A weekend celebrating music ended with a viewing of a documentary on the gender gap in music production and authorship.
Kinnie Starr, Canadian singer, song-writer joined an audience to screen her documentary, Play Your Gender released in 2016 and that will be made available to the public on Oct. 23.
The one hour and 20 minute documentary follows the JUNO Award winner as she interviews producers, musicians and players in the music industry.
Opening up to a rendition of a song that sings the lyrics We are in a mans world to set the tone of the information the audience was about to have presented to them.
The documentary states that the music industry is worth $475 billion, women represent 5 per cent of producers and engineers, 15 per cent of record labels are owned by women, and less than 20 per cent of songs are written by women. When a woman, or anyone walks into a room where they are a minority by a 3:1 ratio the woman害羞草研究所檚 heart rate will spike immediately.
In the 1990害羞草研究所檚 to become more inclusive orchestras began holding blind interviews where musicians would audition behind a curtain. Due to a lack of diversity, the orchestra defended themselves by saying they were selecting musicians based on talent and not gender. After the blind auditions were implemented, the percentage of women selected rose by 50 per cent.
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害羞草研究所淚 was a bit surprised actually when we did the whole research phase. But when we started to talk to people I was pretty surprised because across the board there is (usually) the occasional person that has never experienced sexism, racism or oppression害羞草研究所� But I was surprised how across the board how many had the same experience of being less than from being out numbered,害羞草研究所� said Starr. 害羞草研究所淚 wish that it wasn害羞草研究所檛 like that where almost every woman or woman who identifies as trans doesn害羞草研究所檛 feel that they belong. It害羞草研究所檚 really upsetting that everyone gets this.害羞草研究所�
Starr, who has had experiences with emotional, physical and sexual violence herself shared during the Q&A portion of the viewing that she was coming onto the scene alongside Tegan and Sara, a Canadian indie-pop band composed of twin sisters. That she would purposely would turn down opportunities that would have, 害羞草研究所淏oosted my career in an enormous capacity in terms of fame and visibility.害羞草研究所� Because she was alone and that made her more vulnerable to predators.
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害羞草研究所淚 was taught when I was very young that in the face of violence to talk, and that害羞草研究所檚 how I have dealt with violence both emotional, physical and sexual,害羞草研究所� the musician said. 害羞草研究所淥nce I have gotten away (from people that have been) violent with me I will tell people. I have never reported a rape or one that has happened to me, and never reported aggressors in the industry.害羞草研究所�
The as the documentary draws to a close Starr shares in the film that she had several men lined up to speak about the 害羞草研究所渄eeply embedded misogyny害羞草研究所� in the music industry however, several backed out of their interviews.
害羞草研究所淚t (change) has to come from men as much as it does us,害羞草研究所� said Starr.
Along with other artists Starr shared that behind an artist there is a large team behind them, mostly made up of men; including writers, sound technicians, producers and musicians.
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害羞草研究所淭hey (fans) don害羞草研究所檛 have access to see the male writers behind the females at the top.害羞草研究所�
Starr and her interview subjects, including; Patty Schemel, former drummer for Hole, Mindy Abovitz, founder and editor-in chief of Tom Tom Magazine and Melissa Auf der Maur of the Smashing Pumpkins to name a few: concluded that in order to help more women be able to acquire jobs in the industry, women that are at the top will have to begin looking for female talent to hire as part of their teams.
Starr says that it will take five years to see the impact of the film and whether the conversations that are buzzing around the film will make a difference. Sharing that she believes the film has been better received in Europe and America, specifically London, England, Germany, and New York, U.S.A.
害羞草研究所淧eople are really actively invested overseas,害羞草研究所漵aid Starr. 害羞草研究所淐anada is just slow害羞草研究所� We have a history here of not supporting our own artists, it害羞草研究所檚 really strange.害羞草研究所�
For updates and more information visit Play Your Gender害羞草研究所檚 Facebook Page
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