Should there be a 50/50 gender split in music festival line-ups?

Submitted by JOSEPH LOUGHRAN on Fri, 11/12/2020 - 21:57
Audio: 

In 2018, American music publication Pitchfork found that women only make up 19% of the average music festival lineup.

In 2020, the PRS foundation formed Keychange - an initiative with the aim to achieve a 50/50 gender split in the music industry by 2022.

However, is this what the fans want? and is a 50/50 split realistic? 

I researched and gained opinions from members of the Huddersfield music scene to find out if there should be a 50/50 gender split in festival line-ups.

If you have any thoughts/opinions on this topic, I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

Credits:

Interviewee 1: Emma Hawdale

Interviewee 2: Oliver Pover

Interviewee 3: Ross Birks

All interviews were conducted by Joe Loughran

Podcast Music: Otis McDonald - Not For Nothing

 

 

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Comments

Thomas Warren

Wed, 16/12/2020 - 21:39

It's rediculous how single-gendered music is. I feel like a true 50/50 split is impossible, but more needs to be done to get closer! Forcing it would be wrong, but based on my experience in the industry, so many hugely talented female performers just aren't getting the chance that male performers are getting.

Joe Loughran (not verified)

Thu, 17/12/2020 - 18:17

Thanks Tom, I completely agree and would love to hear more on your experiences in the music industry!

LAUREN DENSON

Thu, 17/12/2020 - 10:48

I agree that there should be a fair amount of male and female performers in the lineups at music festivals but the 50 50 split is unrealistic. You have to take into consideration that performers talent is not on an even keel and it depends on the genre of music that the festival is promoting there may be more male than female performers in that industry or vise versa.

Joe Loughran (not verified)

Thu, 17/12/2020 - 18:20

Yea I agree, that’s proven by a lot of rock/metal festivals tending to have an even worse split than multicultural festivals

George Bloomfield

Thu, 17/12/2020 - 18:04

I think a 50/50 split is unrealistic but I think that it should defiantly be more balanced when it comes to festival line-ups.

Joe Loughran (not verified)

Thu, 17/12/2020 - 18:23

Cheers for commenting George, however don’t festivals like primavera sound and Iceland airwaves prove that a 50/50 split is realistic?

George Bloomfield

Thu, 17/12/2020 - 19:08

You make a good point but looking at it from a wider perspective. That is two festivals out of the thousands of festivals there are.

JOSEPH LOUGHRAN

Fri, 18/12/2020 - 12:57

True, but you've gotta start somewhere!

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