Whereas some areas have improved through the years, there’s nonetheless an extended solution to go.
USC’s Annenberg College for Communication and Journalism has launched their sixth annual examine exploring inclusion within the music trade—and the outcomes are bleak.
Whereas some areas have improved through the years, the examine total reveals a scarcity of illustration throughout the trade.
This examine examined the gender and race of artists, songwriters and music producers behind the songs on the Billboard 12 months-Finish Sizzling 100 chart, in addition to the demographics of nominees throughout six key classes on the Grammy Awards. Researchers examined 1,100 well-liked songs from 2012 to 2022, in addition to Grammy nominees from 2013 to 2023.
USC Annenberg College for Communication and Journalism
Gender
In accordance with USC’s examine, there have been 160 artists on the Billboard 12 months-Finish Sizzling 100 chart in 2022. 69.4% had been male and 30% had been feminine and fewer than 1% of artists recognized as nonbinary.
Throughout 11 years evaluated, 76.6% of artists had been males and 22.3% had been girls. On the intense aspect, 2022 marked a brand new excessive for ladies artists throughout all 11 years. The share of feminine artists in 2022 (30%) was considerably greater than that of 2021 (23.3%) and 2012 (22.7%), suggesting a rise of ladies on the favored charts over time.
After evaluating the genres of all 1,100 songs, the examine discovered that ladies artists had been extra prone to seem in pop songs (33%) and least prone to seem in hip-hop songs (13.4%).
USC Annenberg College for Communication and Journalism
Race and ethnicity
Race and ethnicity illustration inside well-liked songs appears extra optimistic. In 2022, 50.6% of all artists had been from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group, per the examine, whereas 49.4% of artists had been white.
Though this sounds propitious in principle, it truly represents an 8.4% level decline from the all-time excessive of 2020’s clip of 59%. Throughout all 11 years, 48.1% of all artists had been from an underrepresented racial group whereas 51.9% had been white.
Understand that whereas illustration appears good within the charts, it’s a unique story on the prime. The share of Black feminine music executives is simply 3%, in accordance with a earlier Annenberg report.
USC Annenberg College for Communication and Journalism
Songwriters and Producers
Throughout a complete of 5,247 songwriters credited, 85.7% had been males and 14% had been girls. The ratio of males to girls songwriters was 6.8 to 1. General, 57% of songs throughout 11 years didn’t embrace a single feminine songwriter. In distinction, simply six songs—lower than 1%—had been absent of male songwriters.
If you happen to assume the songwriting demographics look unhealthy, the manufacturing credit are even worse. Throughout 800 songs, 2.8% of all producers had been girls whereas 97.1% had been males. It is a ratio of 34.1 males to each 1 lady. Furthermore, of the 50 girls credited as producers throughout the pattern, 13—or 26%—had been girls of colour.
USC Annenberg College for Communication and Journalism
The Grammys
From 2013 to 2023, 2,441 people had been nominated for a Grammy Award throughout six main classes: Report of the 12 months, Album of the 12 months, Tune of the 12 months, Finest New Artist and Producer of the 12 months. Songwriter of the 12 months was launched as a class at this 12 months’s sixty fifth annual ceremony.
Of the 514 nominees in 2023, 84.8% had been males and 15.2% had been girls. Only one nonbinary artist was nominated. General, girls comprised solely 13.9% of complete nominees throughout all classes for the sampled years. Furthermore, of the 340 girls nominated within the final 11 years, 51.5% had been white and 48.5% had been from an underrepresented racial group.
USC Annenberg College for Communication and Journalism
Whereas the report discovered progress for feminine performers in music, girls behind the scenes noticed little change and girls of colour proceed to face challenges. The researchers’ answer? Rent extra girls.
You’ll be able to learn the total report right here.