Holy shit, Thea, I'm so glad to see someone sharing these stats! I've been in the music biz for 25 years, and now at age 50 I can confirm everything they represent. BTW, I would LOVE to interview you for my own Substack, Womancake Magazine. Our current theme (which I just announce dtoday) is "Power Songs": https://www.womancake.com/
My best friend in high school - the one who introduced me to 75% of the artists I loved - used to say "women simply don't contribute to music as much as men do" and I didn't know enough or have enough confidence to argue at the time... even though much of the music we valued most came from women and female-presenting artists.
Looking back, we were listening to the likes of Kate Bush, Ofra Haza, Laurie Anderson, Rickie Lee Jones, Terry Nunn (from Berlin), Wendy Carlos, and Annie Lennox, not to mention that Madonna was doing then what Taylor Swift and Beyonce are doing now (as far as dominating the charts). I have to wonder if he wasn't saying that to wind me up, or to intentionally set me up for the lifelong habit I now have of Noticing Female Artists.
I'm 99% sure his blind spot was related to his hipster distaste for "pop" (a moving target) but every time I fall for an artist (Neko Case, anyone) I feel an urge to track him down and rub his nose in how awesome she is.
You’re not the only one to hear similar things growing up. There isn’t a lack of female talent, just a system that opens more doors to men. Which seems crazy because female acts have proven to be wildly successful.
Oh, it's even worse than you think. Most of the big female led bands of the 1920's and '30s were erased from official histories, and their music re-released under the names of the male musicians who had been part of those bands.
Holy shit, Thea, I'm so glad to see someone sharing these stats! I've been in the music biz for 25 years, and now at age 50 I can confirm everything they represent. BTW, I would LOVE to interview you for my own Substack, Womancake Magazine. Our current theme (which I just announce dtoday) is "Power Songs": https://www.womancake.com/
Alicia, thank you for reading and sharing. I would be honored to do an interview- DM me details and let’s get it scheduled!
Enlightening and horrifying facts about how women are belittled in the music industry.
Thea, thank you. So well done!
Thank you for reading and supporting! Spreading awareness is our #1 tool in changing the system. 🤓
My pleasure and also one of my female responsibilities.
THANK YOU!
not just for pulling all this together, organizing it for consumption and sharing --
but being a passionate, righteous voice when we have those days we feel exhausted from it all.
& the best part of merch: flashing our truth without even opening our mouths!
Thank you for the support— it means a lot! 🎶
truth is: If we don't lift each other up, we're missing the point!
MY feminism is "we," not "me."
Funky day, and you proved me right: all of this reminded me how we're in this together
...and that strength of collective knowledge + truth is a superpower!
Stickers!
Those are a foregone conclusion!!
Always excellent reporting. Thank you.
Remember to vote for merch! 🤓
LP sized tote bags ?
Keep up the good work.
Good idea! 👍🏻
You're doing great work, Thea. Looking forward to reading more of your stuff!
Thank you ! 🙏🏻
My best friend in high school - the one who introduced me to 75% of the artists I loved - used to say "women simply don't contribute to music as much as men do" and I didn't know enough or have enough confidence to argue at the time... even though much of the music we valued most came from women and female-presenting artists.
Looking back, we were listening to the likes of Kate Bush, Ofra Haza, Laurie Anderson, Rickie Lee Jones, Terry Nunn (from Berlin), Wendy Carlos, and Annie Lennox, not to mention that Madonna was doing then what Taylor Swift and Beyonce are doing now (as far as dominating the charts). I have to wonder if he wasn't saying that to wind me up, or to intentionally set me up for the lifelong habit I now have of Noticing Female Artists.
I'm 99% sure his blind spot was related to his hipster distaste for "pop" (a moving target) but every time I fall for an artist (Neko Case, anyone) I feel an urge to track him down and rub his nose in how awesome she is.
You’re not the only one to hear similar things growing up. There isn’t a lack of female talent, just a system that opens more doors to men. Which seems crazy because female acts have proven to be wildly successful.
👏👏👏👏👏🥲❤️🙌 #ProudLiterayAgent
Oh, it's even worse than you think. Most of the big female led bands of the 1920's and '30s were erased from official histories, and their music re-released under the names of the male musicians who had been part of those bands.