Ep.264 Gender Equality in the Music Industry: Where Are We Now? with Vick Bain
In this episode, Alexa is joined by researcher, musician and founder of The F-List, Vick Bain, for an important conversation about gender equality in the UK music industry. Drawing on her PhD research and years of experience, Vick explores the barriers that women and gender-diverse musicians continue to face, from pay gaps and career progression to representation, discrimination and the realities of building a sustainable career in music. It's a thought-provoking discussion that challenges assumptions, shares the evidence behind the headlines, and asks what role we can play in creating a more inclusive future for the artists we teach. Just to let you know some listeners may find some of the topics discussed distressing - take a pause, and we will be right there waiting when you’re ready. WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST? 1:28 About Vick’s PhD: Women's Careers in the UK Music Industry 2:02 What are some of the biggest gender inequality issues currently? 5:50 Age discrimination and pay gap statistics 15:55 The ‘what about Adele’ question 25:06 Where are women missing? 27:13 What happens when women ‘over-represent’ in a field? 29:44 Being a freelancer 32:57 The red flags 36:11 Political landscapes 40:15 The F-List About the presenter HERE RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS The UK Music Diversity Taskforce Musicians Union Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.263 The Creative Juggle: Singer, Songwriter and Teacher Musician Census of 2024 Government pay gap reports Intellectual Property Office Gov Misogyny in Music PRS for music Independent Society of Musicians Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.117 The ISM: What Singers and Singing Teachers Need to Know Reform Our Contract With You ABOUT THE GUEST Vick Bain is an EDI and Research Consultant with nearly 30 years' experience in the music and creative industries. Formerly CEO of the Ivors Academy and Past President of the Independent Society of Musicians, she now leads a consultancy specialising in strategic research, impact evaluation, and diversity and inclusion. A Henley Business School MBA graduate, Vick is completing a PhD at Queen Mary University of London on women's careers in music. She is the Founder of The F-List for Music CIC, a not-for-profit supporting women and gender diverse musicians across the UK and serves as a board director of the ISM. Her clients include IMPALA, Counterculture, Beggars Group, UK Music, Beatport and Attitude is Everything. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and Companion of LIPA - appointed by Sir Paul McCartney - she is included in both the Music Week Women in Music Roll of Honour and the BBC Radio 4 Woman's Hour Music Industry Powerlist. Vick trained as a classical singer in the early 1990s, holding Grade 8 singing, an HND in Classical Music (Voice) and a BA in Performing Arts. She recorded and performed with experimental artist Rapoon, sang for many years with the London Bulgarian Choir – during whose time they were runners-up in the BBC Choir of the Year and performed alongside numerous pop and rock acts. She recently joined a Cornish choir, continuing a lifelong relationship with singing. Website The F List Instagram LinkedIn 🎁 Free Resource: Get your copy of How to Assess the Singer’s Voice with Confidence — a practical guide to help you understand what’s going on in any singer’s voice. >>> DOWNLOAD HEREAt BAST Training, we help singers turn their experience into a meaningful teaching career. Building the confidence, knowledge, and real-world skills to teach with confidence, clarity, and compassion.“The BAST Advanced Foundation has given me more than the tools I need to teach — it’s given me confidence, a community, and a future.” Jess McGlinchey, UKStart with the foundations >>> ENROL NOWbasttraining.com | Stay Updated
