Monday, 4 April 2016

Women in the Music Industry

As we develop on our thoughts and processes this new wave of feminism we are riding in at the moment, there is one dominating questions which bares me no answers.

Why are women in the music industry (still) being tortured?

With recent news of up-and-coming RnB artist, 'Kehlani' attempting suicide due to complications in romantic relationships; I can't help but wonder if there is a sweeping mental health problem across the music industry. Given that Kehlani isn't being directly affected by the music industry in this particular situation, it is still important to note the scrutiny she has faced from fellow 'artist' Chris Brown. Chris made a comment on how she supposedly faked the suicide - but who really cares for Chris after his 2009 incident involving RnB princess, Rihanna? Which leads me on to my next story...

Chris plead guilty in 2009 after physically abusing Rihanna after the Grammy award ceremony of the same year. Full details on the event can be read 'here' - but I warn you that the detailing is graphic and portrays a real event in clarity. The monster then goes on and gets a distinctive neck tattoo of a 'beaten woman' on his neck after the event which shows similar injuries to Rihanna's face. 

Yet here we are, in 2016. Chris still has a career, a platform to voice his opinions, and still working with top producers such as Benny Benassi; who just released their most recent collaboration 'Paradise'. Disgusting.

But torture doesn't stop with just Chris Brown; I'm sure we've all heard about the Kesha ordeal involving mainstream-pop producer 'Dr Luke'. I've already posted a detailed blog post regarding that situation - although, certain fact and opinions may be slightly altered due to more details being released. This abuse has been haunting Kesha for years now, and after having her rights to remove herself from the contract they share being denied, she is facing many obstacles. On the plus side, Luke's pro-tools for his music were recently leaked (a.k.a. the tools he uses to create every last song he has/will ever produced - meaning all his productions from here on out are now redundant.) His family have also spoken out claiming that they are all being affected by the ordeal, and there is no 'justice' being served. Whatever that means. There has however been huge public support for Kesha from various artists such as Lady Gaga (who personally met Kesha and other abuse victims through her Born This Way Foundation), and Adele who publicly spoke out at the 2016 Brits awards during one of her speeches. Yet - Sony is yet to react, despite other artists stating that Luke has (attempted to) abuse them [including. Kelly Clarkson and Bonnie McKee].

Lady Gaga is another artist who has been very vocal on her physical and emotional abuse during her 'up-and-coming' years as a pop artist. Although her abuser has never been given a name (which I still find very strange), it does hone in on the fact that even one of the most globally successful artists in the world right now can still be affected by this. Very little details are known in Gaga's case, but it's still been made very prominent in music releases such as 'Swine' and 'Do What U Want'.

These are just a few examples of abuse that have been made public - I can't even imagine how many other cases have prevailed, but never come up in the mainstream media. But there are enough cases to make this a concern - way too many prominent male figures are abusing their power and letting money get in between not only the law, but human rights. It's gross, and I for one am bored of seeing it. 

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