The latest documentary from DR, ‘Sexism in the Music Industry’, has already sparked significant debate and shaken the Danish music world. The two-hour long documentary reveals the widespread and deeply rooted sexism that female musicians have been subjected to.
Among the brave women who come forward and tell their stories is former MGP (Melodi Grand Prix) winner and singer Anne Gadegaard. Anne has long been nervous about sharing her experiences of sexual harassment in the music industry. In an interview with Alt.dk, she says, “I have been afraid of the consequences it would have. I socialize in the same circles as the people who have behaved inappropriately towards me,” she explains.
But the realization that she was not alone and that many women in the industry have had similar experiences gave her the courage to speak out.
Gadegaard describes how producers often contacted her in the evenings and at night with sexual expectations. If she did not respond or rejected them, her music projects were put on hold. “It’s the experiences I’ve had that have made me stop making music,” she says, adding that it is only now that she dares to say it out loud.
In the documentary, Gadegaard emphasizes how the focus in the media has often been more on her body and appearance than her music and professionalism. This objectification has been a recurring challenge in her career and has contributed to her decision to withdraw from the music industry.
By coming forward, Gadegaard hopes to make a difference for future female musicians. “I hope that it will be easier for other female musicians in the future, so they will not end up in similar situations,” she says. She wants the music industry to become a place where sexism is no longer accepted as the norm, and where women can release music without having to pay a personal price.
‘Sexism in the Music Industry’ brings necessary and uncomfortable truths to light. With Anne Gadegaard and 12 other female musicians speaking out, the documentary hopes to bring about change and raise awareness about the structural problems in the music industry.
Managing director for Universal Music, Casper Bengtson, has already responded to the criticism by calling Kat Stephie’s experience unacceptable and emphasizing that no musician should feel pressured into anything they do not want. The revelations in the documentary have the potential to be a turning point for the fight for gender equality in the music industry, much like Sofie Linde’s revelations about sexism in the media industry have been before.
Anne Gadegaard’s and the other women’s courageous testimonies are not only a cry for help but also a strong demand for respect and equality in an industry where sexism is unfortunately still all too common.