Much like the Swedish music industry before, scores of women from the Australian music industry have today released an incendiary open letter detailing stories of inexcusable harassment and sexual misconduct perpetrated on them by prominent men in the industry that has, until now, been allowed to continue without consequence.
The open letter, published on The Industry Observer earlier this morning, flies under the simple-yet-stark banner of #meNOmore, and serves as a foot-down moment against predatory men in the local music industry.
Contained in the letter is a series of harrowing and confronting anonymous stories – stories that are, unfortunately, not uncommon – from musicians, managers, promoters, and media personnel, detailing stories that range from bullying and misogynistic language through to outright sexual grooming and assault.
The stories do not name names specifically, but the letter itself warns that “We have names of perpetrators. We know the same names that are repeated in unrelated circles.”
The published stories include one detailing a horrific story of grooming after winning national high school awards, grooming that resulted in the subject quitting music altogether:
After winning awards at a national high school music competition I was recruited by an Australian musician to study with him. It turned out that I was to be groomed and sexually abused over many months. He told me that he selected girls for awards at the competition on the basis of their looks. The abuse triggered years of struggles with my mental health. I quit music years ago.
Another detailed the shocking behaviour of a prominent music manager:
Working backstage for a huge international act, their tour manager looked me in the eyes and as he told the room there were only two types of women: bitches and sluts.
And a further one, perhaps even more harrowingly, could not be told due to legal issues:
I am unable to reveal the details of my experience due to a confidentiality agreement which I was forced to sign.
The letter closes by asserting that “Together, we give a voice to these issues and demand zero tolerance for sexual harassment, violence, objectification and sexist behaviours. There is no place for sexual entitlement in the workplace and in our industry. Change starts today.”
Thus far, scores of prominent Australian music industry identities and groups have added their name to the growing list of signees, including the likes of Missy Higgins, Tina Arena, Courtney Barnett, Adalita, Cash Savage, Claire Bowditch, Gen Fricker, Jen Cloher, Jo Thornley, Karina Utomo of High Tension, Myf Warhurst, Nina Las Vegas, Sarah Blasko, Sarah McLeod, Sarah Thompson of Camp Cope, The Preatures, All My Exes Live In Texas, and Zan Rowe.
That is a mere handful of the literal hundreds of names attached to the letter thus far.
The full open letter can be viewed, and signed, via this link.
If the men in question weren’t scared before today, now might be a good time to start shaking.
