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WOMEN IN MUSIC
Women In Music
Women have made significant contributions to the music industry across all genres and throughout history. Leading pioneers all across the globe who have impacted thousands of women who love music to pursue their dreams and have made notable contributions worldwide, enriching diverse musical traditions and influencing global culture, deserve to be given their due.The sheer talent and hardwork that got them to reach such heights is truly commendable.
Taking music from all over the world into consideration ;
THE IMPACTFUL TRAILBLAZERS AND PIONEERING RECORD-BREAKERS:
Africa
Miriam Makeba, a South African activist against apartheid who popularly became known as "Mama Africa," introduced African music to a worldwide audience.
Celebrated musician and women's rights activist Oumou Sangaré (Mali) combines traditional Wassoulou music with contemporary elements.
Grammy-winning Beninese musician Angelique Kidjo is renowned for her unique style, which combines Latin music, jazz, funk, and African customs.
MIRIAM MAKEBA aka Mama Africa
Asia
With a career spanning more than six decades, Asha Bhosle (India) is one of Bollywood's most versatile playback singers.
Japanese singer-songwriter Hikaru Utada has a sizable fan base worldwide and has significantly influenced J-pop.
Chinese singer and actress Faye Wong is well-known in the Mandopop and Cantopop genres.
LATA MANGESHKAR aka nightingale of India
Europe
Adele, a British singer-songwriter, is well-known for her heartfelt ballads and strong voice. She has sold millions of records worldwide.
French singer Edith Piaf is a legendary figure in French music, renowned for her emotional renditions of ballads and chansons.
Icelandic avant-garde musician and visual artist Björk is well-known for her creative approach to music and art, having a significant impact on the electronic and alternative music movements.
ADELE aka the best-selling female artist of the 21st century in the UK
South America
The "Queen of Tejano Music," Selena Quintanilla (Mexico/USA), popularised the genre before her tragic passing.
Shakira (Colombia) is a well-known international artist who has a wide range of musical tastes, including dance, rock, and Latin pop.
Mercedes Sosa, an Argentine folk singer, is renowned for her advocacy and for having contributed to nueva canción.
SHAKIRA aka Queen of Latin music
Middle east
One of the most well-known and admired vocalists in the Arab world, Fairuz (Lebanon) is renowned for her expressive and strong voice.
Iranian pop singer Googoosh is a legendary figure in Iranian culture and among the Persian-speaking diaspora.
FAIRUZ aka The bird of the east
Oceania
Sia is an Australian singer-songwriter who is well-known for her distinctive vocals, powerful lyrics, and career as a pop music titan.
From New Zealand, Kimbra: renowned for her avant-garde approach to music and her varied sound, which combines pop with influences from jazz, rock, and R&B.
KYLIE MINOGUE aka one of the princesses’ of pop
North America
Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell is renowned for her intricate songs and lyrical lyrics. She is a hugely influential artist.
Aretha Franklin (USA): Known as the "Queen of Soul," her powerful voice and successful songs had a significant influence on the music business.
MADONNA aka the Queen of Pop
Historical Influence of Women in Classical Music:
During the 1800s, notable female composers and pianists included Clara Schumann and Fanny Mendelssohn. Even with today's social restraints, their creations are still cherished.
Jazz and Blues:
Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, and Ella Fitzgerald were among the pioneers who helped shape these genres, which have had a significant influence on modern music.
Rock and roll genre shaping:
Female pioneers like Joan Jett and Janis Joplin broke down barriers in the rock industry, paving the way for a host of other female musicians.
Pop and R&B icons like Madonna, Whitney Houston, and Aretha Franklin have transformed their genres in addition to selling millions of records. In modern music, Beyoncé, for example, has come to represent empowerment and inventiveness.
Influence from Culture and Society
Activism and Feminism:
Performers such as Nina Simone and Joni Mitchell addressed social concerns with their platforms, affecting public opinion and advancing the cultural movements of their eras.
Diversity and Representation: By supporting LGBTQ+ rights and body positivity, women like Lizzo and Janelle Monáe are contributing to creating a more welcoming music business.
Creativity and Direction
Writing and Producing:
Women like Max Martin and Diane Warren have penned many hits for both other artists and themselves, demonstrating their versatility and influence in the background.
In Entrepreneurship, Famous people like Beyoncé and Rihanna have branched out from music to become successful businesswomen and role models for other women hoping to follow in their footsteps.
