DR’s new documentary “Sexism in the Music Industry” sheds a compelling and disheartening light on the conditions for female musicians in 2024. With shocking testimonies from 13 known and unknown women, the documentary portrays a culture marked by boundary-crossing behavior and sexual abuse. Among the brave voices that come forward is Katinka Bjerregaard, lead singer and songwriter, who shares her deeply uncomfortable experiences from the music industry.
The documentary, which has already generated significant attention due to Martin Brygmann’s involuntary exposure as one of the worst offenders, shows how sexism thrives in an industry where women’s appearance is often valued higher than their talent. Katinka Bjerregaard describes the feeling of being reduced to her body instead of being recognized for her musical abilities: “There is a clear sense that you should have a sexy body to be able to play music.”
Katinka Bjerregaard recounts how a male musician on “Toppen af Poppen” created a vulgar and uncomfortable atmosphere during their collaboration in 2021. She describes an episode where the musician told an extremely inappropriate story about a woman performing with a sausage inside her while a dog ate from it. This vulgar behavior set the tone for their collaboration and made it difficult for Bjerregaard to feel safe and respected.
A particularly unpleasant incident occurred just before Katinka Bjerregaard was to perform her interpretation of Alex Vargas’ song. When she mentioned that she needed to use the restroom, the male musician condescendingly and sexualized offered to hold her clothes for her. “I don’t laugh there. I just go. And I remember having to make an effort not to cry out there in the bathroom,” she explains in the documentary. This episode, where she felt forced to maintain composure and professionalism despite deep discomfort, illustrates the daily struggle many women in the industry face.
In the aftermath of the revelations, the production company Mastiff, behind “Toppen af Poppen,” has initiated an investigation into the conditions during the 2021 production. The investigation, carried out by an independent external consultant, confirmed that the tone on the production at times was boundary-crossing and part of an inappropriate culture. Mastiff has since taken steps to address these issues and emphasizes the importance of intervening against actions that go against their code of conduct.
The band member in question has, in response to the criticism, issued an unconditional apology to the artists who have felt offended by his behavior. He acknowledges that his language may have been offensive and assures that it was not his intention to create an uncomfortable atmosphere.
Katinka Bjerregaard’s courageous account in the documentary is a powerful testimony to the challenges female musicians face in an often skewed industry. Her story is an important part of a larger fight for equality and respect in the music industry, which hopefully will inspire change and greater awareness of sexism in all its forms.