Only 14% of independent labels ruled by women and only 37% companies leading of the music industry. In the case of the three big multinational labels, the presidency is occupied by men. These data collected by the association, Women in the Music Industry (MIM) The 2020 report reflects a gender-based inequality reality that continues and leads to its implementation in the industry. groups and platforms By reversing this data, whose purpose is to analyze and replace it, it means breaking the glass ceiling that women face.
One of them Sorority Lab (SOLA)an observatory on gender inequality in the music industry Presented on Thursday, 9th as part of the festival, which emerged in the Cultural Industries research group at the University of Alicante. Barcelona’s Spring SoundAfter selecting the project in Spring Professionalchooses suggestions about the world of music.
Cande Sanchez OlmosA full professor in the Department of Communication and Social Psychology at the University of Alicante, he is principal investigator at SOLA who developed this initiative with Anabel Jiménez López, a Masters student in Communication and Creative Industries in the United Arab Emirates, and a fellow Fundación Carolina.
This project, according to Cande Sánchez, is a container platform to a number of proposals and associations worldwide pursuing this goal. And they did it through Sorority Music Map. interactive map that makes visible and connects Platforms, associations or agents fighting for gender equality in the music industry, characterizing the associationist movement of women in this industry in the virtual environment.
“Aim map and define cWhat are its features, functions and services? activism and associational movement works to reduce the gender gap in the music industry. This way, connections, connections and future collaboration opportunities can be created,” says the researcher.
“We have detected a scatter in the movement from the University of Alicante, where all this gathered, there were no records of its features, services or range of action being stronger than the others and we wonder what factors would influence it”.
Records
This interactive map designed by Maria Esther Almaral PhD candidate in Computer Science at UA, gathers 181 asset records seeking equality in the industry in total 22 countries, although some of them are in various parts of the world. We’ve put them on the map and determined how they are defined, what services they offer, whether they have manifestos or whether they provide legal services to women.”
Thus, associations (17%), international nonprofits (25%), communities (22%), platforms (8%), and networks (7%) gather, but “regardless of how they define themselves, they all have the same common goal: to contribute reduce the gender gap end inequality in music and between men, women and discriminated minorities”.
The research also shows that 26% of these platforms and initiatives include concerts, festivals and networking among their services, and 22% include workshops and conferences.
The issue of gender inequality affects not only artists, but also other positions in the industry such as composers, managers, producers, technicians or educators. Although the majority of participants in musical events were women, it was also reflected in the research conducted by the association. Women of the Music Industry, only one 2.1% of women work in music editor and managerial positions from a record label and 2.6% of recording technicians are women. a number up to 25.5% in promotion, marketing and communication tasks.
There has been a development in the issue of gender discrimination in hit lists. -Wells, 2001; Analyzing this inequality in the top 40 in exactly the same way, Lafrance, Worcester and Burns, 2011- Billboard Hot 100. “The results were crucial: gender inequality has been on the charts since the 1950s and well into the 21st century. However, despite the underrepresentation of women, they have sometimes achieved better positions and therefore greater success. This means Women’s success, It’s an important and often overlooked achievement to make visible even if they’re underrepresented.”
“The difficulties that women and non-binaries face in achieving power and representation in the music industry can be explained by applying qualitative and quantitative methodologies; analyzing charts, record companies, interviewing women and non-binaries who excel in the music industry to provide references to future generations. Also, race and ethnic inequalities also need to be addressed,” says Cande Sánchez.
However, with this investigation, the UA team wants to highlight the “lack of positioning and visibility the movement is going through.” This inequality also affects “not just music”, as the presence of perpetrators has been identified around the stage, theatre, cinema and audiovisual environment. “Our idea of the Soority Music Map is that it’s a tool that gradually updates as the movement progresses.”