The singer has criticised music festivals for not booking more female artists as part of their lineups.
The gender imbalance in music festival lineups is a subject that has been brought up by many recently. Festivals have been under a lot of fire for booking primarily male artists, especially as headlining acts. The percentage of male artistsΒ in music festival lineups is generaly 75% and above, and female headliners are quiteΒ rare. EDM festivals present even worse statistics, for example, UK dance music festival lineups reportedlyΒ sawΒ only about 3% female artists in 2015!
On an interview with Rolling Stone, Ellie Goulding spoke about how she may have headlined festivals, but is one of the very few women who has.Β βGenerally I feel like as a woman in music, the one thing that Iβve noticed, which Iβve said before very openly, is that I feel that there arenβt as many women representing festivals,” she said. “itβs very man-heavy. I mentioned some specific festivals that are very male-band heavy. I play festivals all the time β Iβve headlined probably 50 festivals this year. Are there any other women? No, not really.β
This treatment of women extends into the media too, addsΒ Goulding. “I feel like in the media, itβs disguised as other things. For example, when Iβm in a swimsuit and I donβt look good, the media says βflaunts her bikini body.β Theyβre desperately trying to say something negative, but they canβt because theyβd get so much sh*t. So personally as a female musician on the road, I feel like Iβve had a lot of respect, but there are certain things that are still unfair.βΒ