FEATURE:
Queens’ Gambit
IN THIS PHOTO: Miley Cyrus
As Women Dominated Music Last Year, Why Now is a Moment for No More Excuses or Lack of Opportunities
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SOMETHING that many already knew…
IN THIS PHOTO: Taylor Swift
but it has now been confirmed that women dominated the U.K. Pop charts last year. Even though it is one sector of the music industry, this dominance spreads throughout music. One cannot say that women are in the minority anymore. I am going to go on to write why, given the fact female artists ruled the Pop charts last year, how there are no more excuses left when it comes to booking female headliners and ensuring they are represented across award ceremonies. An industry that cannot justify imbalance and a lack of awareness. The time for parity is right now. The Independent explained how last year was a big one for Pop’s queens. Something that is more than likely to be mirrored as we go through this year:
“Women dominated the UK pop charts in 2023, even as festivals struggled to improve representation and female musicians were shut out of a number of major awards ceremonies.
British stars including PinkPantheress and RAYE spent a record-breaking 31 out of 52 weeks at No 1 on the Official Singles Chart in 2023, according to the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) trade group. This is the highest figure since the countdown launched in 1952.
Based on combined figures from streaming and physical sales, seven of the year’s top 10 singles were by women, including Miley Cyrus’s hit song “Flowers”, Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero”, and Cameroonian-American singer Libianca’s “People”.
RAYE’s viral song “Escapism”, a collaboration with US rapper 070 Shake (real name Danielle Balbuena), was a No 1 hit that also reached No 22 on the Billboard Hot 100, while PinkPantheress’s “Boy’s a Liar” peaked at No 2 in the UK. The remix, featuring Ice Spice, also marked PinkPantheress’s debut on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at No 3.
“Escapism” and “Boy’s a Liar” were the third and eighth biggest singles of 2023, respectively.
The numbers are in stark contrast to 2022 when just two female musicians cracked the top 10 biggest songs: Kate Bush, with her 1985 single “Running Up That Hill”, and pop singer Cat Burns with “Go”.
Ed Sheeran, meanwhile, managed to get three of his songs in the top 10, including “Shivers” and “Bad Habits” from his fourth studio album, = (Equals).
BPI’s chief executive Dr Jo Twist said in a statement: “While work continues towards achieving full representation for women across the music industry, 2023 has been a brilliant year for women in the Official Charts.
“There is a more diverse range of recording artists than ever achieving great success with the backing of their labels. Women spent more weeks at No 1 on the Official Singles Chart than in any previous year, while seven of the 10 biggest tracks were by women.
“This should be celebrated, but without complacency, and our work in the music industry continues to ensure that this becomes the norm.”
IN THIS PHOTO: Dua Lipa/PHOTO CREDIT: Thibaut Grevet for DAZED
Despite pop dominance from megastars including Swift, Cyrus and Dua Lipa, 2023 proved to be a mixed year when it came to acknowledging the talent and success of female artists.
In January, the Brit Awards came under fire for failing to recognise a single woman in its Artist of the Year category, after it abandoned gendered categories in 2022.
Instead, an all-male shortlist was nominated, comprising pop singers Harry Styles and George Ezra, producer Fred Again, and rappers Stormzy and Central Cee.
Meanwhile, Glastonbury Festival faced its own backlash when it was announced that three male acts – Arctic Monkeys, Guns N’ Roses and Elton John – would headline the main stage in 2023.
Co-organiser Emily Eavis – who was defended as a vocal supporter of women in music by a number of prominent female artists – said that the industry was failing to generate enough viable female headliners.”.
I am writing this on 3rd January. Later today, we find out whether mainstream U.K. radio stations have managed to move towards gender equality. That was not the case last year. Even though one or two are an exception, most have struggled to move towards balance. I am cautiously optimistic there will be some positive signs. If we acknowledge the fact that Pop’s queens are dominating and making huge waves, how can any festival now say there are a lack of women to headline festivals?! I don’t buy there was an absence last year. Now, as we look towards this summer’s festivals, there is a raft of wonderful women who can headline. No festival has an excuse for imbalanced bills and a lack of headliners. There is this disparity between the chart success and playlisting of female Pop artists and a seeming ignorance from those who can reward this with award nominations, festival recognition and general respect (from the industry). It is not only major artists like Miley Cyrus that this applies to. So many wonderful young and fresh Pop artists coming through are also showing that they are festival-ready. To start this year, we get some positive findings regarding Pop’s queens. I think that there will be changes and moves towards equality this year. Whether there is a rapid reaction from the industry when it comes to ensuring there is a lack of female headliners I am not sure. Let’s hope so.
IN THIS PHOTO: Victoria Monét
In terms of immediate recognition and potential reversal when it comes to award ceremonies is the GRAMMYs. Next month, Taylor Swift, SZA, Victoria Monét and boygenius are leading nominations. The Song and Record of the Year categories are dominated by female artists. I think that award ceremonies here will move towards a more female-inclusive feel. It is down to festivals to see whether they can match that commitment. If last year was one for missed opportunities and excuses, there can be none of that in 2024. We see the figures and can see all the talent out there. Women not only storming Pop charts; there is also the end-of-year lists of the best albums that are defined by women. As they are bringing so much to the industry, it is incumbent on the industry now to reward that and erase the bias that has been evident for decades. Not just a one-year reversal. This needs to be something that is sustained going forward! We need festivals to do more to not only ensure that the bills are balanced. There are more than enough women who can be selected as headliners. If we go through another summer where we see no female headliners at particular festivals, then that is going to cause a lot of anger! Given the fact music’s Pop queens have made big moves and are dominating, festivals and award bodies need to…
CHOOSE their next move wisely.