Representation

What is representation?

Representation is the act of portraying or presenting someone in a certain way. For example, women being sexualized and objectified by men through the male gaze.

What does it look like in the music industry?

Racial Representation

One of the most common problems facing the music industry is the lack of representation of artists who are people of colour. Specific music genres (Rock, Country and Classical Music) have largely been dominated by white artists, meanwhile other genres, such as Rap/Hip Hop and R&B, that have been historically dominated by black people are largely misrepresented or underrepresented. In a study done by the BBC, it was discovered that black artists have faced prejudice and racism by record companies and executives. and the fact that they make 299 less per month compared to their white counterparts. It was also found out that BIPOC employees at record companies only fill in one in five (19.9%) people in top positions.

Gender Representation

In the music industry, women often

lack representation, or if they are represented, it is usually in a negative way. This is because the music industry is largely male-dominated, and the men who are in senior positions often have power and control over women. Within the industry, it is discovered that only 12.3% of women are songwriters, only 2.1% are producers and 22.4% of them are professional artists. According to research into top leading UK music companies, it was found out that women employees make less than 29.9% of what their male counterparts make. This raises awareness about the gender pay gap that does not only exist in the music industry, but in all industries, particularly those that are male-dominated.

In the Rap/HipHop genre, women are often objectified in lyrics and in music videos. In the MVs, women are seen through the male gaze; wearing revealing or minimal clothing, and have usually no other role, but to fullfill the male rapper and male audience's desires.

How does representation look like in your chosen genre?

In acoustic guitar ballad songs, the lyrics often talk about a more sadder topic, mainly due to the sombre and slow paces of the acoustic guitar. The lyrics can talk about for example heartbreak, the loss of a loved one etc. They often tell stories that place emphasis on the tragic story, with the slow acoustic guitar further highlighting the dramatic narratives. In regards to representation in the acoustic ballad genre, both male and female artists create soft acoustic ballads at least once in their careers. Two examples of soft acoustic ballads from both a male and female artist are "Take me Home Country Roads" by John Denver and "Complicated" by Avril Lavigne.