. Although this year has just started, Coachella have announced their line-up for April. Although there are women on the bill, it is the first year in a while where there are no women headlining.
“Rage Against The Machine, Travis Scott and Frank Ocean will headline Coachella festival this year.
It's the first time since 2016 without a female headliner - Lady Gaga, Beyonce and Ariana Grande have each had a slot in the past three years.
The Californian festival is held over two weekends each April with the same line-up appearing over both of them.
Lana Del Rey and Megan Thee Stallion and Summer Walker are among the female performers.
The line-up features a lot of British artists - from FKA Twigs and Lewis Capaldi to Calvin Harris, Slowthai, Dave and Yungblud.
Thom Yorke will be performing but without Radiohead, who headlined the festival in 2017. Next to his name is "Tomorrow's Modern Boxes" - a solo album from 2014.
Run The Jewels, Rex Orange County, DaBaby and Flume are just a few of the other acts performing.
Headliner Frank Ocean hasn't performed at Coachella since 2012, before the release of debut album Channel Orange.
Despite Lady Gaga, Beyonce and Ariana Grande delivering consecutive must-see headline Coachella sets since 2016, it appears to be a short-lived tradition.
The festival has upped the number of female acts on the top tier of the line-up in recent years, a trend which continues into 2020.
But many will argue it's a missed opportunity to not give the likes of Lana Del Rey or FKA Twigs the chance to headline - especially given they released two of the most critically-acclaimed albums of last year.
Although other festivals, including the teams behind Glastonbury and Spain's Primavera, have pledged for more gender-balanced line-ups, Coachella organisers haven't addressed calls for more female acts to be topping the bill”.
Given the fact so many of last year’s very best albums were from women makes me wonder why, for instance, Lana Del Rey was not asked to headline. Lizzo would make a great choice and, even though she did not release a new album last year, St. Vincent would be a perfect fit – someone who would deliver a stunning headline set.
IN THIS PHOTO: Little Simz
2019 was a great year for Pop acts like Billie Eilish and established acts FKA twigs, Solange and Sharon Van Etten. Throw into the mix Little Simz, Brittany Howard and Angel Olsen, and there are a few ready headliners there! I am not suggesting every fantastic album from 2019 has been made by women, but the majority of the most striking and accomplished have been. Most of these albums have been from women who have only been releasing music for less than a decade. Look at the legends and established artists, again, who could headline a festival and you have a long list of possibilities – from Björk and Bikini Kill (who are back touring together) and Kim Gordon. I feel 2019 was defined by women and the fantastic music they created. I know Coachella is the first of many festivals who will be announcing their line-up, but I do hope this year reflects the incredible women – from female bands and duos to solo artists – who warrant a place. I am always baffled why festivals struggle to get a fifty-fifty balance; some say the pool is not deep enough and it is hard to hit that target. Listen back to all the superb music made by women last year and there is an embarrassment of riches available that means, I hope, 2020’s line-ups will be a lot closer to fifty-fifty than ever – I see no reason why any big festival would have a problem hitting a fifty-fifty split.
Even though festivals that have made a pledge to hit fifty-fifty bills have two more years to hit that target, this year needs to set an example. I have only skimmed the surface regarding women who can make it onto festival bills this year. From Dua Lipa and The Big Moon through to Weyes Blood and Jessica Pratt, there are female artists in a variety of genres that could add their voice to festivals. Of course, it is not only festivals that have an issue with gender disparity. One can argue women are underrepresented in the industry and there are more men than women; men release more songs and, therefore, are going to be more prevalent. The lack of visibility, as I have remarked in previous features, does not indicate a lack of drive and talent from women. With so many festivals struggling to put women on the bill despite the huge promise and variety (from women), it is no wonder many female artists are hesitant or being overlooked. There is still sexism in every corner, and one only needs to refer to recent articles such as this:
“In Britain, countless women who work in the business testify to frequent cases of sexual misconduct and misogyny. ‘Women I know often tell me stories about sexual harassment,’ says Lara Baker, events manager at the Association of Independent Music (AIM), the organisation that looks after some of the world’s most successful independent record labels. ‘The music industry involves a lot of late nights and drinking, and in those situations it’s common for people’s sense of what’s appropriate to go out the window. A woman will be in a taxi with her boss or a client after a gig and he’ll suddenly start kissing or groping her and she’s expected not to mind. It’s not easy for her to speak out when it involves a colleague or client and her reputation is at stake’”.
In the article, British songwriter Lauren Aquilina has spoken about her experiences of sexism in the industry and how she is viewed:
“Aquilina has also found that as a young female artist in the music industry, she has been patronised over her songwriting, and experienced pressure to change. According to PRS for Music, only 13 per cent of their 95,000 songwriters are currently female, so it’s little surprise that songs written by women are not always taken seriously – despite the phenomenal success of female singer-songwriters like Taylor Swift and Adele. The fact is, the majority of chart-topping songs performed by female artists, from Rihanna to Katy Perry and Miley Cyrus, are still written by men.
Aquilina says, ‘I’ve had a few mental-health issues and I’ve been told by men in the music industry that I needed to stop being so emotional; such a girl. I’ve been told to stop moaning and write a happy, upbeat song that befits a female pop star. I know for a fact a male artist would never be asked to ditch an emotional, raw song. ‘Now, I have a female manager and A&R rep and that’s made a big difference to my confidence. I’ve learned to stick up for myself more. I’ve had to grow up at an alarming pace to handle the pressure and demands of being a 21-year-old woman in the music industry.’
It’s not just the artists who suffer as a result of sexist attitudes: they permeate the entire industry, with women who work everywhere from A&R to promotion and PR earning less than their male counterparts and struggling to rise through the ranks. The upper echelons of the business remain solidly male. Despite the music industry signing up to UK Music’s Equality and Diversity Charter in 2012, there is little sign of progress”.
PHOTO CREDIT: @dustinlee/Unsplash
I do genuinely feel this year will be one where progress is made and, maybe by bringing men into the conversation more, that might make a difference. By that, I mean it is traditionally women who are fighting for awareness and talking about being overlooked; more men need to do their part and getting men and women in the industry communicating with the common goal of gender equality is definitely what needs to happen. Music-wise, one cannot ignore the sea of women who are creating sensational music. Further afield, there are amazing female producers and women in every avenue of the industry making it richer and better. In the short terms, festivals have a lot of options regarding commercial and interesting female artists alike. Whereas last year saw festivals like Reading and Leeds woefully male-heavy, one hopes the situation will not be the same this year. Similarly, the incredible success and originality of female artists last year should be proffered and spotlighted. I know, in years from now, there will be a lot more women in the industry. From artists and producers through to record label bosses and festival organisers, the numbers will rise. I think there is a lot of toxicity that is resulting in discrimination against women already in the industry and discouraging others entering. There is so much passion and talent from women in music that is not being honoured. From brilliant artists who are festival-ready – and not being included on bills – to those who are side-lined and the subject of abuse, things need to change. It is easy to make those changes and, in so many ways, 2020 is the year…
PHOTO CREDIT: @michaelbenz/Unsplash
TO make it happen.