March 7th, 2008
Music Prizes: Separating the girls from the boys
Should there be a women-only music award? Read Anthea McTiernan’s article in today’s Ticket and join the debate on Jim’s blog.
My comments posted over yonder:
“In literary terms it’s been done with the Orange Prize, and while I think there is much merit in women-only spaces/events, I don’t know if a lot of women are comfortable being judged as an artist - musician, writer - on the basis of gender.
There were murmurings a couple of years ago about having a Best Female Blogger Award at the awards, something that both sexes who joined the debate, swiftly dismissed.
Personally, if I was up for an award in any field, I’d prefer to be up against the worthiest contemporaries, be they men or women.
And I agree with Pedro, who cares about winning something as worthless as a Brit or NME award.
When I think of my favourite singers or bands in my head, I never prefix it with ‘male’ or ‘female’.”
March 7th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
unfortunately as with many things right now (which i will not delve into here), the music industry is still waning behind.
when examining ceremonies like the brits and the nme awards, it may be necessary to take them with a pinch of salt
and to be honest, it is difficult to throw myself into an award ceremony with categories such as ’sexiest male/female’ or ‘hero/villain of the year’
this is akin to OK magazine with self-serving soap opera awards
should their be gender based category? the answer is obviously no, but as long as these publications insist on promoting these artists in as such, then it may not change for a time yet
March 7th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Going on a bit of a tangent here but I found it desperately disappointing that the Irish Times Top 40 poll refected the tastes of men in their 40s.
Sometimes it can be necessary to force a gender balance and a woman-only music award could help to stimulate this. Its not ideal but something has to change.
March 7th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
I’ve confessed this before, but I will again. While I like a lot of female ‘artists’, as it were, I listen to very little music by women. Which I think is awful, but often it just doesn’t do it for me. Not since Riot Grrl, anyway
Though recently I did fall in love with Feist. And the Breeders are playing next month! Though that’s sort of recycling.
March 8th, 2008 at 9:20 am
Leigh, from the murky world of advertising to films and music videos, sex sells. Unfortunately having those kind of categories is a help to no one, and it’s all the more tacky coming from music awards that have always tried to hitch their wagon to credibility.
Darren, to be fair to Jim, he pointed out that - as with any list - there will be biases informed by those putting such a list together.
Good point on the award not being ideal, but striving to perhaps highlight inequality.
Jo, a lot of women have highlighted fantastic female artists and some of the best albums of 2007 (http://www.sineadgleeson.com/blog/2007/12/27/best-albums-of-2007/) were made by women. Half of my top 10 albums were by female acts. I think the point of Anthea’s article was to shine a light on another area which can be perceived to be exclusive to women.
March 8th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
The reason there’s a gender divide in the Olympic Games (say) is because most women simply aren’t as fast / strong / big as most men. Having gender divisions in areas where the differences between men and women aren’t an issue (i.e., where it’s the brain that’s required) just reinforces the fallacy that women can’t compete on a level playing field. The Orange Prize is a backward step, even if it’s a pretty useful marketing tool given that more women than men read fiction. Although, if a ‘male only’ literary prize was established, more men might take their reading cues from it … if they weren’t put off by the howls of ’sexist pigs’, etc.
March 12th, 2008 at 12:52 am
Sinead, I agree that no poll of this nature will ever be perfect and my beef isn’t with Jim for whom I have a lot of respect. The fact is the commissioning editor should have insisted on some balance.
If anything the poll has helped to highlight the fundamental failings of music reportage in The Ticket. Fresh perspectives and an editorial overhaul are badly needed or else the magazine will become irrelevant. It has been treading water for too long.