Kacey Musgraves, Cardi B, Brandi Carlile, and many more women in music are joining forces.
Hearteningly, says Ann Wilson, the female-centric bill was not a conscious choice.
The fact that we ended up with all female artists happened by accidenta fantastic accident!
Credit: Rich Fury/Getty Images; Jason Koerner/Getty Images; Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images; Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
says the mighty-voiced frontwoman of the tour that kicks off July 9 in Missouri.
This show is a chance for everyone to enjoy the power of these artists.
They were chosen because of their talent, not their ovaries.
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For others, particularly those in the industry itself, its viewed as a huge financial risk.
And its male artists who, by a sweeping percentage, dominate the festival lineups.
Those myths perpetuate a cycle that feeds itself.
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But if they dont get played on the radio, then they dont get the bookings.
In country music, this disparity is more prevalent than ever.
And because women are systematically diminished, its that much harder for them to land that prized summer tour.
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Like the music industry does, it just kept doing it because it worked.
Theyre doing it on their own, city by city, one sold-out date at a time.
Kacey Musgraves continues to sign up female warm-up acts for her Oh, What a World tour.
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Its a movement, says Ali Harnell, president of Live Nations new division, Woman Nation.
ForUnderwoods Cry Pretty Tour 360its Runaway June and Maddie & Tae.
Kelly Clarkson snagged Maggie Rose and Kelsea Ballerini.
I think thats really powerful.
Carlile has been one of the bedrocks of the movement.
The festival sold out the same day it went on sale.
Everybody wanted to play.
I didnt see the sorts of hurdles [that I normally do].
It was a safe space, surrounded by likeminded people who have mutual respect and similar consciousness.
But we have to change the listeners ear as much as anything.
Morris has also been taking women on her global GIRL trek.
We need to get to that point of it just happening [for women].
We need to consciously [take other women on tour] until we get to that point.
Until we can unconsciously do it.
Its something that everybodys going to have to decide together, unanimously, to change, says Carlile.
Its really gonna take the boys and their support for it to really shift.
Additional reporting by Sarah Rodman
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