Matters of Interest

Women in the Music Industry

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (15:22): This month, I attended the gender diversity workshop hosted by MusicSA. I also I attended a couple of music festivals: the Groovin the Moo 2017 festival, which had abandoned the Oakbank racecourse to be staged at the Wayville showgrounds for the first time, and the Silver Raven Festival, held at the Turkey Flat winery. Finally, I participated in the Semaphore Workers Club's induction into the South Australian Music Hall of Fame.

The gender diversity workshop looked at the gender gap in the music industry, posing the questions: is there one? Why is there one? And most importantly: what can we do to ensure a cultural shift happens? The workshop was presented as a panel discussion. The panel was introduced by MusicSA managing director Lisa Bishop. The panel comprised the AU review editor-in-chief, Sose Fuamoli; Karina Utomo of High Tension heavy metal band; Chloe Turner of Listen Records and Music Victoria; Emily Retsas of the Rock Camp for Girls and the High Violet band; and Hannah Fairlamb from the Ponytail Kink band and the Office for Women.

The workshop was attended by 80 people and viewed online via live stream by over 700 people. The workshop also highlighted some of the inequalities and barriers that women face in the music industry:

according to the Australia Council for the Arts 80 per cent of songwriters are men, and 70 per cent of music teachers are women;

Triple J's Hottest 100 revealed women constituted 48 per cent of the voters but only 21 per cent of the acts;

eighty per cent of independent record labels in Australia are managed by men; and

research at La Trobe University has found unwanted sexual attention is a significant problem faced by women going to live music events.

Although there are obvious barriers faced by women in the music industry, the principal intent of the panel discussion was to focus on having a positive dialogue about understanding the issues at hand. Some of the affirmative options included:

the consideration of women in festivals' line-ups;

workshops in sound and production by women for women;

tackling sexual assault at festivals and venues;

the role men can take in speaking out against inappropriate behaviour directed at female colleagues, bandmates and punters; and

encouraging inclusive language to support gender diversity in the industry.

Harley Evans, CEO and owner of Moshtix, and Lisa of Music SA announced on the night that a new scholarship will be funded by Moshtix. The scholarship for a Certificate IV in Music Business will be offered in March 2018 to a South Australian woman to help increase the presence of women in the music industry.

However, it is noteworthy to highlight that South Australia is doing very well regarding women in music-focused leadership roles. I have mentioned before Lisa Bishop and Anne Wiberg of Music SA, and Karen Marsh, Elizabeth Reid and Becc Bates of the Music Development Office. I also note the contribution of Sarah Bleby and Beck Pearce of Adelaide UNESCO City of Music office and Felicity Edwards of the Adelaide City Council.

The Silver Raven Festival is a boutique music festival held at the Turkey Flat winery. The music was of the americana and indie country genre and played by local and interstate artists. Congratulations to the organisers for a great day of music, wine and food and one of the best coffees I have ever had.

A week later, I attended the Adelaide leg of the Groovin the Moo festival. The Friday event sold out two weeks prior, with 16,500 tickets sold. The event was opened by local Adelaide singer and songwriter, Tom West, and showcased both interstate artists, such as ARIA Award winning Violent Soho, as well as overseas artists. Groovin the Moo now remains the only national touring festival to visit South Australia. Congratulations to organisers Rod Little, Stephen Halpin and Dylan Liddy for continuing their support for the South Australian music market.

Finally, on 30 April, I attended the Semaphore Workers Club induction to the Music Hall of Fame. The AHA and the Adelaide Music Collective welcomed the Semaphore Workers Club into the SA Music Venue Hall of Fame, joining the Governor Hindmarsh Hotel, The Wheatsheaf Hotel and the Grace Emily Hotel. The induction was a symbolic acknowledgment and recognises venues that support original music over an extended period.

To those who believe that Adelaide slips into a hibernation over the winter months, there is the Cabaret Festival, and I encourage you to keep an eye out and get your tickets for Umbrella, Guitars in Bars and the Adelaide Beer & BBQ Festival, to name just a few events.