With Lizzo receiving the most nominations (eight) and Billie Eilish winning the most awards (five) at this year’s Grammy Awards, it would be easy to assume that women are dominating the music industry. While it’s true that some of the most successful and highly praised artists in the current industry are women (Beyoncé, Lorde, Adele, Ariana Grande, Lana del Rey, Taylor Swift, etc.) we must still admit that there is a long way to go until we achieve a perfect balance of gender parity within the music industry.
Notably, one key area that change is still necessary is the attitudes held against female artists compared to their male counterparts. The first comparison that came to mind when having this discussion with myself was that between Lizzo and Anderson .Paak: two high-energy performers, currently at the top of their game, who rap, sing, play musical instruments and occasionally dance. The difference? Lizzo is often negatively accused of “doing the most” whereas Paak is praised for his energetic performances and fun personality across social media. One quick Twitter search of “Lizzo annoying” versus “Anderson Paak annoying” tells you all you need to know about the unnecessary hate Lizzo receives.
Lizzo has also been on the receiving end of fatphobic hate both online and in the wider media, as have Rihanna and Beyoncé, for embracing their fuller figures. Taunted online by trolls for "promoting obesity", Lizzo and her music have endured criticism because she is "big-boned with nice curves" in a way that a man such as DJ Khaled, for example, has never been.
Double standards and gender biases are rife within the work place for many women, and the music industry is no exception. The discussion of Taylor Swift’s personal life has been held against her for her entire career. She has been constantly scrutinised for dating "so many" men and then writing about them after their break ups. Swift uses her songwriting to channel her feelings, which is her job as a songwriter, and yet is still criticised for it. Whereas John Mayer has written countless break up songs about his own personal experiences, much like Swift. Instead of being slaughtered online for having numerous exes to write about like Swift has been, Mayer is oftentimes praised for being a "player". The difference in the way Swift is treated by the public compared to Mayer for simply doing their jobs is staggering. Mayer is never shamed for writing about his past lovers in the way that Swift has been.
Red carpet fashion is yet another part of the industry where women face scrutiny. After Lil Nas X first emerged onto the scene with Old Town Road last year, his flamboyant and fun western inspired red carpet looks have since been highly praised for being a step away from the ‘norm’ that sees male artists suiting up in standard tuxes – and yet when Nicki Minaj and Lady Gaga were first starting to gain popularity back in the late 2000s/early 2010s, they were heavily mocked for their equally fun and flamboyant outfits, labelled as “weird” and “annoying”. Minaj and Gaga now tend to shy away from their former fashion senses – is that because they have matured and so have their styles? Or were they so deeply bullied on the internet that it became easier for them to give into societal norms?
Similarly, a performance at the Global Citizen Festival in 2018 from Ed Sheeran and Beyoncé prompted a debate about what is expected of women at the top of their game versus what is expected of men. Beyoncé wore an elaborate gown, whereas Sheeran stuck to his usual jeans, t-shirt and trainers. Seeing them stood side by side on stage together truly highlights what is expected of a woman when walking onto stage.
Not only is their dress a matter of concern, but with Beyoncé and Ed Sheeran arguably being the two biggest pop stars in the world, their stage presence and performance style is another to note. While Beyoncé gives consistently high energy, dance filled, meticulously executed performances (re: Coachella), Sheeran instead simply stands on stage and sings. Similar still, is Scotland’s Lewis Capaldi, who had the UK’s fastest selling album and the biggest song of 2019. While there is no denying Capaldi and Sheeran’s talent, the difference is that the world’s best female pop artist must sing and dance to perfection while looking her best, and the world’s best male pop artist only has to stand still and sing. Their stark contrast in performance styles proves that women have to try twice as hard as men to be at the top. And yes, you may argue that another one of pop’s best, Adele, has a similar performance style to Sheeran and Capaldi, whereby she stands by her microphone stand throughout most of her stage time. But even so, Adele never dons just an old t-shirt and jeans.