Melissa Etheridge Reflects on Early Career in 'Gender Equity In Music Report': 'My Queerness Protected Me'

Today (March 8th) is International Women's Day and to mark the occasion Tunecore has released its fourth annual Be The Change: Gender Equity In Music Report. Conducted by research firm Midia, the study offers key findings about the progress and challenges surrounding the representation of women and non-binary people in the industry.

In addition to the findings, the study includes a forward by rock pioneer Melissa Etheridge, who reflects on the discrimination she has experienced and witnessed during her four-decade career. She notes that while women have dominated the charts for decades, “typically white, male executives have benefited from our work.”

She also tracks some of the changes she's seen during her long music career, noting that the industry has become more inclusive of women and gender-equal people since she started in the '80s, a time when, she writes, when being gay protected her from some of the discrimination she saw straight women experience.

She emphasizes how important it is to truly be the change you hope to effect, writing that “people are sometimes driven by their own misunderstanding and fear, so if you become the love you want to see, hopefully they will feel it and change.”

Read Etheridge's submission in detail:

It's no secret that the music industry has historically been a boys' club. There have been decades of music defined by incredible women dominating the charts, but behind the scenes women are often sidelined and prevented from reaching the same career heights, while typically white, male executives have benefited from our work.

When I started in the business in the 80s, the A&R reps who came to see me were all men. There were very few women in the business, and that was the norm at the time.

In the late 80s, the industry began to change. Finally there was a modicum of interest in the music and experiences of female artists. In 1988, when I finally got signed and my album was released, women were starting to break through the wall of the industry. Tracy Chapman, kd lang, Toni Childs and Sinéad O'Connor were writing and releasing songs and people were finally starting to pay attention and realize we had something to say.

In music—as in life—being a woman comes with its own obstacles, both visible and invisible. From unequal pay and a reduced sense of autonomy to the countless cases of sexual harassment and abuse that have come to light in recent years from all corners of the industry. And, these barriers are exacerbated for women of color and genderqueer people.

What was the hardest for me was also a blessing. I was lucky enough to find steady work in LA's lesbian bars, so when I entered the music industry, it was already known that I was gay. It changed the way people responded to me. I didn't experience the same sexual harassment as straight women in the industry. Men stood back and didn't know how to deal with me, so in a way, my weirdness protected me.

To me, BECOME CHANGE means that when you try to spend your time and energy trying to change everyone else – that's a hard road. The best change is to become what you want to see. Do you want to see more peace, more inclusiveness and understanding? Then you must be more peaceful, inclusive and understanding.

I've been in the music business for over 40 years now – long enough to see how far women and gender-expanding musicians have come. It is really important to thank it for this so that this job does not seem so impossible. Once upon a time people were either straight or gay and now there is a beautiful rainbow – a whole realm of beings and ways of being, and it's important to celebrate that. The best thing to do is not make it an us vs. them issue. People are sometimes driven by their own misunderstanding and fear, so if you become the love they want to see, hopefully they will feel it and change.

The history of our industry need not be a vision of its future. Studies like BE THE CHANGE: Gender Equity In Music educate our peers and help bridge the perception gap through storytelling and provide actionable solutions to combat gender discrimination.

Through this, we can reshape the face of music. We can work together to create a more fair, accessible and inclusive industry where people of all backgrounds, sexualities, abilities and gender identities are given the same opportunities to succeed. From the stage, to the studio, to the boardroom, each of us has a role to play in making this vision a reality. It is up to all of us to take action to fight discrimination in all its forms. Inclusivity is a necessary ingredient for our industry to thrive. WE ALL MUST BE THE CHANGE.