The discrimination that women deal with in their everyday lives is well-documented, but a new Huffington Post story shows an area of discrimination that many may not realize: music production.
The story begins by pointing out that out of the 19 people who are credited with working on Taylor Swift’s Grammy-winning album 1989, only two of them (excluding Swift) were women—nearly 11 percent.
Industry-wide numbers are even more dismal: the web site for Women’s Audio Mission, a nonprofit for women in audio production, says that only 5 percent of people who work in the production of music, television, news and film are women. The founder of WMA, Terri Winston, said that 5 percent number was an estimate from 2000, and that current estimates are even lower.
The amount of opportunities for producers who are women seems just as low, if not worse, in Hip Hop. The most notable is Missy Elliott, who has produced some of her own work, along with records for acts like 702, Mary J. Blige, and Trina. Syd Tha Kid produces and mixes for her Odd Future cohorts. Wondagurl grabbed headlines after she landed “Crown” on Jay Z’s Magna Carta Holy Grail at age 19, and has also produced Drake and Lil Wayne’s hit “Used To,” Rihanna’s “Bitch Better Have My Money,” and several songs for Travis Scott. But many would be hard-pressed to come up with many more than that.
One of the few is Shakari “TRAKGIRL” Linder, who has worked with Timbaland, Omarion and others. She told Huffington Post that she could only name about five producers who are women, and that she has had to deal with her talents being doubted.
“Coming up, some men view women as, ‘Oh, they don’t know what they’re talking about,’” Linder said. “Once you hit that play button, it’s a whole different story.”
Women also spoke about how men see them in the studio and assume they are there for reasons other than work: namely, being the lover of one of the artists.
“A lot of people assume I’m someone’s wife or girlfriend when they first see me in the studio,” said sound engineer Laura Sisk, one of the two women to contribute to 1989. She has also worked with Carly Rae Jepsen and Shakira. “I’ve gotten used to giving overly technical explanations of why I’m doing what I’m doing, because I’m always questioned at every step.”
There is also the matter of women who work in production and audio engineering, but don’t get credit for their contributions. The article cites a story from Sisk where a woman recorded, edited and mixed an album in the studio, but wasn’t credited as the studio engineer on the album release.
In an interview with NPR, the singer Grimes said she wasn’t allowed to touch a computer during cooperative songwriting sessions, despite her having experience as a producer. Gender roles don’t stop when it comes to music, she said: women are expected to sing, while men are expected to produce.
“I came in with experience as a producer and I wasn’t allowed to produce—so how could any woman who didn’t have experience as a producer ever learn how to produce?” Boucher said in the NPR interview. “If there are stereotypes of, ‘Women do certain jobs in music and men do certain jobs,’ the way the studio works, it’s not easy to escape that.”
I dont understand the point of this article. Let me get this straight… Feminists are mad there are not a lot of talented women producers out there?? There sure is a lot of women Artist, but that doesnt satisfy psycho women. A lot of men and women are not being credited. It wouldn’t surprise me that men aren’t credited more than women, but nobody sticks out for the men. Double Standards.
Just for thinking you are someones G/F or Wife is Sexual discrimination? Dont get surprised ladies when no one wants to work with you.
Okay??
Clearly the typical commenters on this site are misogynistic stereotypical men who can’t perceive another point of view. The article is about pointing out that women in music industry are not given credit for their work especially behind the scenes work such as producing and engineering. It’s bad enough females have to deal with thirsty men who just want to have sex with any women who walks into the studio, so why is so difficult for people to perceive this issue? Why is this issue only seeing some light shed on it now when this has been happening for years and not just in the music industry. I’m sure the commenters are pissed that a hip hop is talking about a feminist issue when women add to the culture of hip hop on a daily basis.
yeah we can easily name hundreds of males who been screwed out of pay..its the way the industry works..get over it.
bitches ain’t shit but hos n tricks
this article has so much bullshit it’s crazy…… women aren’t “discriminated” against in “studio culture.” If you have the will and the skill in “studio culture,” it doesn’t matter who the fuck you are, you’ll get your just due once you work hard enough and make the right moves — man or woman. Women typically simply show little to no interest in working mixing boards, using drum machines, using protools etc etc etc…. the ones that do definitely are *not* discriminated against if they know what the fuck they are doing… the issue does not lie within the studio, it lies within the fact that traditionally women simply do not have as much interest in the technical aspects of engineering and producing music as men do…and again, for reiteration — the ones that do show interest are not usually discriminated against. wtf.
Any facts to go along with your “perspective?” At least the article talked to women engineers.
Sure, my “perspective” is molded by the fact that I work in the music industry as an engineer and as a producer. I work with many women outside of who the “article” claims was spoken to as well as one of them who the “article” claims was spoken to. None of them have ever been discriminated against for being women. That isn’t “studio culture.” Also, people don’t need to be “allowed” to produce in “studio culture.” Also, a bunch of women brought into the studio by an artist is different than a woman who is working in the studio. There is a distinction which needs to be made.
Not that they told YOU about, privilege man. I’m a 58 year old award winning female sound engineer. I’ve seen it all.
Whine culture.
i know what yall bitches talkin bout… you going to a studio with a kinky outfit and you want to be respected as an engineer? of course your someones bitch, bitch! and its hard to imagine people with pussy sit behind the boards and mix shit. Pathetic sl uts, dogshit article.
Wow, what an idiot response. What are you? 9 years old?
What the actual fuck? This isn’t serious, is it?
Discrimination, whether racial, gender or otherwise is discrimination. Just because “you” don’t see it, doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen ad isn’t an issue. And pointing out women are being discriminated against doesn’t make you a feminist. I know these things can be hard to understand but try to see another point of view instead of just your own.
I notice that a bunch of mouthy men who probably wish they were sound engineers have joined the conversation to tell the women why they’re wrong. Predictably and once again. They prove the point of the article in my books. I’m guessing they work in their bedrooms and have rockstar wet dreams. Any professional amongst them would have more respect. You see the thing is that men are so unsure of their own competence, that they need to operate at a level of pretend with each other. We compete with fellow men for jobs, and can’t stand the fact that women may want to join our profession and actually show us up. If you haven’t lived as a woman, it’s likely you have no effing idea of what they go through on a daily basis. Back off and let them speak.