[Photo Credit to Pixabay]

On March 27th, 2024, LiveOne, an esteemed music entertainment platform, took center stage in Los Angeles, significantly challenging the gender discrimination that women face in the entertainment industry through showcases of performances and discussions.

For example, one of the highlights of the event was a stellar performance by Tabi, a talented artist and songwriter whose hit song "Birthday Dance" with Josh Levi has soared to the top 50 on urban radio charts.

Tabi's electrifying performance has served as a testament to the evident prowess and creativity of female artists in the industry.

Additionally, the event featured a thought-provoking panel discussion, bringing together various female executives from across the entertainment landscape.

Among the panelists were industry luminaries such as Carolyn Blackwood, former COO of Warner Bros, Michele Ruiz, Emmy Award-Winning TV news anchor and author, and Tiffany Naiman, director of the music industry program at the University of California, Los Angeles.

These influential women lead discussions on how people doubted their ability and success just because of their sex and how they were able to overcome those stereotypes and finally received recognition;those personal stories became clear testaments as to what women are capable of and the influence they can spread within the industry.

Their insights and experiences definitely provided invaluable perspectives that aimed to tear down the systematic barriers to women's fearless pursuit of passion and ambition.

However, it still remains as a question mark if such efforts will be enough to holistically accomplish gender equality in the entertainment industry.

According to a study led by Berklee College of Music on the obstacles and opportunities that women face in the music industry, in which approximately 1600 artists participated, 77 percent of them stated that they were treated differently because of their gender, and 56 percent of them stated that they are not receiving unfair payment because they are women.

Despite one's artistic talent or abilities, it's evident that women encounter more significant obstacles than their male counterparts when trying to enter or thrive in the entertainment industry.

Even upon securing employment, women still face ongoing discrimination within the industry.

Lexi Alexander, a female movie director, states, "The driver refused to take me because he was told to wait for the director to the executives who insist they need a male director for a film about boxing and fighting, then hire a guy who never had a fight in his life, while I spent the better part of my youth being an international competitive fighting champion. Once someone said to me: 'We really wanted you to direct this movie, but 'anonymous male action star' refuses to be directed by a woman.'"

Although decades have passed, such loss of opportunities and discrimination that women in the entertainment industry face just because of their gender continues, which motivates platforms like LiveOne to adopt proactive measures.

With the increased visibility of female artists, opportunities for women to prove their capabilities naturally expand, fostering the anticipation of the gradual erosion of gender bias directed toward women in the entertainment industry.