Global Influence on World Music:
Performers such as Celia Cruz and Miriam Makeba have enhanced the world music landscape by introducing listeners to the sounds of Latin America and Africa.
K-Pop and J-Pop:
Artists like Utada Hikaru and groups like BLACKPINK have enormous global fan bases, illustrating the influence that women have on music from various cultural backgrounds.
Contemporary Impact:
Chart Dominance:
Women often top the music charts, with talented artists like Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, and Billie Eilish being the epitome of modern musicians whose work connects with audiences worldwide.
Social Media platforms such as YouTube, Spotify, and TikTok have enabled female artists to directly engage with listeners, generate viral sensations, and grow substantial fan bases on their own. The influence of women in music is extensive and diverse, showcasing their essential role in shaping the sounds, cultures, and industries globally.
Why Is the Music Industry Difficult for Women?
Gender discrimination is pervasive in this sector. A significant 64% of 401 women creatives, largely from North America and Europe, who participated in a 2021 survey by independent digital music distribution company TuneCore, including musicians, songwriters, producers, and DJs, identified sexual harassment and objectification as a key problem that women confront.
Though a great deal of noise and thought pieces have been produced by the #MeToo movement, it appears that not much has changed in terms of women and music.
Ageism was mentioned by 38% of the respondents as another issue. "The music industry wants female musicians to be young. This is partially due to the industry's fixation with youth, but it's also done to help women succeed before they are presumed to decide to take on the role of motherhood,’ the study says.
'The concerns, challenges and experiences outlined in this analysis are not "women's problems" to be solved exclusively by women in the music industry,' the study sharply concluded. More support for female rappers and "a diverse array of female A&Rs and executives imagining more creative futures for women in pop" are among the recommendations made by Laura Snapes of The Guardian. Regarding the notion of men lending support to the cause, consider the statement made by "male artists stipulating that they will only play events with balanced bills."
The entire music industry ecosystem has a gender imbalance; it's possible that we're all unintentionally being encouraged to listen to more music created by male artists.
The poll was published in 2021 by researchers from Utrecht University in the Netherlands and Universitat Pompeu Fabra in Spain.
A clear picture emerged from their examination of 330,000 consumers' listening habits over nine years: barely 25% of the musicians they had ever listened to were female.
According to their disclosure, "We tested the algorithm and found that, on average, the first and the next six recommended tracks were both by men." To hear a song by a woman, users had to wait until songs seven or eight.
Journalist Liz Pelly questioned whether streaming culture "is creating a data-driven echo chamber where the most popular sounds rise to the top, subtly shifting us back towards a more homogenous and overtly masculine pop music culture, or if streaming is merely reflective of a relentlessly male-centric status quo." Playlist programmers analyse user listening habits, prioritising tracks with high completion rates and removing those with high skip rates.
Pelly analysed the data for a month while only listening to Spotify playlists. She discovered that 64.5% of the tunes had male lead artists, 20% had female lead musicians, and 15.5% relied on male and female partnerships. "I had just been listening to what Spotify told me to listen to by way of its playlists… These playlists overtly contribute to the continued “othering” and marginalising of non-male artists.’
However, Spotify’s stats for 2021 showed women on a roll and bucking these statistics – globally, the most-streamed song was Olivia Rodrigo’s ‘Drivers License’; Rodrigo also came in at number four, with Dua Lipa’s ‘Levitating’ at number five.
Rodrigo’s Sour was the most-streamed album, with Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia coming in second; Doja Cat’s Planet Her took fifth place.
In 2024 Top 10 Female Artists on Spotify:
97.4 million monthly listeners
97.3 million monthly listeners
86.9 million monthly listeners
84.9 million monthly listeners
79.1 million monthly listeners
74.9 million monthly listeners
70.0 million monthly listeners
65.5 million monthly listeners
60.4 million monthly listeners
59.9 million monthly listeners
How Can the Music Industry Create More Roles for Women?
In a feature for Rolling Stone, Desiree Perez, the CEO of Roc Nation, suggested:
- Actively recruiting women for roles, including executive-level jobs
- Training opportunities to help women advance their careers
- Encouraging mentoring and support for women already in the field, such as networking events
- Start open conversations addressing issues of sexual harassment and ageism
Sources:
https://routenote.com/blog/who-is-the-most-streamed-female-artist-on-spotify/
https://blog.audionetwork.com/the-edit/music/history-of-women-in-music
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