Warning: This article may be unsettling for some, topics such as abuse, harassment, sexual solicitation, and rape may be discussed.
Although I am just a sprout in the music world, with a lot of Soundgirls here being overwhelmingly more developed in comparison to me, there is one thing that I think everyone can agree with – None of us got here alone.
It might have been a college professor or a middle school band teacher. It could have been someone you shadowed on a tour or possibly a parent, whatever the case, someone helped guide you or opened the right doors. A majority of people you work with within the music world will be honest-to-god genuine, but we shouldn’t ignore the loud minority of those less than genuine.
April is Sexual Harassment Awareness Month, which is honestly the worst. The fact that there even NEEDS to be an awareness month for this should be enough of a wake-up call. Still, I think if events so horrid are happening, the least we can do is to understand how prevalent it is and to help to amplify those that have been affected by sexual assault/harassment.
So how prevalent is it? In a statement given to the BBC, Music Manager Yasmin Lajoie has gone on record to say that “You’d be hard-pressed to find a woman working in the industry today who’s never been a victim of sexual harassment or abuse,” continuing with “I expected stories of sexual harassment… but what I’ve actually received are stories of rape happening on company property, men insisting on oral sex from young women, men seriously assaulting women, raping them in apartments owned by major music companies.”
I’ve linked the BBC article below, but in summary, it is filled to the brim with stories of individuals being subjected to unwarranted actions against them. The industry is getting better by being more inclusive and aware of issues such as this, however, there are still people at the top working today that still have the money and connections and will likely continue with the lifestyle they see fit – which may not be beneficial to those “under”. NDA’s, threats of losing their job or status in the music world – can shame those “under” into silence.
So…. Is there a light at the end of the tunnel here? YES!
On a person-to-person level, the best help if someone has been sexually attacked in any form is to ask them three questions…
- Do you want space?
- Do you want to talk about it?
- Do you just want to hang out?
Just having someone acknowledge them and being there counts.
On a larger scale, however, SoundGirls has put out a number of ways to get involved in change. You can check them out here –
Sexual Harassment Reforms | SoundGirls.org
Additionally, if you are someone that has dealt with this… I understand. Trust me on the deepest level imaginable that I understand, it is something that sticks on you in the most awful ways possible. You are not alone here, even if you feel like you are. You are loved and deserve love in its most authentic form.
This link can take you to some self-care tips :
Self Care for Trauma | SoundGirls.org
Even with the end of April approaching, I’d like to end with one statement, a month’s label shouldn’t be the only time for awareness and reflection. Any month can be an awareness month – and with a topic this heavy and demanding we should raise our voices in awareness any and every month, at least in my opinion anyway.
BBC article: Rape and abuse: The music industry’s dark side exposed – BBC News
Calling All Crows – Here for The Music Campaign
#HereForTheMusic campaign works to build true safety with all parties who come together to create a show or festival: artists, promoters, fans, venue staff, touring professionals, media professionals, and more.