Music Ally’s Post

In Euro-American / "Western" culture we tend to view music as innocuous, extra-curricular, or even fluff. We can see this attitude in our policies, funding, and the programs that are first to be cut. Or we see it in the ways that music or instruments are treated as simple tools. "Hey, let's buy djembes for everybody and hold a drum circle" without any thought of cultural background, assumptions, and power-laden appropriation. Those of us who have delved into the powerful social, cultural, and political dimensions of music making know that it is anything but that. Music is a fundamental barometer, practice, and expressive medium in which we can learn so much about ourselves, others, and the human condition. It is a primary way of paying attention to what matters and where we're headed as a species. This article is but one glimpse into why music and aesthetics deeply matter politically, socially, and spiritually. https://lnkd.in/gJ6_fWgb

I was fascinated to read the new report from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland on the living conditions of #artists in #NorthernIreland https://lnkd.in/eTazh76s The two facts that struck me were about the intersection of privilege: Male artists make 11% more than women artists. Artists who went to grammar school make 10.52% more than those who did not. I'm curious about two things: 1) how do these facts compare in the general population? Do men in Northern Ireland earn a lot more than women? IE is the artist population slightly more egalitarian, or about the same as everywhere else? 2) I wonder how these stats change for racially minoritised artists?

Patriarchy downers and/or attempters are poor populists for their lack of original brain activity, and excess of envy. They are generous for showing whom not to vote for; themselves. ❌ An empty mind is easily brainwashable. Even though we're amicable towards the idea of a gender balance in political representation; unlike many voters in Funland we have standards. That's why all the female politicians that do hate speech towards any demographic are a no-go. Just like misogynistic male politicians. They should pick their brains with better luck next time. With actual ideas for improvement in their scope.

Kicking off the year reflecting on the recent The Sutton Trust report highlighting the lack of diversity in the creative industries. Young people from working-class backgrounds are four times less likely to work in creative fields compared to their middle-class peers, with elite education heavily overrepresented among top actors, musicians, and creative professionals. It’s a stark reminder of the work still needed to make creative careers sustainable and accessible to everyone, regardless of background. Nothing beats starting the year fueled by determination to drive meaningful changes in 2025. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/eqc5P88t #creativecareers #creativeindustries #fairpay

Submission Deadline for BLiM Research Partner now Extended!   BLiM is extending the application cut-off date as it seeks a researcher to lead a study on racial inequalities in live music event licensing. The study will focus on the lack of transparency in event cancellations, police resource allocation, and biases in venue decision-making.   We seek a partner through an open tender process with a strong track record of conducting similar studies on issues affecting Black and Asian communities and/or promoting racial equality within the UK music industry. The partner must use a comprehensive research approach.   The live music industry is essential for cultural expression and the economy, but systemic racial disparities of any kind undermine fairness and potential. This research aims to comprehend the root causes and propose solutions.    It will certainly be a ground-breaking contribution to our industry, so if you would like to express interest or submit a proposal, please contact us at research@blim.org.uk no later than the new deadline of Wednesday, 7th August.    Find out more here: https://bit.ly/3yZ48dU #BlackLivesinMusic #Diversity #LiveMusic #Research #Academic #MusicIndustry #Inclusion #BlackMusic #BeingBlackinMusic #MusicProfessional #Industry #Change 

