13 male musicians discuss sexism in the music industry
*This article contains discussion about sexual assault.
On August 30, AP published a piece titled “14 musicians discuss sexism in the music industry.” We initially wanted to feature the views of both women and men in the article—albeit with a larger proportion of female artists, as it is overwhelmingly women who experience sexism—but despite reaching out to some male artists at the time, our approaches were either declined, or the acts were unable to give us a quote before the set deadline. Consequently, we decided to move forward with a piece that just featured the thoughts of female musicians.
However, when speaking to the artists featured, several of our interviewees highlighted how important it is for men to speak out on the issue of sexism. Jess Branney of Peaness suggested that “we should be asking the bands and artists who don't think about gender inequalities and try to reach out to their audiences,” while Petrol Girls’ Ren Aldridge highlighted the importance of Architects’ Sam Carter using his position to speak out against sexual violence at shows.
With this in mind, we decided to try reaching out to male artists again, asking them what they thought of the article and if the amount of women speaking about their experiences of sexism in the music industry was a cause for concern. Thirteen responded, and this is what they had to say…
Ben Aldham, Adam Doveston, Jason Doveston, Mikey Lord and Jarlath McCaughery, As Sirens Fall
“If you're a woman in a band, keep going. Tear down every bastard that stands in your way. We're with you.”
“As males, it's difficult for us to imagine what it must feel like to be a woman in music. We do, however, have a lot of female friends involved in the industry. It's disgusting that this still needs to be talked about in 2017. There is sexism prevalent in so many industries, and it's heartbreaking that the music industry—a field that is meant to be all about equality and inclusion—is one of them.
“There are some incredible bands out there that include or consist solely of women, such as Haim, Vukovi, Marmozets, Daughter and Wolf Alice. And yet, it definitely seems to be more difficult for female artists than it is for males to find their names on festival lineups. Young women should be encouraged to make music and art and to take it as far as they can. There's a perspective that rock music is a 'man’s world,' and that could be off-putting to young women looking to enter the industry.—and that needs to change.
“We've had problems in the past with certain venues and security teams not allowing women who work with us backstage or into the pit, even if they had the correct passes, because they were women. It isn't exclusively a problem for female musicians, either—a lot of the women we know who work behind the scenes often feel they aren't taken seriously.
“This shouldn't be a discussion we are needing to have. Art is art. Music is music. Gender should not come into it, but for some reason it's still a problem that needs to be addressed.
“Even in local music scenes, there's still a disproportionate representation of gender. As with all problems of this nature, the solution is found in conversation, communication and education. Call out sexism when you see it. Support all artists and keep the music alive. If you're a woman in a band, keep going. Tear down every bastard that stands in your way. We're with you.”
Enrico Bertoni, Halflives
“There should be no surprise in seeing a successful businesswoman in the music industry or a singer that’s appreciated for being a great singer and not because she’s good looking.”
“Sexism is something that I always find hard to understand. It’s difficult for me to get how this kind of mentality can still stick around and poison people’s brains—it just doesn’t make sense to me. I’ve always been used to working with female musicians, managers and booking agents; Linda [Battilani, vocals] and our manager, Margaux [Sachse], are two of the most hard-working, motivated and talented people I’ve ever known. And I could go on with a long list of others.
“It would be great to stop hearing things like, ‘For a woman, she’s a really good manager.’ There should be no surprise in seeing a successful businesswoman in the music industry or a singer that’s appreciated for being a great singer and not because she’s good looking.
I’ve always shared my touring experiences with a lot of female musicians and crew members (tour managers, photographers, merch sellers), and there was one occasion in the past where I heard gross comments and gestures addressed to the singer of a band I was touring with. I felt so embarrassed by the situation. It was the first and only time I’ve witnessed it, but it was enough to have it clear in mind how it’s easy to turn a great night of fun, music and passion into something wrong and unfair.
“I feel we’re taking some steps forward, but it’s still a long way to a real world of equal opportunities.”
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE: KAMIKAZE GIRLS, KEVIN DEVINE
Conor Dawson, Kamikaze Girls
[Photo by: Katie McMillan]
“I've seen no end of patronizing and horrible stuff that she’s had to deal with; stuff that I as a male musician would never have to endure.”
“We’re clearly still fighting a massive battle against sexism in the music industry. I've seen it firsthand playing in a band with Lucinda [Livingstone, vocals/guitar] for eight years. I've seen no end of patronizing and horrible stuff that she’s had to deal with; stuff that I as a male musician would never have to endure.
“We need a massive rethink of how we educate young musicians, especially boys, when they’re growing up. There's an image of ‘the rock star’ and the idea that they get all this female attention. To boys growing up in school—especially those who aren't massively popular—this is a really common reason they get into playing music. It's dangerous, because when you have a young adult that's playing in even a mildly successful band and have a younger audience watching them, they think this is what being in a band is supposed to be about. With better education, we can teach people—especially young men—to be a lot more respectful of their audience and other musicians.
“Is it any wonder that female musicians are put off playing in bands when you have a load of men strutting around pretending to be rock stars because they think that's how they’re meant to act?
“I think we're at a point where we have so many incredible bands with females in, and incredible female musicians and speakers, that they’re really making a space for themselves and demanding to be heard. Especially in the DIY scene, they definitely are being heard—seeing some of the varied and amazing lineups we've been part of at festivals and gigs recently goes to show what a difference is being made. But overall, I still think we have a long way to go as a scene.”
Kevin Devine:
“There are serious double standards from which I benefit and for which my peers who are women suffer.”
“The music industry is a microcosm for our culture at large, particularly with respect to its troubling tendency to prioritize at all costs growing its profit margins at the expense of the mental and physical wellness of artists. While I do believe, on the artist side, the industry is generally more progressive and inclusive than it isn’t (with obvious, notable and visible exceptions), I do think it’s still pretty heavily a boys club, and it’s apparent that there are serious double standards from which I benefit and for which my peers who are women suffer. That goes way up and down the line; I see it most casually in my day to day life when we’re loading in at a show, and the women making the music, running sound or tour managing are mistaken for someone’s girlfriend or assistant. And even when that assumption isn’t made, the tonality is usually markedly different between ‘the boys’ and in ‘mixed company.’ I do think things are moving in a more honest and encouraging direction: There’s more and better dialogue happening, and people—myself included—are always learning, which hopefully results in improved actions and attitudes.”
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE: CREEPER, AS DECEMBER FALLS
