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Women in music have often played second fiddle next to men. However, the past couple of decades have seen something of a shift in a now almost female-led industry. The rise of stars like Beyonce has been nothing short of inspiring. From female empowerment within the industry to making themselves a brand, here are some ways women are dominating music today.
Working With the Right Mentors
Executives in the music industry are often notorious, sometimes beloved, but consistently excellent at what they do. Many female artists owe some of their success to the mentors they work with. For instance, music industry legend Clive Davis signed Aretha Franklin, Dionne Warwick, and Alicia Keys. Imagine a world where we didn’t have those amazing artists! Some female mentors worth mentioning include Gail Vereilles, Emily Lazar and even Dolly Parton.
The Rise of Female Empowerment
Empowerment in music was something shied away from for a long time. What this means is subjective for most. But for many women, it meant the expression of femininity in any way you want. Whether you prefer somewhat sexualized imagery in the case of Madonna or understated female spirit with artists such as Carly Simon, there has been a growing sentiment around empowerment. Today, preference extends to trans-female artists such as Kim Petras.
Building on Influential Women in Music
Despite lingering sexism in genres such as rock and roll, the success of female artists in the 21st century is phenomenal. In 2023, 48.5% of Top 10 weekly singles of the best-selling artists were women. This includes such artists as Miley Cyrus and Lana Del Ray, both of whom often cite musical legends of yesteryear as their inspiration for working today. Artists such as Stevie Nicks and Jim Morrison are inspirations, with younger artists collaborating with older ones.
Becoming More Business-Savvy
One of the more interesting developments in modern music for women in the industry is the businesswoman. More than just a singer, many modern and younger female artists are harnessing the power of an online presence. Today, women like Rihanna build upon their musical talents with brands. Today, Rianna is worth $1.4 billion, most of which comes from her fashion and makeup brand, Fenty. Taylor Swift is also said to be a top-notch negotiator!
Increased Representation in the Industry
Where the music industry was once dominated by men, it appears that this is no longer the case. Certain artists have opened the sector to allow females to flourish, with much stronger representation. Women such as Beyonce, Taylor Swift, and Billie Eilish advocate for more female-led initiatives in music for support staff, engineers and producers. Beyonce, in particular, is known for having an almost all-female crew when she performs and goes on tour.
Summary
Working with passionate mentors is one of the reasons why women in music today have flourished and dominated the charts. Inspirations from the past are also often cited as the reasons why many younger artists do what they do. However, there is also much more awareness and female representation in the industry today because of artists like Beyonce.
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