FEATURE:
Beyond BBC Radio 6 Music’s Change the Tune…
IN THIS PHOTO: Rebecca Lucy Taylor (Self Esteem)/PHOTO CREDIT: Philipp Mueller via Red Bull
Raising Awareness of Trolling and Abuse Against Artists
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I want to build on something that I wrote…
IMAGE CREDIT: BBC
about fairly recently. Now more than in recent years, there is a lot of hatred and abuse online. Alongside the sort of division and trolling that can afflict people on an average day, there is also the intensity and acceleration of a very toxic and troubling wave of abuse connected to the genocide happening in Gaza. It is a very disturbing space to be in for a lot of reasons. Looking on social media and seeing videos of death and destruction. Some of the comments that seem to support or ignore the violence taking place. Others that are abused for supporting Palestine. Away from that, there is also political division in the U.K. and U.S. Online abuse is something that can affect and impact us all. There is something particularly hazardous when it comes to artists being on social media. The degree and type of abuse they can face. From tomorrow (12th), BBC Radio 6 Music’s Change the Tune begins. There is this serries of programmes and initiative that is designed to highlight abuse that artists face online. I shall expand more on why now it is especially important that artists are protected. That the online space is a safe and accepting one. It is not something that only affects major artists. There is so many different wats that online abusers and trolls can reach an artist with their intolerance and hatred. From sexual abuse and misogyny that women face to threats and explicit messages, this can have a hugely detrimental affect on their wellbeing. I know of any artists who have faced so much online abuse. They also face abuse and assault at gigs and away from the digital world. At the moment, there is not a lot in place regarding barriers from trolling online. You can block someone who sends abuse or trolls, though there is not really a filter on sites like Twitter and Instagram to prevent it coming through.
I do think that artists are especially exposed to online abuse. From simple unkindness and judgement to the worst and most shocking forms of abuse, I get the feeling that things have intensified and declined over the past few months. It is a very challenging and horrifying time right now. It is awful for so many people. For artists, who are trying to launch their careers and get their work heard, they often have to face harassment and abuse. Whether it sexual aggression or racial threats, we need to make sure that there is a safe and loving community online. It is good that BBC Radio 6 Music are spearheading such an initiative. A very timely and important endeavour. Here are more details:
“As part of the BBC’s Mental Wellbeing season, BBC Radio 6 Music will launch Change The Tune - an on-air, digital and social media initiative to raise awareness of the impact that online abuse has on the lives of artists.
We will hear from musicians and presenters, who will share their online experiences, as well as from mental health professionals about the effects that personal attacks online can have on individuals and their lives.
In response, 6 Music will launch a clear code of conduct and a new means of reporting comments of concern on its own social media platforms.
The initiative will feature:
A Journeys In Sound special on 6 Music (Monday 13 May, 11pm-12am), presented by 6 Music broadcaster and psychotherapist Nemone and featuring Rebecca Lucy Taylor (Self Esteem), Lauren Mayberry of CHVRCHES, Nitin Sawhney CBE and SHERELLE.
Lauren Mayberry: I Change Shapes – a 1 x 15 minute documentary for BBC iPlayer (live from 6am on Monday 13 May).
A social media initiative across 6 Music’s platforms (from 10am on Monday 13 May) which will see the station share: a clear code of conduct for its online community; a new means of reporting comments of concern; and films from 6 Music’s AFRODEUTSCHE, Craig Charles, Deb Grant, Jamz Supernova and SHERELLE, as well as Gossip and Hak Baker about their own online experiences.
Working in partnership with 6 Music for Change The Tune is Music Minds Matter – sister charity of Help Musicians, which supports the mental health of everyone working in music in the UK.
Lauren Mayberry says: "The internet has been such an intrinsic part of my career, positively and negatively. Social media was really baked into the way that CHVRCHES first got discovered but there were consistent side effects to that which I don't think I would ever have anticipated. We know a lot more now in terms of the impact that can have on people but I'm not sure how we change that behaviour, or the conversation around it."
In support of Change The Tune, 6 Music presenter Guy Garvey says: “Our social media is for celebrating artists. It celebrates the people listening as well. By tuning into 6 Music, you're already part of this community. I'd say the rule should be, support good ideas, and if you don't like something, keep it to yourself.”
