The project will document and work with structural sexism in the music industry. The initiative brings together musicians, live performers, industry organisations, companies and other key players to develop joint initiatives, says the knowledge centre Kvinfo in a press release.

As a first step, The Sound of Courage is gathering evidence to understand the prevalence and nature of sexism and support a wide range of industry players in developing joint actions and solutions.

The collection is anonymous and anyone, regardless of gender, can contribute to the documentation, both performing and creative musicians and employees, anonymously talk about their experiences with sexism. This includes both their own experiences and what they may have witnessed - and how they have felt able to act on it.

Read more about The sound of courage

You can submit your testimony about sexism and transgressive behaviour in the music industry here

"There is an incredible amount of knowledge to be gained from the stories of lived life in the music industry, and only with knowledge do we have a factual basis for moving forward."
Pernille Rosendahl, musician and member of the project advisory board

We must stay in the discomfort

Musicians Pernille Rosendahl and Annika Aakjær, who came forward in the DR documentary Sexism in the Music Industry in June, are supporting the project through an advisory board.

"Of course it's tough to listen to testimonies, but I think it's important that we can tolerate the discomfort a little longer. There is an incredible amount of knowledge to be gained from the stories based on life in the music industry, and only with knowledge do we have a factual basis for moving forward," says Pernille Rosendahl.

The advisory board also includes the organisation Another Life and Foreningen Musikbevægelsen af 2019. Another Life has also contributed to the background questions in the testimonial collection.

There will also be close co-operation with Koda in the development part of the project.

"Solving the problems of sexism and inequality in the music industry requires us to work at all levels, persistently and over the long term. We can't solve these problems overnight, and no one can solve them alone. That's why we are very happy to be part of The Sound of Courage, which we hope can help develop some concrete methods and initiatives that can lead to a positive change in the Danish music scene," says Loui Törnqvist, Chairperson of Koda.

Focus on structures rather than people

The aim of the project is to document the structural and cultural sexism in the music industry and, through development labs, to strengthen the knowledge and understanding needed to create change in the industry and ensure greater gender equality.

For the Tuborg Foundation, it is important to create a good framework and working conditions for young people in the music industry:

"Many young women and gender minorities feel that they don't get a fair assessment of their abilities in the music industry. At the same time, an analysis of the environment a few years ago showed that 80 percent of women between the ages of 18 and 29 have experienced inappropriate behaviour. This is a problem - not least for young people who dream of a career in music. For us, it's important that the project includes an action track where industry players can work together to come closer to concrete solutions to combat sexism. We are therefore pleased to support KVINFO's important work in bringing the industry together for joint action," says Mathias Findalen, Programme Manager for Creative Industries at the Tuborg Foundation.

The project will focus on how sexism affects everyone regardless of gender and how sexism reinforces other vulnerable positions in the industry because it interacts with racism, homophobia and transphobia, among others.

For KVINFO, it is important to create a solid understanding of the problems and a shared conversation about them - in order to do something fundamental about them.

"It requires a safe environment and a shared dialogue, both about the problems and the ways to create lasting change. Structural sexism is a problem for the industry - and only the industry can solve it together. We want to contribute with perspectives from other industries and with the in-depth knowledge we have about the gendered barriers in the music industry. We will focus on structural sexism, not on individuals," says Henriette Laursen, Director of KVINFO.

The project The Sound of Courage is supported by the Tuborg Foundation and run by KVINFO - Denmark's Knowledge Centre for Gender and Equality and the consultancy ReSearch Humanity in collaboration with the research agency Analyse & Tal.

Do you need professional advice about experiences of inappropriate or inappropriate behaviour at work?

Speak to an advisor at Dansk Artist Forbund on +45 33 34 60 20. The advisor is bound by confidentiality.

If you prefer an anonymous conversation, you can contact the helpline Safe Room on tel. 7020 9999