Sammy Stein : Candid - Conversations on women in the music industry

We'll never know what we've missed by having women so under-represented in music; performance, composing, production and business. Somehow music has been slower moving towards equality than other artforms, and this book indicates that jazz is behind other genres.

Sammy Stein has worked hard to explore this issue in her writings and this book offers detailed insight from interviews with 43 women and 13 men, from a wide range of genres and roles within music. These range from well-known established names like Evelyn Glennie to exciting young artists who made their debut in 2022.

Stein is an award-winning author with a real passion for jazz, shown in her excellent 2022 book "The Wonder of Jazz" which I described as "an ambitious attempt to shape debate about the future of jazz - and a successful one." This time she has cast the net wider, covering classical and pop music as well as jazz.

Her new book asks "why the music industry is different from other sectors where equality is becoming the norm, such as engineering, science, law, politics, and medicine." The book is careful to balance positive trends with entrenched problems. Stein observes that "scenes like rock and jazz have a long history where women—with notable exceptions—were delectable indulgences rather than taken seriously." That is certainly changing but the book makes clear that progress is both patchy and far too slow. It remains the case that "the vast majority of works performed by orchestras, bands, and small ensembles are composed by men, historical or current."

Some of the issues are cultural, some institutional and some political. For example, a report on "Misogyny in music" by the House of Commons, Women and Equalities Committee, in the UK, made many recommendations to improve things. However "the government of the UK rejected every recommendation." And as drummer Phil Raskin says; "Today, in the United States of America, my daughter, born in 1993, has fewer legal rights than her mother did on the day she was born." Things for women musicians are described as even worse in countries such as Brazil, South Africa, Mexico and Russia.

Cultural issues are still a barrier, illustrated from comments from young artists such as "reviews often mentioned my looks or my dresses..., though I would like to believe I am appreciated for my musicianship.” Another observes "I spent several years working in the corporate world of global companies, followed by ten years of teaching in schools...In light of this background, I have been dismayed and occasionally shocked at some of the misogyny I’ve experienced coming into the jazz world.”

Then there are purely practical issues: "Whether that is a venue with no toilet paper in the bathroom, or the expectation to go out late and drink with industry people. It’s just less safe and less comfortable for women, making it that much harder to succeed.”

The observations from men are equally striking, for example: "Here in New York City, I go between a few scenes, including jazz, classical, Broadway, etc. The jazz scene features the most misogynistic comments and has the fewest number of women." Another example: "One artist I work with regularly had to fight off the advances of a famous jazz musician she was closely working with here in New York. She was worried when she turned him down that she would be blacklisted, and therefore left the business altogether for several years as a result."

Some issues in the current music business apply regardless of gender; as Quincy Jones observed in a Fortune interview as long ago as 2015: "Honey, we have no music industry. There’s 90% piracy everywhere in the world."

As another interviewee observes: "In the past, I would have said men had it easier, but nowadays I’m not so sure. There’s much more emphasis on sex appeal as it is a proven method to generate sales/interest... The music industry continues to distance itself from virtuosity and align itself more with the entertainment industry."

Technology plays a part which can be both positive and negative: "Given the changes in technology and music marketing in recent years, it’s hard for anyone to have a gainful career. So, I might have to say it’s equally dismal for both (sexes). But if you can utilize technology to make music at home and market it online, you can also work around the old-style record industry sexism and market yourself directly to your audience." But that is not trouble free either: "Social media platforms can be breeding grounds for misogyny, hateful comments, threats, and bullying."

There are plenty of suggestions and recommendations coming out of the interviews, with a few themes widely shared: “Equal pay for equal work is number one. Hire skilled women without expecting them to be scantily clad."

What I particularly like about Stein's writing is that she doesn't tell the reader what to think. Instead she juxtaposes many varied perspectives, quotes extensively from those she interviews and lets the evidence speak for itself; the effect is all the more powerful.

© Stephen Godsall

Stephen Godsall is a multi-instrumentalist and composer based in Southern England. To find out more go to https://www.youtube.com/@StephenGodsall

"Candid" is available from all good bookshops including:

https://www.foyles.co.uk/book/candid/sammy-stein/9781836541219
https://www.waterstones.com/book/candid/sammy-stein/9781836541219
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/candid-sammy-stein/1146439374?ean=9781836541219

It is also available to order or download via Amazon