OP-ED
The rush by media and the associated social media pile-on to a ‘woke’ movement can be very confronting; and rightfully so if it is warranted.
So what to do when a politically-charged flash mob who believe what they are spouting to be 100 per cent true, but who fail to fact-check their work before sending it out into the world? #fakenews
The recent push for better gender diversity on Australian festival line-ups is a great case-in-point. For decades, the music industry has been male-dominated across the vast majority of positions and roles that matter.
So the current movement to provide better opportunities for females to perform on festival stages alongside their male counterparts (as well as greater access to the behind-the-scenes) is thoroughly justified.
With yesterday’s release of Splendour In The Grass’ 2020 line-up, the figurative ink was still drying on the media release by the time social media and a number of media outlets were asking why there was a distinct lack of women on this year’s bill; particularly that there were no female headliners.
Without over-emphasising here, we need to HIT! THE! BRAKES! Because the current hysteria directed at Splendour is overkill and misplaced.
In a statement released to the Sydney Morning Herald yesterday, co-founder and producer of the event (and Managing Director at Secret Sounds Group) Jessica Ducrou says gender-balanced line-ups are an issue of supply and demand.
"I say this as a woman working in the music industry, who supports women and would call myself a feminist: I'm 100 per cent committed to supporting women in any way I can, but I do think there's a difference between filling a quota to placate the critics and booking what's right for the festival," she says.
"[Gender balance] is certainly something we consider when we're booking, but I think a majority of performers who are women would appreciate that they're chosen because they're great, not because they're women."
'But there’s no female headliner' I hear cried across the socials? I must’ve missed the news when Karen O left Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Nick Zinner and Brian Chase continued as an instrumental duo.
American indie pop singer-songwriter King Princess, Australia’s queen of folk Julia Stone, AIR Awards current Breakthrough Independent Artist of the Year G Flip, and 2019 ARIA Awards two-time nominee Sampa The Great are all headed to North Byron Parklands (to perform no less).
Then there are triple j faves Cub Sport and The Jungle Giants, two Brisbane acts who each feature the amazing talents of Zoe Davis and Cesira Aitken respectively. And I haven’t even mentioned Thelma Plum, Julia Jacklin, Jack River, Grouplove, Confidence Man, Benee, Sofi Tukker, Stella Donnelley and Kllo.
To break down the numbers, Splendour this year will welcome 44 acts that are either female or feature a female member out of the 103 on the line-up. That’s 43 per cent. A significant increase on 2019's line-up that featured 34 per cent of acts with at least one non-male member.
So before you join the pile-on to add your burning cross to the reputation of Splendour In The Grass, take a moment to pause and inhale a big, deep breath of reality and practicality, then check yowokeself to see if your opinion has shifted, even just slightly.
Author’s note: The opinions expressed in this article are mine. Given the intense public interest I make a point of noting these views were vigorously canvassed and are unanimously supported by the full-time scenestr staff. The staff is comprised of a broad demographic cross-section in age, gender, sexuality and political outlooks.
Female Artists Performing At 2020 Splendour In The Grass
Yeah Yeah YeahsKing Princess
The Jungle Giants
Cub Sport
Sampa The Great
G Flip
Thelma Plum
Julia Jacklin
Tierra Whack
Julia Stone
Jack River
Grouplove
Confidence Man
Benee
Sofi Tukker
Stella Donnelley
Kllo
Joy Crookes
Shannon & The Clams
Shaed
Alex The Astronaut
Muna
Alice Ivy
Greentea Peng
Mo’ju
Georgia
Banoffee
The Big Moon
Fazerdaze
George Alice
Dro Carey & DJ Scorpion
Lillie Mae
Miss June
Lex Deluxe
Pink Matter
Miiesha
Cry Club
Charlie Collins
Memphis LK
Dena Amy
Luen
AK SPORTS
Sauti Systems
Carolina Gasolina
