Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog magazines – and their online platform TeamRock.com – are combining efforts this month to celebrate the role of women in rock, metal and progressive music and, in a post-Weinstein world, asking: is our house in order?
The February editions of all three magazines feature female artists on the cover and inside interview some of their genre’s leading female artists.
Classic Rock presents five split-covers: Kate Bush, Joan Jett, Chrissie Hynde, Skin and Girlschool. This month’s free CD features bands with female members (like Blondie, The BellRays, Rock Goddess, Blues Pills), and the magazine includes interviews with some of rock’s greatest female artists: Suzi Quatro, Shirley Manson, Sheryl Crow, Stevie Nicks, Debbie Harry, Nancy Wilson & more.
Metal Hammer’s cover stars are multi-platinum-selling heavyweights Nightwish, who head up a special issue celebrating women across the metal scene. It includes interviews with Epica, Arch Enemy, Oceans Of Slumber, Myrkur, Venom Prison, Employed To Serve, Doro and more, plus a look at whether it’s still difficult for women to break into metal, and the people spearheading initiatives to help female musicians and fans.
Prog’s cover stars are Anathema, whose vocalist Lee Douglas has been voted Female Singer of the Year five times in the magazine’s annual readers poll, and includes a look at the changing role of women in progressive music in the modern age.
Online coverage will include regular opinion pieces, profiles, exclusive interviews and more.
According to the publishers, the aim is to raise debate, create awareness of the issues surrounding women in the music industry, support and enable – and to celebrate the amazing music made by female artists past and present.
TeamRock.com’s Editor, Briony Edwards says, “Rock and roll was invented by women – and anyone who says otherwise doesn’t know their history. Not only that, we’re better at it than men.
“While female artists rule the worlds of pop and country, they just aren’t as prominent or successful in rock music,” says Classic Rock Editor Siân Llewellyn.
“We ran an online poll recently to find the greatest rock albums, and only one band with women in its lineup made the Top 100. And because they’re not as big, magazines tend to cover female artists less – this is a chance to tell their stories.”
Eleanor Goodman, Metal Hammer’s Deputy Editor says, “Thankfully, the days of female fans being perceived as groupies and female musicians being perceived as a novelty are receding into the past. Women continue to contribute to metal all across the industry, strengthening our world behind the scenes and onstage. In 2018, it’s even more vital than ever to celebrate their role.”
The next issue of Prog is on sale 25 January. Classic Rock is on sale 1 February. Metal Hammer is on sale 2 February.
