Earlier this month, we reported on a UK-based band manager who took to social media to share an email she received from a fellow industry figure, advising her to leave the music industry because she’s a woman.
Judging by the comments we received on the article, more than a few of you were shocked by the contents of the email band manager Emma Jay Marsh received. But alas, the email was not an isolated incident.
As the AV Club reports, earlier this week author and music journalist Jessica Hopper recently took to Twitter to ask, “Gals/other marginalized folks: what was your 1st brush (in music industry, journalism, scene) w/ idea that you didn’t ‘count’?”
The response she received was staggering. People listened and they responded in droves. Dozens upon dozens of tweets came through the wire, recounting shocking stories of blatant sexism, racism, misogyny, condescension, and even assault.
It wasn’t just music writers who responded, either. A diverse array of creative industry stakeholders responded to Hopper’s call, including musicians, agents, publicists, venue employees, tour managers, photographers, and even TV writers.
Hopper has been diligently retweeting the responses she’s received and together, they paint a grim picture of the global music industry, an industry where those who are not straight, white males often find themselves belittled just for trying to participate.
“Imagine how many women, queer kids, POC might stick around scenes, industry, journalism if they encountered support not hostility,” Hopper tweeted at one point. Readers can check out some of the responses to Hopper’s tweet below.
@haleyp @jesshopp "we really think the office manager role should go to a man. Would you like to be the receptionist instead?" (Indie label)
— Dana White (@dswhite7) August 26, 2015
@jesshopp People telling me that it was nice Comedy Central let me work on the show that I co-created, co-EPed, and booked.
— Emily V Gordon (@thegynomite) August 26, 2015
when a very famous producer/dj grabbed my vag and everyone at the label told me to shut up https://t.co/chej8OnpXl
— גבריאלה♀ (@haleyp) August 25, 2015
@alannamcardle_ @jesshopp 5 straight days of 4chan rape threats in my mentions (i patiently blocked every one)
— jes skolnik (@modernistwitch) August 25, 2015
@jesshopp When a man I was interviewing said to me "I hope your writing is as good as your tits"
— rachel syme (@rachsyme) August 25, 2015
@jesshopp Not my first brush, but: Michael Bublé once DROPPED HIS PANTS while we were talking (in person) & did half the invu in his briefs.
— sarah liss (@lisstless) August 24, 2015
@jesshopp when I was demoing my first record, the engineer told me to sing it again, but naked this time 😑
— Candy Hearts ☕ (@CandyHeartsBand) August 24, 2015
@jesshopp Another one: When DJing, being asked if I'm carrying my boyfriend's records or there to watch him. Being hassled as I play records
— Jocelyn Brown (@clericalerror) August 25, 2015
@jesshopp the older boys all quit writing for the music pages of our uni paper when I was made section editor 👍
— Laura Snapes (@laurasnapes) August 24, 2015
@jesshopp stage managing webster hall and the DJs wouldnt take any instructions from me without hearing it from my male intern
— Lori Kay (@kaylorikay) August 24, 2015
@jesshopp as a TM when a stagehand called me "princess" & I proceeded to breakdown the drumkit in 2 mins flat as retaliation (he apologized)
— Charlotte Zoller (@cz77) August 24, 2015
@jesshopp former GM (he's since retired, new GM is great)at first ave told me majoring in music in college qualified me to "be a housewife"
— claire de lune (@ClaireMPLS) August 24, 2015