Gender and Music Gear Experiences Report
Brief: 3 pages / Summary: 8 pages / Full: 24 pages
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Gender and Music Gear Experiences Report Press Release
Hilary B. Jones Consulting announces the release of the Gender and Music Gear Experiences Report, featuring results and analysis from a survey of the same name, including responses from nearly 1000 musicians from around the world, with several key findings:
While 92.8% of cis women and 78.9% of trans and non-binary musicians report having experienced unfair or differential treatment as a result of their gender in a music store, only 16.3% of cis men reported such an experience.
Approximately one-third of cisgender women have experienced unwanted sexual comments in music stores, on a music gear website or group, or on music gear social media.
Cisgender women in urban locations were nearly 4 times as likely to experience differential treatment at music stores than those in other locations, while transgender and non-binary respondents were 3 times as likely to have negative experiences in urban or rural, rather than suburban locations.
On music gear social media and discussion boards, 82.3 percent of cisgender women report experiencing differential gender-based treatment
Forty-five percent of cisgender men reported having made purchasing decisions based on a company’s treatment of cisgender women, transgender individuals, and non-binary individuals
Across genders, hiring more cisgender women, transgender, and non-binary employees was recommended as the most important strategy for change in the industry
In the music gear industry, this has been evidenced already. Fender’s finding that 50 percent of new guitar buyers are women and their resulting marketing shift has been deemed a success by many, resulting in a sales boom (even pre-pandemic). On the other hand, companies who have been slower to catch up to calls for diversity have filed for bankruptcy or been pulled from major dealers. This research adds to the story, by detailing the specific gender-based experiences of musicians in the industry, in both retail and online setting, along with suggestions for change.
“While these results are likely not a surprise to cisgender women, trans, and non-binary musicians or industry-members, they demonstrate that despite significant improvements, there is still work to do on the part of those in the industry to create better spaces.” said Jones.
Across industries, future and current employees will choose to work in companies who share their values, as represented in marketing, hiring, policies, and culture. With more customers buying and researching online, customers have choices and want to support companies who share their values, as represented in their marketing, hiring, policies, and culture. In addition, companies with more diverse management teams experience higher revenues due to innovation.
Jones added, “It is heartening to see that in addition to cisgender women, trans, and non-binary folks, many cis men are taking the treatment of others into consideration in their purchasing decisions, and should be an important lesson for retailers and brands alike.”
The full report is available at hilarybjones.com.
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*Cisgender= a person whose gender matches the sex they were assigned at birth. For example, someone who identifies as a woman and was identified as female at birth is a cisgender woman.
ABOUT HILARY B. JONES CONSULTING
Hilary B. Jones is a musician and consultant working with small businesses in the music and music product industry to create better, more inclusive spaces where employees and customers can reach their creative potential and thrive. After spending 10 years as Executive Director at RIOT RI (formerly Girls Rock! Rhode Island), she is currently an adjunct professor of Gender & Women’s Studies at the Rhode Island School of Design and creator of Mid-Riff, a podcast about gender, music, and music gear.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Hilary B. Jones, hilary@hilarybjones.com