Nemone says: “It’s been really thought-provoking speaking to artists about their lived experience with social media and to hear first-hand about the impact that online comments of a personal nature have. It brought home to me how important it is for us all to reflect on how we show up online and the kind of community we want to shape.”
Samantha Moy, Head of BBC Radio 6 Music says: “6 Music has always aimed to be a positive and uplifting place for artists and fans alike, where we celebrate the widest range of music possible, both on-air and across platforms. With Change The Tune, we want to give musicians the space to share their online experiences, the good and the bad. At the same time, we will put measures in place that we hope will make our corner of the internet a kinder, encouraging and more supportive place for musicians’ work. I’d like to thank all the artists, presenters and our colleagues across the music industry who have contributed so openly to Change The Tune, as well as to Music Minds Matter for their support.”
Laurie Oliva, Director of Services and Research, Help Musicians and sister charity Music Minds Matter says: “Musicians pour their souls into their performances and records in a uniquely personal way, which means sharing their music is an inherently vulnerable endeavour. At Music Minds Matter, we understand the mental health pressure that can come with a job in music, especially for artists who often need to be on social media to grow their fanbases and build sustainable careers. However, being online should be a place to find your tribe, not to divide. We’re so pleased to partner with 6 Music on this important series and ensure those who may be struggling know they have a charity that will listen, understand and help.”
IN THIS PHOTO: Marianna Spring/PHOTO CREDIT: Sane Seven for The Times Magazine
Journeys In Sound (6 Music)
On Monday 13 May (11pm-12pm), 6 Music will broadcast a Journeys In Sound special, in which 6 Music presenter and psychotherapist Nemone hears from Rebecca Lucy Taylor, otherwise known as Self Esteem, Lauren Mayberry of the synth-pop band CHVRCHES, composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist Nitin Sawhney CBE, the BBC’s disinformation and social media correspondent Marianna Spring, 6 Music presenter, DJ and artist SHERELLE, as well as psychotherapist and former Babyshambles member Dr Adam Ficek about their perspectives on online abuse and the challenges they have faced in the digital space.
Rebecca, Lauren, Nitin and SHERELLE talk openly and frankly in the programme about their use of social media as a tool to promote their music and connect with fans, and reveal how such platforms have made them a target for shocking misogynistic and racial abuse.
Marianna comments on the digital world in which we find ourselves now. She shares her own experiences of receiving extreme hate online, the repercussions it has on her everyday life as an investigative reporter and the importance of shining a light on the darker areas of the internet.
Nemone also explores the subject with Dr Adam, the founder of Music & Mind, an independent service that helps musicians, creatives and music industry workers navigate their mental health and wellness.
Lauren Mayberry and Nemone will also discuss Change The Tune on Lauren Laverne’s BBC Radio 6 Music show on Monday 13 May (7.30am-10.30am) and Jeremy Vine’s BBC Radio 2 show on Wednesday 15 May (12pm-2pm).
A BBC Audio production.
All radio programming will be available on BBC Sounds.
PHOTO CREDIT: Pavel Danilyuk/Pexels
Lauren Mayberry: I Change Shapes (BBC iPlayer)
Live on BBC iPlayer from 6am on Monday 13 May, CHVRCHES frontwoman Lauren reflects on the highs and lows of her journey in music as she launches her solo career.
From worldwide success to online trolling and misogyny, the singer-songwriter speaks candidly about putting negative experiences as an artist behind her - including online threats – and the cathartic nature of her solo writing, which she describes as ‘psychological unstitching’.
Before her time as the frontwoman of CHVRCHES, multi-instrumentalist Lauren made an impact locally in the Glasgow music scene and was surrounded by a group of like-minded friends, who she met through TYCI: a DIY feminist fanzine that she co-founded to address gender imbalance in music.
National and international success followed and Lauren was quickly thrust into an exciting new world, however, there was a darker side. Lauren recalls how the narrative around her success was often centered on gender and image, rather than musicianship, and how she frequently faced abuse online, including misogynistic comments and violent threats.
This documentary will see Lauren explain how her fight against abuse made its way into her writing and how her experiences motivated her to move forward in an empowering and progressive way.
