
So many festivals, too many men
As yet more male-led festival lineups are announced, Shaquille Wasasala, aka halfqueen, writes an open letter to the industry.
As yet more male-led festival lineups are announced, Shaquille Wasasala, aka halfqueen, writes an open letter to the industry.
The latest Bay Dreams lineup has reignited conversations about the lack of gender diversity on New Zealand’s music festival stages. We look at why the usual defences of either lack of supply or lack of demand for non-male acts doesn’t cut it anymore.
Festivals like Primavera Sound and Iceland Airwaves have proven it’s possible to book line-ups with a 50/50 gender split. Here’s what the rest of the industry needs to do to catch up.
The line-up featured 24 all-male acts, and just three women in total. Pop singer Anna Robinson, DJ SIN and Jennie Skulander, of the metal band Devilskin, were the only women on the bill.
The gender imbalance in music festival line-ups persists this year, despite the noise in promoters ears getting louder. Kirsten Johnstone asks why this is still an issue.