Women In Management Positions within Music Industry

1. Research Background
Gender inequality has been a significant concern for many decades. Despite many efforts by women to change the system for equality in work places. The music industry has often disappointed in inequalities between. Genders as the industry is male dominated and the disparity, between man women in managerial roles in the industry is significant. In recent women have made huge movements to close the gaps, between in the inequalities, this has come from laws such as the gender equality act (2010) from the protest by the suffragettes to modern day women in sports, such as tennis where women have are awarded this same pay as man, which was changed 10 years ago, to equal pay, shows the progress of women in attaining equality in male dominated industries. The progress of women in managerial roles, has significantly had a positive effect on the economy, as countries which have a more equal structure between men and women have better perfoming economies, this can be a correlation as the progress of women into industries, brings in new ideas and innovation that slacks in other countries, as women increase their purchasing power, with more women at work with more disposable income they’ve added in more wealth to economy and more worker force. As women have become a big market in the music industry, women In more managerial roles would increase marketability of the industry as whole. However gender oppression, continues to grow even with laws being passed and pressures from society, such as the ‘feminism’ movement and ‘me too’ movement inequalities against women is still prevalent.
The music industry is has largely affected by such unethical standards and inequalities. As Berkers & Schaap (2018) reported, 65% of women occupy entry-level positions in the music industry. Only a third of this percentage is in senior-level positions. This confirms the willingness of this women to make an impact on the economy and register the same amount of personal progress as the men will also confirming the hostility of men in undermining the feminist power and the true worth of these women. Therefore, the reason for choosing this topic is to uncover the underlying ethical concern related to such statistics as well as the eminent implications of gender inequality in the music industry as well as the global economy in general. The potential benefit is that disclosing the contribution of women in the current economy may be the perfect solution to the existing economic crisis especially given the obvious value of women to economic development.
The existing gender inequality within the music industry affects the balance in diversity within the industry. The contribution of women in the music business has so far been of great significance (Berkers & Schaap, 2018). Therefore, the fewer percentages in the management position raise the question as to the basis of such statistics. The interesting bit about the current study is that although women are the victims of gender inequality, the potential implications of this unethical act have affected the progress of the entire industry as well as the global economic platform. It is, therefore, no doubt that there is a need for rectification if a perfect solution is to be obtained. The motivating factor is that finding the solution to this problem solves two different other. The first is the inadequately skilled labor in the industry, and the other is the aforementioned economic crisis. For example, Dorothy Smith’s development of standpoint theory examines the feminist approach to solving the aforementioned gender inequality crisis. According to Strong & Raine (2019), the theorist believes that the most effective strategy of solving this problem is by examining the lives and experiences of women from the point of actuality. Generally, the scope of the research investigates the female experience in the music industry within and beyond the borders of the country.
2. Research Aim and Objectives
This study aims to address the concept of gender inequality by examining the reasons behind the lower percentage of women working in management positions in the music industry. This will include a comparative analysis of the percentage of men working in the industry and the ones in management positions against the percentage of women working in the industry and those in management positions. Generally, the idea will be to verify the ethical component associated with such inequalities in relation to the purpose of the study. The study will also examine the economic implications of such actions from both a social and economic standpoint, including the affected individuals from a gender perspective and in what ways the individuals have been affected.
Questions
1. How has the concept of gender inequality contributed to the registered lower percentage of women in management positions in the music industry?
2. What are the implications of this imbalance nature in the industry?
3. What could be the possible solutions to this crisis, and how will solving the crisis impact the music industry as well as the global economy?
3. Preliminary Literature Review
Gender inequality has been the main trigger of the observed lower number of women in management positions in the music industry. Baeckström (2022) explains that despite the growing campaigns on gender equality, the concept is still a matter of controversial debate. For instance, Baeckström (2022) highlights that the percentage of women in internship positions has been 20% higher than that of women over the last two decades. The efforts by the women to join the global workforce in every sector of the economy have been eminent from their hard work and dedication. However, as Lieb (2018) discussed, the permanent employment rate tends to favor the male gender. Currently, despite the high percentage of women working in the internship positions in the music industry, over 80% of the employees in more permanent positions are men. Consequently, this reflects back to the number of women working in management positions, thus resulting in the recorded lower percentages. As discussed by Raine & Strong (2018), despite their level of consistency in ensuring quality and proficiency, these women still find themselves at the tighter end of the rope as they are expected to work harder and put in extra effort to reach the levels of their male counterparts. However, the few who manage to reach such levels still face a series of operations in every sector, which ultimately affect their performance and willingness to continue working. Generally, this has proven to be quite a tedious ordeal and an unfair process, and most women find themselves quitting before entering any position of great significance.
The existing wage gap has also been an influential factor in the aforementioned problem. According to Glück Radičević (2018), women have been overworked and underpaid for many years. However, the overall public perception was that women in the industry are paid less since they occupy lower-level positions. Nonetheless, the assessment by Glück Radičević (2018) has confirmed that even the fewer women in management positions are still paid lower than their male counterparts in the same positions. This begs the question of the logic behind such statistics. It is becoming difficult to understand the contributions brought in by the male employees that are different from the ones brought in by their female counterparts. Given the level of commitment observed from these women, it is evident that there is an underlying ethical concern behind the employment hierarchy and employee value. Such unethical behavior and obvious oppression are the contributing factors to the absence of women in the music industry. However, the alarming thing is that their absence is currently affecting the diversity of the industry and its position in the global economy. Davies (2019) reports that the industry seems crushing despite technological advancement supporting its growth. According to Davies (2019), the available male employees are already showing high levels of inconsistency. The rising number of corruption and fraud leads to the loss of billions of dollars a year in the industry. With reference to its rate of progress in earlier times, the music industry is facing a lag in growth (Tulalian, 2019). New materials are being introduced every day with no apparent returns to indicate the business’s survival over the next century. The only remaining supporting factor is the fan base attracted by the industry that has ensured its survival despite the existing economic hiccups. Therefore, there is no doubt that finding solutions to this unethical character may be a way out and a necessity in ensuring the industry’s survival.
4. Research Methodology
4.1 Introduction
The adopted research methodology is designed to determine how has the concept of gender inequality contributed to the registered lower percentage of women in management positions in the music industry. The quantitative research examines the presence and percentage of women in management positions within the music industry. The research applies a qualitative-quantitative combined approach of data collection in an effort to examine the percentage of women working in management positions within the music industry. The study also addresses the implications of this percentage on the progress of the industry from an economic standpoint. A cross-sectional descriptive survey research design will be used in this study to confirm the percentage of women in the industry as well as those in management positions. This design is used since it helps establish a common characteristic of a specific population of subjects, in this case, the women in management positions within the music industry. Moreover, the cross-sectional survey also makes it easier to ascertain the accurate perception of the participants as well as identify the existing connection between the subject of the research and the targeted population. The analysis will be cross-sectional since the conducted assessment will cut across numerous businesses within the music industry across the entire country and also replicates to other businesses beyond the country.

