Alicia Keys has spoken bluntly about the barriers women face in the music industry, describing a deep male network that keeps female producers and engineers excluded, and calling for action instead of frustration.
In an interview with The London TimesThe 17-time Grammy winner pointed to a surprising statistic to underscore the magnitude of the problem.
“The music world becomes a good old boys’ network and all the amazing women who work as engineers and producers are not given an open door,” she said.
“Women make up 2 percent of the entire business. I’m a producer and here we are, doing a ton of work, killing it, so it’s shocking that the number is so small. Instead of just getting angry about it, it was time to create opportunities.”
Keys also reflected on the feminist themes running through her own music, gently rejecting the idea that they were always deliberately placed.
“I didn’t intend to create songs with feminist messages, and most of them were written because I didn’t feel that strong, so I had to give myself a pep talk to keep going, but it’s a common thread through my work,” she said.
He also used the interview to offer a heartfelt warning to emerging artists about the business side of the industry, urging them to take ownership of their creative work from the start.
“No one tells you these things,” he said.
“You deal with all these executives and lawyers who love to take your percentage and overcharge you, but they never say, ‘How can we make sure you’re here to stay?'”
Her advice: Become your own advocate as soon as possible.
