Amplified Conversations: Burton Music Collective Celebrates International Women's Day.
The Burton Music Collective marked International Women's Day on 8th March with an event at the newly renovated Burton Library, where local female artists and performers shared their experiences within the music industry.
By Tom Drysdale
From left to right: Andrea Caswell, Victoria Melbourne, JJ Lovegrove, Charlotte Bettson and Julie Tickle.
"Amplified Conversations," hosted by artist manager and industry consultant Andrea Caswell, featured a panel comprising Charlotte Bettson (artist), JJ Lovegrove (artist, composer, Ivors Academy Songwriters Council Member), Julie Tickle (artist, live event host, promoter), and Victoria Melbourne (DJ Rose Melba, promoter).
The discussion provided insightful commentary on the realities of being a woman in the contemporary music scene, examining changes over time and the persistent barriers women face.
The Mothers of Invention
One topic addressed was motherhood within the music industry. Victoria Melbourne spoke candidly about the challenges of balancing work with raising a newborn. "I wanted to keep doing a job that felt like me, but it has been a challenge," she admitted. She also noted the transferable skills between event management and parenting: "Doing an event, skills of looking after a toddler can be useful when you are dealing with a drunk person!"
Julie Tickle revealed that she paused her music career for 20 years to raise her daughter. "I was self-employed, so there was no maternity leave, no one there really to foot the bill, so I decided to step away from music." However, she has since resumed her musical pursuits, and her daughter has also been inspired to become a singer-songwriter.
Despite her experience in event management, during which she emphasised the importance of creating safe spaces for women, Julie believes there is still significant progress to be made. "I still think there is a lot of work to do to create these spaces for women, especially in places with alcohol," she stated, even though she recognised improvements over the past two decades.
JJ Lovegrove suggested that "sexy sells." She explained, "You don’t want to hear that Taylor Swift’s got a kid coming, for big labels, some still see it as devaluing the product." Personally, I found the women's honest and insightful discussion of these issues extremely valuable, and the kind of conversations we should be having about music and live performance.
Serious Funding
The discussion then shifted to funding, with advice on how to make music a full-time profession. Charlotte Benson provided insights into the funding process, outlining the requirements for securing support from funding bodies. "You need to have clarity, show that you are serious. You have to show why now is the right time," she said. "They do want you to be realistic; you don't have to say this will get me signed by a record label."
JJ offered a wealth of knowledge about various funding bodies and highlighted platforms like Bandcamp, which she lamented "no one talks about." "A pro-account does not cost a lot to set up," she explained, describing Bandcamp as a platform where fans pay a monthly fee for access to her releases, exclusive content, and merchandise. "It is just like an incoming wage for me."
Diversity
Andrea then guided the conversation towards diversity in music spaces. Charlotte and Julie engaged in an insightful dialogue on representation. Charlotte pointed out that platforms like BBC Introducing have seen a significant increase in female representation. However, Julie observed that this progress is not always reflected at the grassroots level. "I still feel like that area is still quite male-driven," she remarked.
Victoria issued a call to action, noting that while she has received support and guidance from male DJs, she wishes to network with more female DJs, who she finds are scarce in Burton. "I would like to see more Female DJ’s as well that I can work with."
Andrea invited each panellist to share advice based on their expertise. Charlotte explained how to get songs featured on Spotify's major playlists. She described how, after being accepted onto a playlist, she promoted her career milestones alongside her music. "I wrote about doing the first ever Sonic Boom, playing Y Not, and I listed some of the other acts I played alongside as well." This resulted in a significant increase in streams and placement on "Discover Weekly."
JJ Lovegrove discussed self-organisation, treating music as a business, and knowing one's self-worth. Julie emphasised the importance of networking and building connections within the music community.
Victoria concluded by describing her change of focus - venturing into more community-focused events, such as those for the elderly, using music as a tool for healing and connection.
After the discussion, attendees had the opportunity to network with the panellists and other members of the music and creative community. Tea, coffee, and biscuits were provided. I left feeling enlightened and challenged. Events like these underscore the importance of ongoing conversations about representation and women's rights. I am grateful to the panellists, Andrea, and the BMC for organising such an insightful event, and I hope for more to come.
Have a positive community story to share? Email Tom Drysdale at teamburtonecho@gmail.com, and we’ll do our best to bring it to life!
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