Why Is the Music Industry Male Dominated?
In 2020, Rolling Stone said that the music industry was less male dominated than before, but things in the industry “aren’t even close to being equal.” Only 22.5% of the most popular songs were recorded by women;14.4% of the composers were female; less were music producers — 5%. The article identified objectification and stereotyping as primary causes of gender inequality in the industry.
Editors of the website Gemtracks (December 2021) said the situation has not changed much since 2020. However, this article identified a third cause and suggested a way to improve equality. It suggested that if there were more female music teachers, they would inspire girls to study music. Those girls would have better opportunities to enter the industry.
I believe with this education; more young women could enter the business and rise through the ranks. If girls see more women who are composers, singers, and producers, they will see that there are jobs for them there. They would study for the music industry and enter it. I hope it happens but believe more is necessary.
I think that women already in the industry need to help other women enter it. Also, we must make creativity, intellect and drive more important than sexual attraction in our own minds. We can only fight the ugly beasts of stereotypes and objectification if we don’t feed them.
In addition to musical education for girls, these things are crucially important to expand female representation in the music industry and in all of the places where gender equality still does not exist.
Paula Taylor
Meadowood Music
8521 Allentown Pike
Blandon, Pa 19510
