EARLIER THIS MONTH, Spotify and Smirnoff paired up to create the ‘Smirnoff Equaliser’, a tool that allows you to see how many female artists you listen to on Spotify.
Tim Ganss from Spotify hopes that this tool will help to make music “more equal between male and female artists”.
In 2017, all ten of the top ten most streamed tracks on our platform were performed by male artists. This really doesn’t properly represent the fantastic work done by female artists, particularly in 2017.
To try it out, all you’ve got to do is go here and sign into Spotify. Then they’ll calculate what percent of the music you listen to is performed by women.
American house DJ Honey Dijon praised the initiative:
[Companies] are becoming more aware of the lack of inclusivity of women. I think giving people those voices and the chance to be seen and heard is what’s going to make the difference.
I think what’s most important about this, is to have the visibility to allow people to feel that they can do this or that, and that gender won’t restrict them from being an artist. Music is better when everyone is involved.
Once the gender ratio that you’ve been listening to is revealed, you’re also given the option to make a new, more balanced playlist that’s tailored to your taste.
