Research Seminar Series - Grace Goodwin (University of Liverpool)

PLEASE NOTE, THIS IS AN ONLINE ONLY SEMINAR

Abstract

The European music industry exhibits profound structural gender inequalities, evidenced by the marginal representation of women and gender-expansive individuals in key creative, executive, and public-facing roles. In response, a vast, but fragmented ecosystem of initiatives has emerged to provide support and professional development. This paper presents a critical case study and reflection on the development of GENiE (Gender Equality Networks in Music), a digital database which maps over 600 gender equality initiatives.

This paper details the methodological challenges of constructing a pan-European database, including overcoming bias through community consultation and developing a multi-faceted classification system to organise initiatives. It also argues that while databases and archiving are a vital tool for visibility and network-building, it is also an inherently non-neutral, political act. The paper rigorously examines the significant ethical dilemmas encountered, from the gatekeeping power of categorisation and the lack of initial consent from projects, to the risk of weaponisation in hostile political environments. Ultimately, this paper contends that projects like GENiE, are essential for challenging music industry inequities but must continually navigate the paradox of replicating the very structural burdens they seek to dismantle, where the labour of repair falls disproportionately on those already marginalised.

Biography

Grace Goodwin is a PhD researcher at the Institute of Popular Music, University of Liverpool where her work focuses inequalities in the creative industries, particularly gender and regional inequalities in the music industry. She is a consultant who delivers projects and talks and launched GENIE (Gender Equality Networks in Europe), a database of over 600 projects supporting gender equity in the music industry. She is a session musician, artist mentor and sits on the board of the PRS Foundation, the largest funders of new music in the UK.