How Companies Can Be More Inclusive in the Music Industry.

Photo by Djordje Petrovic: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-holding-vinyl-sleeve-1918064/

There are very obvious barriers preventing women from succeeding at the same rate as men. They can barely get a seat at the same table as them, to begin with, but there is a huge opportunity for change. We can see many companies empowering women to reach their true potential within the industry, but how are they able to get to this point? Women have a lot of suggestions for that.

First off, since women are often expected to provide free labor, they are not properly compensated for their labor. Unpaid internships are a poor excuse for providing opportunities to women in any industry as they still hold a barrier to those who do not have the proper resources to work freely. Those that need a consistent income will often have to pass up opportunities for ones that are not their passion but provide them with a necessary income. Providing paid internship opportunities when possible will take away many barriers for people in such circumstances. They will no longer have to pass up opportunities or get a second job in order to survive and will instead be compensated for their hard work (Aswad, 2022).

Other than internships, there are other helpful programs to get women the experience they need, such as mentorships. Mentorship initiatives will allow women to connect with professionals, ask questions, and gain a lot of knowledge that will help them start their careers (Aswad, 2022). Mentors also help close the gap of knowledge between experienced and inexperienced workers, giving women more confidence in their positions.

Outside of helping women get started, companies in all sectors need to also ensure that they are thinking of women and creating spaces for them to properly work in. Once women are hired, they should be given consistent support and resources that will allow them to thrive. For example, venues should be providing women with the proper amenities. Artists claim that venue dressing rooms are not built for women, as there is no space to change, poor lighting, and improper mirrors (Moayeri, 2022).

Lastly, women need to be supported in all ways. When it comes to women behind the scenes of concerts and festivals, women are left out of the conversation. If you want to support women in the music industry, men in higher positions should be speaking their names, providing support, and giving them credibility (Moayeri, 2022). Suggesting them for financial support or to be brought onto music events will allow them to be a part of the conversation.

There is a lot to be done and many more ways women can be supported in the music industry, but we need to start somewhere. We need to start thinking about women when creating spaces in the industry and creating positions. It is time to create more opportunities for women in music.

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Citations

Aswad, J. (2022, March 8). Women in music industry still face 'prevalent' discrimination, underpayment and under-recognition: 'women in the mix' study. Variety. Retrieved from https://variety.com/2022/music/news/women-music-industry-discrimination-study-1235198396/

Moayeri, L. (2022). 10 ways to support Women Musicians & creators year-round. Recording Academy. Retrieved from https://www.grammy.com/news/10-ways-to-support-womenin-music-year-round