Who Are You Becoming To Succeed In Music?
I shared something last week that clearly struck a nerve.
It came through anonymously after my International Women’s Day post.
A woman in music said:
A lot of women replied saying it resonated.
You may have witnessed this behaviour too.
I know I’ve seen this in the workplace when I worked in music. Women adapting their behaviour and aligning themselves with who they believe holds the influence.
Even very recently I was in a gathering of women and one woman said she always went straight to the men because “that’s where the power is.”
That’s stayed with me.
I understood what she meant.
But I won’t lie, I felt gutted hearing it.
Leadership in this industry is still largely male, so what success looks like has often been shaped by that.
The women before us were navigating more overtly sexist environments, with real pressure to fit in and be accepted.
And so some adapted. Some distanced themselves from other women to be treated more favourably.
I still see moments of this now.
But I have hope - and I see that’s shifting.
I see far more women showing up for each other today and choosing not to play by those same rules.
I see how this then impacts how women show up, speak up, and back themselves at work.
So it’s worth asking yourself:
Who are you becoming to succeed in this environment?
And what impact do you want to have on the future of this industry?
You don’t have to become someone else to succeed in music.
If anything, it’s about staying closer to who you already are.
Here’s a few things to reflect on:
• Where do I feel I have to adapt to be taken seriously?
• What parts of myself feel harder to bring into certain rooms?
• What would change if I trusted my own way of showing up more?
This is the work I support women in music with every day. I help them navigate these situations without losing themselves. If you’re in this space and want support, you can message me directly.
Always in your corner,
Sarah
