{"id":5698,"date":"2026-05-03T23:00:28","date_gmt":"2026-05-04T03:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/soc.hamiltonlits.org\/sharingsociology\/?p=5698"},"modified":"2026-05-08T10:31:03","modified_gmt":"2026-05-08T14:31:03","slug":"performing-power-who-controls-the-music-industry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/soc.hamiltonlits.org\/sharingsociology\/fall-2022\/performing-power-who-controls-the-music-industry\/","title":{"rendered":"Performing Power: Who Controls the Music Industry"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/soc.hamiltonlits.org\/sharingsociology\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-4-819x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5704\" style=\"aspect-ratio:0.7998101716364787;width:359px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/soc.hamiltonlits.org\/sharingsociology\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-4-819x1024.png 819w, https:\/\/soc.hamiltonlits.org\/sharingsociology\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-4-240x300.png 240w, https:\/\/soc.hamiltonlits.org\/sharingsociology\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-4-768x960.png 768w, https:\/\/soc.hamiltonlits.org\/sharingsociology\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-4-1229x1536.png 1229w, https:\/\/soc.hamiltonlits.org\/sharingsociology\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-4-1000x1250.png 1000w, https:\/\/soc.hamiltonlits.org\/sharingsociology\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-4-230x288.png 230w, https:\/\/soc.hamiltonlits.org\/sharingsociology\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-4-350x438.png 350w, https:\/\/soc.hamiltonlits.org\/sharingsociology\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-4-480x600.png 480w, https:\/\/soc.hamiltonlits.org\/sharingsociology\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-4.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Visibility Without Power<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Growing up idolizing performers like Ariana Grande or Adele, I found myself enamored with their vocal abilities and truly unattainable level of skill. Yet, it was clear that others seemed to care much more about their image than their artistry.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The music industry might look progressive to many, with the majority of female pop stars topping charts and shaping culture worldwide. However, research shows that while women often succeed as performers, it is men who still dominate positions of creative control (Lieb 2018; Smith, Choueiti, and Pieper 2023). <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Often, the entertainment industry reinforces traditional gender roles by rewarding male artists with authority while treating female artists as branded products whose success depends on image, youth, and marketability. Not only does this limit women\u2019s influence behind the scenes, but it also shapes how audiences learn to value the idea of the female artist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Who Controls the Sound?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The power imbalance in gender can begin before the singer ever hits the stage, within the songwriting process. The bias in who writes the narrative, the story performers tell, is clear. The USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative studied 1,300 popular songs from 2012 to 2022 and found strong evidence of unequal creative power based on gender (Smith, Choueiti, and Pieper 2023).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The power over what music is created and performed is more often in the hands of men, continuing the trend of female artists as a mouthpiece. ABBA, a popular Swedish band of the 1970\u2019s, exemplifies this with band members Agnetha F\u00e4ltskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad as primarily the singers of the band without a say in the writing process. The music industry tends to treat men as producers of culture and pieces of art, and women as performers within it (Lieb 2018).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This limits the amount of control these female artists have over the art they express to the world. If they cannot sing words that they write, they become a kind of puppet for the voices behind the scenes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"686\" src=\"https:\/\/soc.hamiltonlits.org\/sharingsociology\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-13.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5701\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.4927223878834401;width:473px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/soc.hamiltonlits.org\/sharingsociology\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-13.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/soc.hamiltonlits.org\/sharingsociology\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-13-300x201.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/soc.hamiltonlits.org\/sharingsociology\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-13-768x515.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/soc.hamiltonlits.org\/sharingsociology\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-13-1000x670.jpeg 1000w, https:\/\/soc.hamiltonlits.org\/sharingsociology\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-13-230x154.jpeg 230w, https:\/\/soc.hamiltonlits.org\/sharingsociology\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-13-350x234.jpeg 350w, https:\/\/soc.hamiltonlits.org\/sharingsociology\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-13-480x322.jpeg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>ABBA performing at the Eurovision Song Contest, 1974<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The Branding of Female Artists<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Early in their careers, these female artists are developed more as brands than as musicians. Managers carefully shape their public identities, appearance, relatability, and even sexuality to fit public expectations of femininity. Musical talent seems to fall to the side as an aspect of female artists that people appreciate. (Kramer 2019). Female artists become the face of tabloids and product advertisements. This branding can dictate everything they do professionally, from the kind of music they release to how they present themselves in interviews or on social media, which leaves no room for self-expression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Male artists are more often described as creators whose talent seems natural and self-driven. (Lieb 2018). Their public image tends to include originality and independence, which would allow them to experiment and grow, as an artist must do, without that level of pressure to conform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Beauty, Youth, and Career Pressure<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Women in the music industry not only have to worry about performing their best day to day, but are constantly aware of how fragile their career is. \u00a0In the eyes of management and the public, female artists&#8217; value in this market is closely tied to attractiveness. Female artists are pressured to stay youthful and meet near impossible beauty standards of a thin and toned body with flawless skin and hair to remain successful (Lieb 2018).