Commissioned by BBC Scotland and produced by BBC Scotland Productions
Social media
On Monday 13 May from 10am, 6 Music will launch Change The Tune across its social media platforms.
The station will reaffirm its mission for its online spaces - which includes the support and celebration of artists - and outline a clear code of conduct for its online community. The code of conduct is as follows:
In addition, there will be a new and simplified method for reporting comments of concern, with artists and fans alike able to contact the station via an email address that will be available on 6 Music’s social media platforms from 10am on Monday 13 May.
Across the week, (Monday 13 – Friday 17 May) 6 Music’s social media accounts will post films from artists and 6 Music presenters - AFRODEUTSCHE, Craig Charles, Deb Grant, Gossip, Hak Baker, Jamz Supernova and SHERELLE - in which they’ll share their personal experiences of online abuse.
IN THIS PHOTO: Pixabay/Pexels
Music Minds Matter
Partnering with 6 Music on Change The Tune is Help Musicians’ sister charity Music Minds Matter – its range of services include a 24/7 support line, available for free to everyone working in music in the UK.
Audiences can visit BBC Action Line for more information about how to get in touch with Music Minds Matter, from Monday 13th May onwards.
The BBC’s Mental Wellbeing season
Change The Tune is part of the BBC’s Mental Wellbeing season, which takes place throughout May. The BBC will be bringing audiences a range of mental health and wellbeing content across its platforms and services, highlighting stories of those who have faced mental health struggles as well as helping audiences understand how to look after their mental wellbeing, and where to go for support. More information is available here.
Journeys In Sound
The Change The Tune special of Journeys In Sound marks the start of a new four-part series of the returning programme (Monday 13 – Thursday 16 May, 11pm-12am). Journeys In Sound sees 6 Music’s Nemone explore the link between music and the mind and combine her role as broadcaster and integrative psychotherapist to find out how music really affects us.
Further episodes will see Nemone in conversation with Alison Mosshart (Tuesday 14 May), Paul Weller (Wednesday 15 May) and Jane Weaver (Thursday 16 May) about the songs that have soundtracked the ups and downs of their lives.
Alison Mosshart, artist and one half of enigmatic duo The Kills, discusses: growing up in the sleepy town of Vero Beach in Florida; how she convinced her parents to let her travel abroad as a young teenager with her first band Discount; her surprising love of Annie the musical; how she met her bandmate Jamie Hince on a trip to London; letting go on stage; long car journeys as a form of self-care; and how she has maintained a level of mystique in a world of social media. Featuring music from Led Zeppelin, Gang Green, PJ Harvey, Fugazi, The Dead Weather and Captain Beefheart.
Speaking about whether she feels it’s difficult to maintain distance in the era of social media, Alison Mosshart says: “I don’t really think it is, you just have to not post every day. I think it is up to you. I get it, I get the pressure, especially with work, especially with the way things are, having to brand yourself on such an extreme level to actually have a career in music and it’s really sad. It’s horrible. I hope I never have to do that because I will be the worst at it. It’s not going to come naturally to me.”
Paul Weller, the prolific, award-winning singer and songwriter affectionally known as “The Modfather” by his fans, reveals: what life growing up with the Wellers in Woking was like; the impact of The Jam’s success and subsequent split had on him; working with his musical ‘brother’ Steve Cradock of Ocean Colour Scene; the joy he feels playing live; how his life has changed since giving up alcohol; and how he tries to look after himself. Featuring music from The Beatles, Little Richard, The Four Tops, The Who, The Sex Pistols and The Clash.
Speaking in the programme, Paul Weller says: “Music was my escape […] I used to peer over the city walls and think ‘yeah one day I’m going to escape this and I’m going to go and do something else’. And that’s what music’s enabled me to do. But also in the first place, music made me realise there were other possibilities as well.”
Jane Weaver, who has performed as part of the Britpop group Kill Laura, the folktronica project Misty Dixon and as a solo artist, talks to Nemone about: growing up in Widnes; the influence the Liverpool music scene had on her as a teenager; the pitfalls of the music industry; living with coeliac disease and the long road to a diagnosis; overcoming an eating disorder and postnatal depression; and the tragic disappearance of her Misty Dixon band mate, Dave Tyack. Featuring music from Prince, U2, OMD, 10,000 Maniacs, The Icicle Works, Hawkwind and The Velvet Underground.