4.2 Population of the Study
The study intends to cover all music businesses in the country. Therefore, the assessment will be made on the total population of women in the management position within the music industry against the total number of women in the industry. Moreover, an assessment will also be made on the percentage of men working in management positions in the industry against the total number of male employees within the industry.
Data Collection
The research applied the use of both open and close-ended questionnaires to collect the opinions of the women in the industry as well as the perspective of men over the matter of gender inequality and how it is affecting the industry. Both questionnaires will consist of three parts. The first section, labeled A, will cover responses from the research participants as well as the demographic information in the area of research. The second section labeled B will contain information relating to the research objectives, including a statement of gender inequality and its ethical concern. The final part labeled section C will capture the link between the provided responses and the research objectives in an effort to determine the viability of these responses. The researcher will administer the questionnaire to the available volunteers as well as the different heads of the musical organizations within the country. The open-ended questionnaires will consist of a series of 10 questions that allow them to freely provide responses based on their general opinion of the research problem. However, the closed-ended questionnaire will consist of 20 questions that allow the respondents to provide quick responses to the presented questions as they rank the choices based on statements presented to them. The purpose of the close-ended questionnaires is to back the credibility of the findings presented during the research and also ensure that the entire research process stays on course. All the questionnaires collected from the field will afterward be submitted to the editorial team to be edited for consistency, accuracy, reliability, and completeness. All the responses collected will be numerically coded to make the process of statistical analysis as simple as possible. The data analysis process will take a descriptive statistics approach which includes calculation of the mean, percentages, and standard deviation and the final results and conclusions made based on the presented data. However, correlation analysis will also be done to enhance the viability of the presented data. The analysis aims to examine the existing relationship between the data collected and the research objective. Moreover, the analysis also ensures that all the research questions have been answered and that the conducted study presents possible solutions to the aforementioned problems. All the collected results will be presented in charts and tables to ensure clarity and ease of access.