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Aging can reduce opportunities for women, while male artists often continue long careers without the same level of scrutiny. In many cases, aging even increases a man\u2019s credibility and respect as an artist. (IFPI 2022) This double standard reflects broader social norms that value men for skill and authority, while valuing women for beauty and appeal.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"168\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/soc.hamiltonlits.org\/sharingsociology\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-12.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5700\" style=\"aspect-ratio:0.5600179492932466;width:170px;height:auto\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Public TikTok Comments from Taylor Swift&#8217;s Eras Tour in 2023<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Changing Power Behind the Stage<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Inequality in the music industry is not just about who stands on stage. Despite female artists\u2019 visibility, their careers continue to be shaped by social media comments and article headlines (Billboard 2023). Public perception is centered around relationships or drama from their private lives. Male artists, on the other hand, benefit from assumed authenticity, with audiences remaining focused on the quality of their artistry and talent.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As Taylor Swift comments in an interview with CBS Sunday Morning, the vocabulary used to describe men and women in the music industry is inherently different. When making the same choices, female artists are far more likely to be referred to as calculating or manipulative than their male counterparts.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The public will scold artists like Taylor Swift for having \u201cbreak-up songs\u201d as a recurring theme of her discography, while artists like Ed Sheeran or Bruno Mars are revered for tapping into an uncommon emotional place to write the same heartfelt songs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"745\" height=\"505\" src=\"https:\/\/soc.hamiltonlits.org\/sharingsociology\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-14.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5702\" style=\"width:623px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/soc.hamiltonlits.org\/sharingsociology\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-14.jpeg 745w, https:\/\/soc.hamiltonlits.org\/sharingsociology\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-14-300x203.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/soc.hamiltonlits.org\/sharingsociology\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-14-230x156.jpeg 230w, https:\/\/soc.hamiltonlits.org\/sharingsociology\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-14-350x237.jpeg 350w, https:\/\/soc.hamiltonlits.org\/sharingsociology\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-14-480x325.jpeg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 745px) 100vw, 745px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Ed Sheeran Live in Manila, Philippines in 2024<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The Industry\u2019s Future<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The music industry is a force that shapes cultural ideas of success and creativity. When men hold most of the decision-making power, the kinds of stories that reach audiences can become limited. Increasing opportunities for women in production, songwriting, and leadership roles could help shift these patterns. (Jegede 2021)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Mentorship programs, hiring initiatives, and more inclusive professional networks are just a few ways the industry can begin to open doors that have historically been closed.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Media that highlights only female appearances should shift headlines from their personal lives to praising their accomplishments or even critiquing their art, as long as it remains the focus. Ultimately, meaningful change in the industry will depend on shifting both who holds power behind the scenes and how audiences choose to value the artists they see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">References<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI). 2022. <em>Global Music Report 2022.<\/em> London: IFPI<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.midiaresearch.com\/blog\/be-the-change-women-making-music-2021\">Jegede, Dara. Women in Music. 2021. <em>Gender Equity in Music Industry Report.<\/em> New York, NY: Women in Music.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/amce.com.es\/uploads\/1\/0\/5\/8\/105830971\/women_in_the_u.s._music_industry_report.pdf\" id=\"https:\/\/amce.com.es\/uploads\/1\/0\/5\/8\/105830971\/women_in_the_u.s._music_industry_report.pdf\">Kramer, Sharon. Berklee College of Music and Women in Music. 2019. <em>Women in the U.S. Music Industry: Obstacles and Opportunities.<\/em> Boston, MA: Berklee College of Music.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lieb, Kristin J. 2018. <em>Gender, Branding, and the Modern Music Industry: The Social Construction of Female Popular Music Stars<\/em>. New York: Routledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/pro\/annenberg-inclusion-initiative-2022-music-report\/\">Mims, Taylor. Billboard. 2023. &#8220;Gender Representation in the Music Industry.&#8221; <em>Billboard.<\/em> New York, NY: Billboard Media.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/assets.uscannenberg.org\/docs\/aii-inclusion-recording-studio-2025-01-29-2.pdf\">Smith, Stacy L., Marc Choueiti, and Katherine Pieper. 2023. <em>Inclusion in the Recording Studio? Gender and Race\/Ethnicity of Artists, Songwriters &amp; Producers across 1,300 Popular Songs from 2012\u20132022<\/em>. Los Angeles, CA: USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/worldwomenstudies.com\/index.php\/wwsj\/article\/view\/112\/39\">Tabak, Cihan. 2020. &#8220;Gender Roles and the Music Industry.&#8221; <em>Journal of World Women Studies<\/em> 5(1):1\u201312.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Visibility Without Power Growing up idolizing performers like Ariana Grande or Adele, I found myself enamored with their vocal abilities and truly unattainable level of skill. Yet, it was clear that others seemed to care much more about their image than their artistry.&nbsp; The music industry might look progressive to many, with the majority of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":290,"featured_media":5704,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[184],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5698","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-fall-2022"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Performing Power: Who Controls the Music Industry - Sharing Sociology<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/soc.hamiltonlits.org\/sharingsociology\/fall-2022\/performing-power-who-controls-the-music-industry\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Performing Power: Who Controls the Music Industry - Sharing Sociology\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Visibility Without Power Growing up idolizing performers like Ariana Grande or Adele, I found myself enamored with their vocal abilities and truly unattainable level of skill. 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