"They sign a bunch of women, and they call it a movement. I don't like the way women in music have been identified as women first and musicians second"

Michelle Shocked’s statement challenges the pattern of tokenism and categorization within the music industry, especially regarding female artists. She draws attention to how industry gatekeepers, in an attempt to appear progressive, actively sign female musicians not necessarily for their artistry, but to fulfill a notion of diversity or align themselves with social trends. By referring to this as calling it a “movement,” Shocked is skeptical of the seemingly celebratory framing of such industry behaviors. Instead, she sees it as a superficial response that doesn’t actually value or prioritize women’s musical contributions or creative voices.

Her critique extends further to the persistent practice of defining women in music primarily by their gender rather than evaluating them based solely on their talent, innovation, or impact as musicians. This secondary status, being seen as ‘women first and musicians second’, implicitly creates a hierarchy where male counterparts are simply “musicians,” but female artists require the modifier “woman musician.” Such language and thinking reinforce the idea that men are the default in the music world, while women are novelties or exceptions.

This framing carries significant consequences. It can limit opportunities by pigeonholing women into gendered genres or subjects, and risks undermining their artistic credibility. Recognition becomes about breaking gender barriers rather than musical excellence. It can even pit women against each other, as limited “slots” are available for “women in music,” further separating them rather than integrating them within the artistic mainstream. Shocked’s perspective is an urgent call for genuine equality, a system where artists are valued for their artistry, and diversity is achieved not through quotas or trends, but by truly embracing a wide spectrum of talent, regardless of gender. Only when the industry can see women as musicians, unconditionally, can progress and respect be fully realized.