FEATURE:
Sisters in Arms
IN THIS PHOTO: Margot Robbie at Variety’s Power of Women event at Citizen News in L.A. on 16th November, 2023 (she was among this year’s honourees; Robbie, Tom Ackerley and Josey McNamara received the Producer of the Year Award (the production company, LuckyChap Entertainment, co-produced Barbie)/PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images
A Variety Power of Women-Like Event for the Music World
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I know that we have…
PHOTO CREDIT: Wellington Cunha/Pexels
the incredible Music Week Women in Music Awards, which celebrates and recognises important women throughout the music industry. It is not overkill, isolating or wrong to celebrate women in an industry that does not fully appreciate them – and one in which they are dominating. With fewer opportunities open to them, it is so important to acknowledge and spotlight their vital work. I will come to a suggestion that we should have a mainstream or major award ceremony/’class’ that runs alongside Music Week’s incredible annual honouring of terrific and pioneering women in the music industry. I mention it because, last week, Variety’s Power of Women event honoured so magnificent women through entertainment. It was especially nice to see Margot Robbie recognised for her production work! Variety provide more details:
“Variety kicked off its Power of Women event at Citizen News in L.A. on Thursday night, and the carpet was filled with stars ready to celebrate the accomplishments of women in entertainment.
This year’s honorees include Carey Mulligan, Fantasia Barrino, Lily Gladstone and Billie Eilish, who will perform “What Was I Made For?” alongside her brother Finneas O’Connell. LuckyChap co-founders Margot Robbie, Tom Ackerley and Josey McNamara will receive the Producer of the Year Award, and Emily Blunt will receive the Power of Women Alumni Award from premier partner Wells Fargo. Leonardo DiCaprio, Dua Lipa, Emerald Fennell, Ariana Greenblatt and Oprah Winfrey will each introduce an honoree at Variety Power of Women presented by Lifetime.
IN THIS PHOTO: Dua Lipa at Variety’s Power of Women event/PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images
LuckyChap is a producer on this year’s highest-grossing film “Barbie,” which stars Robbie in the title role. Lipa portrays Mermaid Barbie in the hot-pink fantasy comedy, and her original song “Dance the Night” was also one of the breakout hits from the film’s soundtrack.
“It’s really just so exciting and such a dream to be part of such a mammoth movie. It’s unbelievable. I feel very lucky,” Lipa told Variety on the carpet. “It’s just nice to see people’s response — the whole energy behind the film, the meaning behind it, the solidarity between women. It’s been beautiful to see.”
Other celebrities that walked the red carpet include Meghan Markle, Greta Lee, Riley Keough, Sofia Carson, Emma Myers, Diane Warren, Addison Rae, Madison Bailey, Tia Mowry and more”.
I do actually think that the more women are spotlighted and get that special recognition, the more their importance and continuation are seen and heard. Hopefully, going forward, it changes attitudes and works towards greater equality. When it comes to Variety, their championing of women across film and beyond is a great step. We have some smaller events in the music world, though nothing quite like this. From amazing producers and songwriters through to incredible artists and live performers, there could be categories and special awards for amazing women. A lot of time, female artists miss out on festival spots or awards as they are dominated by men. This means that some phenomenal work and talent is overlooked and marginalised! I do feel there would be a welcome response to a Variety-like Power of Women crossover into music. I am not sure quite what form it would take and whether it would be held in the U.S. or U.K. It is obvious that a major publication could well do this. If it is NME, Rolling Stone, Vogue, Pitchfork or someone else, it is overdue in my opinion. I know that Billboard have their own event, though I think there could be even more categories. Would potentially a third major event celebrating women be too much?! I don’t think so! I admire Billboard and Music Week hugely, yet I don’t think either gets quite the focus they deserve. I think a lot of people assume film and T.V. to be the most powerful and influential industries. I guess because of the money films command and that side of things. I would say that music is more influential and important than any other cultural corner. Music holds so much influence.
IMAGE CREDIT: Music Week
It would be nice that, in 2024, there was more balance and parity in general. Festivals need to get their act(s) together and book more women. This is especially true of headliners. Radio playlists across major stations are woefully male-led! As the Music Week Women in Music Awards showed, there are so many important and powerful queens across the industry that are making changes and doing remarkable work. Whether label bosses, champions of new music or those at labels or behind the scenes, we could go even bigger and wider. It would be wonderful if there was a major event that celebrated women in music. Awards for best albums, songs, direction, production and promotion. There are pioneers and groundbreaking women who are not being heralded and highlighted. I was inspired by Variety’s induction and inclusion of a range of wonderful women (including a nod to Margot Robbie and her LuckyChap Entertainment work for Barbie). I do feel next year is one that should be a celebration of women. For so many years, there has been this inequality and real lack of support and progression from those in positions of power through the music industry. Whether celebrating powerful women at labels and studios or those delivering such amazing work and live performers, it would be wonderful if the music industry dedicated another major event celebrating and saluting…
INCREDIBLE women.