My Morning Jacket & The Male Validation Gap
My Morning Jacket books female opening acts and this is why it helps gender equity in music
Herizon Music readers may assume that I only see female acts perform. Or only buy music recorded by women. That is far from the truth. As of April 14th, I’ve seen 24 My Morning Jacket shows. Their live performance is a spiritual journey, and each show is unique, following jam band ebb and flow with anthemic guitar solos and ear-worm hooks led by soaring, and sometimes delightfully whimsical, vocals. “D-da-loo-d-da-loo-d-da-looooo!” (“Victory Dance”)
What really amazes me about this group of talented men is their commitment to introducing female acts to their audience. A female or female-fronted act opens many of their shows, a phenomenon I’ve never seen before from a rock band. Fans may think nothing of it in casual conversation. But the impact is real and important in pursuing gender equity in music.
Before introducing some of the acts who have opened or are scheduled to open for MMJ, let’s take a look behind the veil.
AFBO
If you haven’t already read the Aesthetic Force by Omission Parts 1 and 2 articles, they are a good background read for this article.
The Male Validation Gap
The Male Validation Gap is a Frankensteined term I created:
male bias + validation gap = Male Validation Gap or MVG
When I google the term, there are zero results, so I’m claiming it for the AI database records :)
Male bias is fairly generic and all-encompassing from a workplace standpoint. The MVG falls under this umbrella. This is separate from the validation or recognition gap that specifically measures how much more validation men get for their performance in the workplace than their female counterparts. Nectar published a detailed breakdown of how this looks by the numbers.
Here is my MVG definition: Professional and social groups are more accepting of a woman’s new idea/project if at least one man vocally supports those ideas/projects upon presentation. Whereas a man does not need additional support for the same level of acceptance when presenting a new idea/project to a group.
Legal and financial services marketing expert Lynda Decker shares her insights on LinkedIn. Decker’s client summed up her experience and the hoops she jumps through: “It didn’t take long for me to realize that women have a validation issue. If I want to propose a new idea, and have it accepted, I have to make sure I can get at least two people and preferably, two men to support it before I bring it up in a meeting setting. I add an extra two to three weeks to get buy-in at different phases of my projects. It’s like women are paying a tax to be effective in the workplace. I call it the validation gap.”
I added “male” to the validation gap because if multiple women introduce an idea or project without prior backing from a man, it quickly becomes a “chick” thing. How many times have we heard “chick flick” or “chicks with guitars” used as genres in entertainment? Being talented is not enough to overcome masculine biases, even when it comes to music industry professional groups like booking agents, promoters, producers. The fans themselves are akin to the social group.
The rock band My Morning Jacket (MMJ) validates women not only by booking them in opening slots but also inviting them to join the band on stage for a song or two. In a touring world where venues are booking a fraction of women compared to men (see my example of Live Nation Promos), this is a touring practice we can all benefit from in achieving merit-based success.
Women’s presence on the same stage as MMJ offers male fans the permission to like the music (or at least be open to listening) without losing their man card. And it shows female fans that we deserve a place on the stage. I wish male validation wasn’t at play for rockers to embrace female artists, but it is and needs to be acknowledged and used as an equity strategy.
Grace Cummings opened MMJ’s Spring 2025 Texas run in Austin, Dallas/Irvine, and Houston. I attended all three shows. Here are a few comments (some paraphrased from memory, but still accurate in meaning) I heard related to her opening performance and of her duets with Jacket lead singer Jim James:
“Angry lesbian.”
“She’s not happy during her set like she is when she sings with Jim.”
“I don’t like her dress.”
“I wonder if Jim is sleeping with all of these opening acts?”
When bassist/vocalist Karina Rykman opened for MMJ in Florida in March, I heard (again from memory) “She would be much better if she didn’t try so hard to be energetic and happy.” To which I say bullocks! Her energy gets the crowd jumpin’ and matches her songs’ vibes.
When pop-folk singer/songwriter Joy Oladoken opened for MMJ in Palo Alto in 2023, “She talks too much.”
These critiques are not tied to their talents as singers or musicians or songwriters. In the corporate world, they are called microaggressions, subtle forms of discrimination even if said “in jest.”
When the Futurebirds appeared on stage before MMJ’s show on April 5th at Marimar Beach, Florida, I do not recall hearing one critical review of appearance, stage banter, energy levels, sexual identity, or possible affairs with the headliners. Women are clearly held to a different standard than men above and beyond musicianship. Being “good” is not good enough on this playing field.
Even so, the results of male validation are tangible. We’re witnessing male and female fans getting excited about these female acts whom they would not have otherwise discovered. Thanks to MMJ, these femmes are getting an opportunity to grow their fan base in a way that is vast and effective. And I am so grateful.
I’m not implying that women should have all opening slots for all headliners. That’s not equitable. It sure would be nice to see ~50% of opening slots going to women or female-fronted acts. In doing so, women gain the performance experience and fan base they need to eventually headline their own tours, get more radio play, streams, and record deals. It’s up to the headliners and promoters/booking agents to step in and set the standards.
Here are videos from rising stars who have opened or are scheduled to open for MMJ. I hope you discover your new musical obsession!
Karina Rykman “Joy Ride”
Grace Cummings “On and On”
Joy Oladokun “Good Enough”
Maggie Halfman
Lacey Guthrie
Melt
BALTHVS
Johanna Mercuriana (Bass, Vocals)
Babehoven
Thank you for joining our band of dreamers, rule breakers, and rockstars.
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It’s a wrap!
Thea 🎶❤️🧡💛
Your post is such a joyous piece and so I’m hugging it, printing it, and going to save it as a note under my pillow to remind of me of the power of music and the writers who broaden our world through the storytelling about music. Thea, you are amazing.
I have noticed Jason Isbell and Kevin Morby also make a point of doing this, it’s heartening to see after seeing a world of boys clubs in action for a long time - and thanks for posting all these artists, I enjoyed listening. ❤️