Article 27 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights asserts our right to culture, yet in today's world, this fundamental right is increasingly under threat. Rising living costs, exacerbated by calls to #TaxTheRich, have sparked a crucial debate: can everyone truly participate in cultural experiences? Take, for instance, the growing number of canceled concerts and music festivals due to escalating operational expenses. While many arts organizations offer free programming, two critical issues emerge: Firstly, in a capitalist-driven society, nothing truly comes free, and secondly, what is the genuine connection with communities? Amidst content overload and profit-centric algorithms, many individuals are unaware of the initiatives by local nonprofits and artists. The wealth crisis significantly impacts communities' ability to access art and strains the capacity of artists and organizations to create it. As arts and culture play a pivotal role in community cohesion and individual well-being, this lack of access fundamentally undermines our humanity, especially in the wake of COVID-19's profound impact on our cultural landscape. While we celebrate and invest in global icons like Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, we must also prioritize our local artists, arts workers, and organizations. They navigate not only the challenges of living costs but also the precarious nature of short-term funding cycles, often with prolonged waits for financial support. The concept of "Policy" resonates deeply here, with ideas like Universal Basic Services and Income offering potential solutions. However, regulating creativity amidst loopholes that favor the wealthy remains a complex issue. Moreover, the relentless pursuit of growth in the arts sector raises questions about sustainability and alternative markers of success beyond mere expansion. It's time to recognize arts and culture as foundational components of our society's economy and well-being. They serve people and the planet, not just corporate interests. This realization demands a collective reevaluation of what arts and culture mean to us and whether we can afford to devalue their profound impact. #Philanthropy #Economics #ArtsandCulture #Sociology

P for Participation: The Heart of Songs for Rights At Songs for Rights, our programs, training, and workshops are shaped by the PIJEQ Principles—five guiding pillars that help us design, implement, and evaluate our work. Today, I’m excited to introduce the first of these: PARTICIPATION. Participation is at the core of everything we do. From setting the rules of the workshop to selecting human rights topics, writing song lyrics, producing songs in the studio, and even developing the advocacy strategy for the final music videos—our participants lead the way. Their voices are at the center, ensuring that every song we produce is a true reflection of their experiences and emotions. By actively participating in every step of the process, participants don’t just learn—they create authentic, powerful songs that resonate with their lived experiences, using music to advocate for justice, equality, and human rights. 🎶 #ParticipationMatters #HumanRightsThroughMusic #SongsForRights

6.     One Man, Six Wives And 29 Children: A Polygamous Family | Real Stories Full-Length Documentary (youtube.com); 'My Five Wives': A Different Look at Modern Polygamy (youtube.com); Tom Green, polygamist whose trial captured international attention, dies at 72 (youtube.com): I am not advocating for polygamy but do research on polygamy itself. In the US the policy makers should not be alarmed, I just marry consented highly educated one white, one native black, one native latino, and one native American beside the knotty ring. It’s going to be corrective actions to what policy makers missed to do : The Gender Wage Gap Endures in the U.S. | Pew Research Center; Gender Wealth Gaps in the U.S. | St. Louis Fed (stlouisfed.org). If I can do research and also put five female billionaires on the list without making new law or the public directly pay for it, law makers can relax. 

1.     One Man, Six Wives And 29 Children: A Polygamous Family | Real Stories Full-Length Documentary (youtube.com); 'My Five Wives': A Different Look at Modern Polygamy (youtube.com); Tom Green, polygamist whose trial captured international attention, dies at 72 (youtube.com): I am not advocating for polygamy but do research on polygamy itself. In the US the policy makers should not be alarmed, I just marry consented highly educated one white, one native black, one native latino, and one native American beside the knotty ring. It’s going to be corrective actions to what policy makers missed to do : The Gender Wage Gap Endures in the U.S. | Pew Research Center; Gender Wealth Gaps in the U.S. | St. Louis Fed (stlouisfed.org). If I can do research and also put five female billionaires on the list without making new law or the public directly pay for it, law makers can relax. 

The published version of my paper "Where are the female composers? Human capital and gender inequality in music history" is now available and will appear in the January 2025 issue of the European Economic Review. Many thanks to my amazing co-authors, Karol J. Borowiecki and Martin Hørlyk Kristensen for this rewarding collaboration. Courtesy of an agreement between SDU and Elsevier, the article is open access! Accordingly, feel free to download a copy. 😊 #Culturaleconomics #UVMecon #SDUeconhistory