GENDER GAP WIDENS IN THE U.K.

While 2018 may have been crowned the year of the woman, research from the BBC reveals just how big the gender gap was on last year’s most successful songs in the U.K. Of the Official Chart Company’s Top 100 most popular tracks, 91 were credited to men, while just 30 were credited to women.

Those stats include crossover for collaborations. Despite the popularity of artists such as Dua Lipa, Anne-Marie and Ariana Grande, 13 songs were credited to female acts solely, compared to 35 in 2008, meaning the gender gap has widened over the last 10 years. While the number of Top 100 songs credited to women overall was the same in 2018 as in 2008, the amount credited to men has risen by 50% to 91 in 2018 from 59 in 2008, thanks to a rise in collaborations. From 2008 to 2018, the number of songs credited to both a female and male act rose to 25 from 10, so male/female collaborations have replaced female solo songs. The number of songs by a male act only has also risen to 54 from 49.

The popularity of dance and rap—both male-dominated fields that often feature female vocalists—is cited as one of the reasons for the gender imbalance. However, FAE CEO Sarah Stennett points to a systemic problem in the bias of gatekeepers. She said: "The gap that exists is not acceptable. I do not believe the consumer says, 'I want to listen to more men than women.' It's the choice they're given."