Warn each other about that one producer or artist — singers have been doing this behind the scenes for years. A group of female artists has made changes after the revelations of sexually transgressive behavior The voice an open letter with measures to make the music world a safer environment. Almost a year later, letter writers Linde Schöne and Aafke Romeijn update NU.nl on what has changed since the call.
“From BOOSdocumentary was intense, but not surprising for us. We already knew that”, write Schöne, Romeijn and Laura Jansen in a letter signed by nearly thirty female artists. BOOS men seemed to realize for the first time what it is like to be a woman. They found it really shocking, while we thought: welcome to our world,” says Schöne now.
“For a long time, we’ve had a kind of informal network where female artists warn each other,” says Romeijn. “We feel this responsibility towards each other. If you have a bad experience with someone you work with, share it or warn another woman who plans to work with that person. Like, ‘Be careful when you work with that person. The producer is working, or don’t go to the studio with him alone.'”
“We are like women in the music industry with more and more women to trust with your experiences,” says Schöne. «About Ali B (whose rape has been reported, ed), for example, people have often been warned. I’m also a songwriter myself for other artists, so I work a lot with other women. the study will talk about the behavior of men in the sector”.
Affiliated with reporting center and appointed as confidential advisors
Schöne noticed that after the broadcast of BOOS there was a lot of talk about a necessary culture change. “Very nice, but that’s not all you get. When the iron is hot, you have to focus on small concrete changes.” In the letter, the signatories advocate an independent industry-backed hotline, confidential consultants at record labels and publishers, and information for men and women in music education, for example. But what did he do?
Following the letter, the NVPI (the entertainment industry trade association) sat down at the table with Romeijn, among others. A task force has been set up which includes the singer along with other representatives. This task force has entered into discussions with MORES, the existing hotline for the entertainment industry, about a collaboration.
“We weren’t convinced at first, as MORES was struggling with a capacity issue. The fear was that there wouldn’t be time to make further reports and take action. More money needed to be released, and that money is coming from the music industry itself. number of representatives has attracted a lot of money, so the capacity should be fine and the reach of MORES will have increased,” says Romeijn.
Schöne also sees that independent confidential consultants can be found in more and more places in the music industry. For the NVPI, to which the major record companies in the Netherlands are affiliated, this has become an important spearhead. The task force is committed to making both hotlines and contact persons more accessible and approachable.
Romeijn sees that writers’ camps (where artists, producers and songwriters gather in an often informal environment and where Ali B, according to BOOS also exhibited sexually transgressive behaviour) are now more often preceded by a briefing. “So what is desirable and undesirable behavior is made concrete. Independent confidential counselors are also increasingly present there. I see this as a very good step.”
“Things have gotten better, but jerks remain jerks”
Schöne and Romeijn both note a change in attitude towards this kind of problem in the music industry. “We are one step ahead now. Previously it was mostly incredulous, because people thought that this kind of offending behavior doesn’t really happen. Now they see that a safe working environment is not a given and people are starting to work on what they can be done about it,” says Roman. “In any case, there has been more awareness. And there also seem to be enough good men who would like to contribute,” adds Schöne.
“As long as artists keep insisting that this is important, the changes will continue,” thinks Romeijn. “Ultimately, inclusiveness needs to translate at all levels, including the board. There’s still a lot to do there.”
Because it’s not like the problem is completely solved now. “The sexually transgressive behavior is obviously still going on,” says Schöne. Due to the increased self-confidence, she is no longer so much afraid of it, but more so of the generation that will come after her.
“The men who want to take advantage of me no longer serve me. It’s no longer ten others for me, but ten more for them. But if you’re just starting out, you’re vulnerable. Working with a large group like that for the first time the producer it’s just scary. You’re vulnerable, and if you’ve suffered something that lousy, it can end badly. Sure, things have gotten better, but jerks remain jerks. And they shouldn’t be allowed to do their thing anymore.”