Speaking in the programme, Jane Weaver says: “It’s made me kind of resilient but I have experienced quite a lot of sexism in my time. Just people treat me differently because I’m a woman […]. I seem to get some kind of Columbo-style detective people who will interview you and say ‘exactly what did you do on your record’ […]. I’m fine being a nerd and talking about process or talking about instruments or technical things or things I did or didn’t do. I’m quite happy to do that but a long few minutes in I realise ah, you’re only asking me that because you think a man is behind everything”.
IN THIS PHOTO: Paul Weller/PHOTO CREDIT: GQ
There is a lot of information here that I included in the earlier feature. I wanted to keep on the topic of online abuse as, more and more, there is this pressure on artists to market themselves. So much competition right now. It is so tough to make a break and get traction. Even if many artists wat to pull away from social media, it is still a hugely affective form of promotion and awareness. Even if Instagram is seen as a less toxic and troublesome space as Twitter or TikTok, there is no platform where artists are truly free from abuse and trolling. Not only is it the viciousness and bile they get from other people. I also feel the pressure of being online so much in itself is draining. A combination of posting about their own music and also having to see such horrible images, news and posts from others. Maybe more successful artists seemingly doing better. It can add its own sting. The reality is that no artist is immune from the worst side of social media. The more we use it and the worst things are in the world, the worst the experience is. I don’t think that cases of misogyny and abuse have massively reduced. So many women are still receiving the most disturbing and aggressive messages and comments. The mental health of many male artists is being damaged by what they have to read online. I think that BBC Radio 6 Music’s Change the Tune is very important.
It is good that there are resources and organisations that can help. Music Minds Matter is a great and needed charity. I also want to bring back in Tamsin Embleton’s Touring and Mental Health: The Music Industry Manual. This is also an invaluable resource at a time when the extra pressure and drain of touring goes alongside the forms of abuse and discrimination many artists experience online. It is worrying that so many artists are caught between a rock and a hard place. They need to be online and get their work shared and heard. That said, even though they mostly receive love, there are those that can make their life very unpleasant. A general demand too that they connect with fans. Even fi they are close to their fans, sometimes the boundaries can get blurred. It can be exhausting having to be upbeat and always engaging on social media when the industry and musician lifestyle can be enough on its own. Throw in some of the abuse that comes there way and it is clear that many musicians are being impacted. What is the combined cost of this?! We can never know how they feel behind closed doors. The true impact that of this abuse and trolling online. Making sure that social media and online spaces are safe is paramount. It should be the case: if you don’t like something then keep it to yourself. People think they are entitled to say what they want because they have that veil of anonymity and are not face-to-face with an artist. We need to ensure that conduct and behaviour is corrected. Let those who abuse and troll realise the damage they are doing. Whether it is sexual or racial abuse, it is having such a damaging and harrowing affect on artists. It will lead to many artists leaving the industry and social media to get away from it.
PHOTO CREDIT: Liza Summer/Pexels
Also at the moment, there is a real issue with misogyny and gender inequality in the industry (something that has always been there and is slow to go away). It is disappointing to see a comparative lack of male allyship and action from many artists. I do hope that this improves. In terms of tackling those who abuse and harass female artists online, I do hope that more men through the industry stand up. Of course, an unpleasant and sometimes dangerous online environment is something that affects all genders. The more that initiatives like Change the Tune spread and are taken to heart, the better it will be for everyone. Maybe we will never see the eradication of abuse and trolling online. We can get a lot closer than we are not. The fact that artists are so important and valuable to all of us should compel instant change. It will be slower than that, though Kudos to BBC Radio 6 Music for doing this. Through next week, tune into the station; follow BBC Radio 6 Music on Instagram. Opening the conversation so that we can all help make social media and the online world a much nicer place. It is long overdue. Hearing from artists like Rebecca Lucy Taylor, Lauren Mayberry and their peers discuss the challenges they have faced through the years – and still do – will bring to light the extent and severity of the problem. Change the Tune is a worthy and fascinating initiative that is going to be invaluable and eye-opening. When it comes to the negativity and toxicity that is still very present online, let’s hope we can all come together to help change the tune…
FOR good.