On Documentary on Newstalk, Producer Alan Meaney explores the disparity between male and female and female identifying musicians in Ireland in ‘Equalization’.

The music industry has always been unbalanced. In Ireland and throughout the world, women and female identifying musicians have had to play second fiddle to men in terms of exposure, gigs, festivals and pay.

Four unique organisations have been established in Ireland over the last few years to encourage and engage women and LGBTQIA+ in the music industry. Gash Collective, Fair Plé, DIAXDEM Collective and Girls Rock Dublin aspire to empower and educate women and female identifying musicians in the music industry and to open up a discussion on gender balance.

‘Equalization’ is a documentary that speaks to the founders and members of these groups about the disparity they have experienced as musicians and how they try to provide equal opportunities and balanced representation for all.

Stories of how they began in music, issues with unequal festival lineups, sexual abuse and harassment, internalised misogyny and the effects of covid on their livelihoods are all explored in the documentary. The interviewees give personal accounts of their experiences and hopes for a more balanced music industry.

‘Equalization' will be broadcast on Newstalk , Sunday August 21st at 7am, repeated Saturday August 27th at 9pm and will be available as a podcast on GoLoud, Newstalk.com and all major podcast platforms.

The programme features music and interviews with Karan Casey, Pauline Scanlon, Ellll, LOLZ, Renn, Ódú and Aoife from Alien She. It is narrated by the singer and actor Tracy Bruen.

The contributors are Karan Casey and Pauline Scanlon (Fair Plé), Karen Miano (DIAXDEM Collective), Sally Ó Dúnlaing and Aoife Nic Dhonnacha (Girls Rock Dublin), Ellen King and Laura O’Connell (Gash Collective).

The programme was supported by a grant from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, as part of the Sound And Vision Scheme