5. Time Schedule
Milestone Description Due date
1 Stage 1: Ethics and gender inequality
2 Stage 2: Women working in the management position in the music industry
3 Stage 3: Proposal written and submitted
4 Stage 4: Literature Review and Introduction Chapters
5 Stage 5: Research Methodology Chapter
6 Stage 6: Data collection and analysis
7 Stage 7: Writing up
8 Stage 8: Final draft prepared— submission of dissertation
6. Feasibility and Resources
Based on the conducted assessment, there are already several volunteers willing to be interviewed and questioned regarding the subject of the research. According to Baeckström (2022), the concern of gender inequality has become a great topic in the 21st century. Therefore, the number of individuals willing to weigh in on the matter is of no question. The only determining factor is the willingness of a single individual to step forward and address the matter. In this sense, this topic of research presents a wide range of participants with the willingness and desire to participate in the study. Moreover, as discussed by Baeckström (2022) the campaigns for feminism also provide the right amount of force to see the success of this project. However, the feasibility of the research still relies on its ability to meet the expected code of ethics for every study involving human participants. Based on the provisions of the Belmont report. The research needs to obey all the three principles of research. For instance, the entire study must ensure justice. This includes choosing the participants without biasness or favoritism. Moreover, the findings of the research must also benefit every individual equally. Moreover, the research must also obey the principle of respect for persons. According to Davies (2019), this implies that the interests and safety of all the participants in the study must be protected at all times. Above all, the process of research must observe the principle of beneficence. As provided by Davies (2019), this principle provides that the research team’s goal should be to protect the welfare of the available research participants. Therefore, the benefits of the research must outweigh the risks associated with conducting the research. However, given the nature of the study, it is no doubt that the research abides by all the expected ethical protocols. In this sense, the feasibility and accuracy of the study are guaranteed.

References
Baeckström, Y, 2022, Actions to reduce gender bias and increase gender equality. Gender and Finance, pp.81–92.
Baeckström, Y, 2022, Gender inequality is in everything. Gender and Finance, pp.1–13.
Berkers, P, & Schaap, J, 2018, Conclusion: Women are nowhere, gender is everywhere. Gender Inequality in Metal Music Production, pp.103–110.
Berkers, P, & Schaap, J, 2018, Introduction: Gender inequality in Metal Music production. Gender Inequality in Metal Music Production, pp.3–24.
Davies, HE, 2019, Preparing for the ‘real world’? exploring gender issues in the music industry and the role of Vocational Popular Music Higher Education. Towards Gender Equality in the Music Industry.
Glück Radičević, L, 2018, Gender inequality in the music industry (Doctoral dissertation, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek. Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. Department of English Language and Literature).
Lieb, KJ, 2018, The modern music industry. Gender, Branding, and the Modern Music Industry, pp.76–107. ASSESSMENT OF PERFORMANCE

Your introduction is well thought out. You provide a thorough overview, which leads the reader to your research question and objectives.
Considerations: (Please see comments in the body of the script for more information, specifically comments concerning “what you haven’t done” – and where “you should be doing more”.

The literature review is sound, yet a little fragmented, and there is room for more scholarly citations. Consider whether you can clearly link paragraphs to allow for a better flow of information within your literature review.

Your methodology is strong. In-order to develop it, consider offering greater detail around your sample e.g. what will your sample size be: n=, also what might your inclusion criteria be? How exactly will you chose to interview (e.g. industry, job role, level of seniority, country?)

Give more detail about your analysis.

You have ethical approval to proceed with your data collection

The English is good
The presentation is satisfactory

The referencing is good

ADVICE ON HOW TO IMPROVE

1.Please use a gantt chart.

2. Remember to underpin your assertions and claims with actual study citations.

Raine, S, & Strong, C, 2018, Gender politics in the music industry. IASPM@Journal, 8(1), pp.2–8.
Strong, C & Raine, S, 2019, Towards gender equality in the music industry: An introduction. Towards Gender Equality in the Music Industry.
Italian, I, 2019, Gender Inequality in the Music Industry. Backstage Pass, 2(1), p.14.

ASSESSMENT OF PERFORMANCE

Your introduction is well thought out. You provide a thorough overview, which leads the reader to your research question and objectives.
Considerations: (Please see comments in the body of the script for more information, specifically comments concerning “what you haven’t done” – and where “you should be doing more”.

The literature review is sound, yet a little fragmented, and there is room for more scholarly citations. Consider whether you can clearly link paragraphs to allow for a better flow of information within your literature review.

Your methodology is strong. In-order to develop it, consider offering greater detail around your sample e.g. what will your sample size be: n=, also what might your inclusion criteria be? How exactly will you chose to interview (e.g. industry, job role, level of seniority, country?)

Give more detail about your analysis.

You have ethical approval to proceed with your data collection

The English is good
The presentation is satisfactory

The referencing is good

ADVICE ON HOW TO IMPROVE

1.Please use a gantt chart.

2. Remember to underpin your assertions and claims with actual study citations.