Gender Diversity
In the New Zealand Music Industry
The New Zealand music industry is a sprawling accumulation of talented groups and individuals such as the fabled Six60, Lorde, Benee, and Fat Feddy’s Drop. However, the music industry encompasses much more than that of the musicians alone, in New Zealand we have record labels such as Slave Collective, 24k Legacy Music, and Allgood Absolute Alternative Records and many more, all of which cover a wide range of music genres, from Metal to Pop. With such a diversity in music culture it is easy to overlook the sexism that is present amongst the New Zealand music Industry, through this digital story we hope to inform you of the lack of gender diversity in the New Zealand music industry.
LORDE - Born 7th Of November 1996, She debuted with her first EP ‘The Love Club’ in 2012. this Followed closely behind her first single, “Royals” debuted at number 1 in the New Zealand top 40, while also reaching number 1 in the Billboard Hot 100 in 2013, making her the first NZ artist to have a number 1 song in the USA.
SIX60 - Originally the band formed in the fabled Dunedin 660 Castle street flat, upon discovering their iconic kiwi sound they made headlines across the country and the globe becoming one of New Zealand's beloved treasures.
SECTORS IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY WITH THE MOST GENDER DISPARITY
SECTORS IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY WITH THE LEAST GENDER DISPARITY
GENRE WITH THE MOST GENDER DISPARITY
GENRE WITH LEAST GENDER DISPARITY
In all areas of the music industry, women are more likely to report encountering bias, discrimination, and disadvantage than men. This represented two-thirds of the women who reported these events. This is seven times the reporting rate of men. In several sectors of the music industry, women face bias, discrimination, and disadvantage. Sexual harassment, undervalued, overlooked, overt racism, micro aggression, age discrimination, and gender diversity are all issues that need to be addressed. Women report experiencing sexual harassment on a frequent basis from industry executives, coworkers, and crowds. Instances of sexual coercion and assault, unwanted physical contact, and inappropriate comments about the appearance of women were described. There is a dearth of gender diversity in all sectors of the music industry, and women have reported feeling like they are merely in the industry to meet a quota.
Excerpts from BENEATH THE GLASS CEILING Instagram page
TRIGGER WARNING - sexual harassment
xxx, another ex middle management staff member (now-breakfast host) constantly used his position to message female staff inappropriate messages then gaslight them if anything is ever mentioned (he is married).
The same person constantly joked about sexual harassment/rape in the workplace while being one of the faces of a female-targeted station
TRIGGER WARNING
70% of women in NZ music experience bias, disadvantage or discrimination based on their gender
2 out of 3 of the major music companies have employed or retained employment of male A&R execs that the companies knew had a history of sexual assault, or harassment towards young women
"there was one time where i got asked to just hold my boob and have some beads over my nipple" - Georgia Nott (Broods)
"We walked into this board room, to meet this one person... and he didn't look me in the eye, he didn't speak to me. he made me feel like the most unimportant person in the room. all the talking was done between the men and that was the first taste of feeling really self conscious and marginalised. I told my manager, that's its were not signing with them. " - Alisa Xayalith
"I was told your only 20 pounds away from being a star" Tami Neilson
Scott Machlachlan
Scott Machlachlan, after working in his own management company, was hired by Warner Music Australasia. Five months into his time here, he was demoted for sexual harassment, but retained a job with the company despite this. Scott, described by Warner head Niko Nordstrom, as a legend, was manager for a number of extremely successful New Zealand artists, including Lorde and Sol3 Mio. In 2020 Stuff did an investigation into the music industry, and his sexual harassment whilst being a manager came up. He represents the power imbalance that the industry creates, with young women working underneath him feeling emotionally manipulated.
Amy Goldsmith, a victim of his harassment, suggested that he is not fully to blame, but rather points to the industry-wide issues of abuse. Included in this, is the workplaces which often are bars and venues also play into perpetuating the harassment.
SOLUTIONS:
Jeff Crabtree in his report on workplace and sexual harassment suggests a number of essential solutions to reducing workplace abuse. The implication of this is also hopefully a greater number of women existing and working in music spaces as it becomes a safer place. He references that music industry workers should get development training, in areas such as consent, ethics, and conflict resolution (Crabtree, 2021, 20). Especially essential is that this should apply to all levels, including leaders in the industry. And further, the organizations within the industry should develop a zero-tolerance binding code of conduct so that it is better enforced (Crabtree, 2021, 21).
Conclusion
New Zealand's female musicians face several challenges. In various jobs and genres, women are underrepresented in New Zealand's music business. Why? Gender discrimination, sexual harassment, racism, and sexuality are all causes that broaden the gender disparity. Many female musicians in New Zealand have spoken out about sexual harassment. Beneath the Breaking Glass has helped women disclose sexual harm from co-workers by bringing these tales to light. It's important to keep pushing these issues of sexual harm, racism and sexism. It's not just then New Zealand's music Industry that has gender imbalance issues, but the music industry in general as shown by Madonna's acceptance speech.
References
Cooper, R., Coles, A. and Hanna-Osborne, S., 2017. Skipping a beat: Assessing the state of gender equality in the Australian music industry.
Conor, B., Gill, R. and Taylor, S., 2015. Gender and creative labour. The sociological review, 63, pp.1-22.
www.youtube.com. (2016). Madonna Delivers A Powerful Speech Blasting Sexism In The Music Industry: ‘To Age Is a Sin’ | TIME - YouTube. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNhaNEdH-0Y.
NZ female musicians tell truth about sexism in industry. (2016). Newshub. [online] Available at: https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/new-zealand/2016/10/nz-female-musicians-tell-truth-about-sexism-in-industry.html [Accessed 22 Sep. 2022].
‘Wake up, now’: Music insiders say gender imbalance is at heart of industry after sexual harassment revelations. (2021). Newshub. [online] Available at: https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/entertainment/2021/01/wake-up-now-revelations-of-sexual-harassment-in-nz-music-hint-at-gender-imbalance-at-the-heart-of-the-industry.html [Accessed 22 Sep. 2022].
www.muzic.net.nz. (2022). New Zealand Music at muzic.net.nz. [online] Available at: https://www.muzic.net.nz/ [Accessed 22 Sep. 2022].
nzmusic.org.nz. (2022). Lorde | NZ Artist Directory | NZ Music Commission. [online] Available at: https://nzmusic.org.nz/artists/pop/lorde/ [Accessed 22 Sep. 2022].
www.instagram.com. (2022). Beneath The Glass Ceiling - NZ (@beneaththeglassceilingnz) • Instagram photos and videos. [online] Available at: https://www.instagram.com/beneaththeglassceilingnz/ [Accessed 22 Sep. 2022].
Mau, A. (2021). Music industry professionals demand change after speaking out about its dark side. [online] Stuff. Available at: https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/300212805/music-industry-professionals-demand-change-after-speaking-out-about-its-dark-side [Accessed 22 Sep. 2022].
Crabtree, J. (2021). WORKPLACE AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY Research Report. [online] Available at: https://womeninmusicawards.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/WORKPLACE-AND-SEXUAL-HARASSMENT-RESEARCH-REPORT-AWMA-web.pdf.
GENDER DIVERSITY AMONG AOTEAROA/ NEW ZEALAND’S APRA AMCOS MEMBERSHIP. (2020). [online] Available at: https://assets.apraamcos.co.nz/images/PDFs/About/amplify-aotearoa-gender-diversity-report.pdf [Accessed 22 Sep. 2022].
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