By Zoē Bethea

It’s February 2, 2026, and Lady Gaga just won a Grammy award for Best Pop Vocal Album. In her acceptance speech, instead of basking in the glory of her significant win, she had something more pressing to address–the heaviness she felt for her fellow female producers and curators in the room. She said, “fight for your songs, fight for yourself as a producer, [and] make sure that you are heard loudly.” In Gaga’s almost two-decade-long career, with accolades ranging from Oscars to MTV Awards to Guinness World Records and more, she still expresses her need to be heard and treated fairly as a woman in the music industry. 

This disparity not only affects the Pop genre but also classical music. Dr. Amy Phelps, a doctor of Music Arts from the University of Iowa, expressed in her dissertation research that in orchestras, despite “blind auditions,” where musicians audition behind a screen to try to eliminate bias from their judging committee, there is still a great disparity when it comes to who gets to fill the seats in each section. 

On the musical front and in so many other areas of society, women face immense amounts of inequality that can be life-changing and extremely discouraging. It is not only about the lack of equal pay or opportunity, but also about the feeling and impact of not being treated as a fully capable human being by other human beings. 

For these reasons, August 26th is recognized as Women’s Equality Day as a reminder to the world of the work that must continue to be done to create positive environments and safe spaces for women where they are seen and treated as equals compared to their male counterparts. It is a day to celebrate and acknowledge the strength, capabilities, and accomplishments of all women from all walks of life.

Specifically, the day commemorates the 19th Amendment and its role, alongside the Women’s Rights Movement, in advancing voting equality; however, the movement does not stop there. 

The 2026 Seat at the Table report by Women in CTRL records, which covers “gender and ethnic representation in leadership and governance across the UK music industry,” stated that the percentage of female board members across the UK Music trade bodies was on an upward trend from 32% in 2020 to 52% in 2024. That percentage has since declined in 2026, with 49% of board members being female. 

Although there has not been a regression in percentages since 2020, there still has not been a sufficient increase in the percentage of women appointed to these administrative positions. Change must still be made. 

While it is common to come across female artists in the music industry,  as listeners, we do not necessarily know what the artist has been through or is currently going through behind the scenes. This is why, on National Women’s Equality Day, being vocal about supporting female artists and musicians is powerful and leaves a lasting impact. 

It could be as simple as diversifying your playlists and familiarizing yourself with North Carolina native musicians like the famous jazz composer Nina Simone, Grammy-award-winning R&B artist Roberta Flack, or folk artist Rhiannon Giddens. Perhaps you want to support a bit closer to home? Creative Loafing’s Critic’s Choice for Best Female Vocalists in Charlotte has highlighted several local female musicians, including Shana Blake of the Shana Blake Band, Erika Blatnik, Reeve Coobs, and more. 

Music already brings people together. Let it bring people together to support one another’s efforts properly.

Support women. Support female artists. Support growth.