Navigating a complex industry that includes gender stereotypes, authenticity, and audience expectations.
Women in the music industry often face stereotypical expectations to be glamorous and sexy. In the tribute industry, especially visible in classic rock, the genre’s original masculinity is deeply embedded in the fan culture. Through a survey, I asked tribute fans why they think female tributes are generally less visible than the well-known bands such as Queen and The Beatles. One respondent commented, “There’s obviously no reason why female artists shouldn’t cover male artists; there have been some brilliant female bands appearing at BeatleWeek (a week of celebrations in Liverpool) over the years.” They continued to highlight some women tributes that have to break the barrier of misogyny, “The Blue Margarets from Japan and The Beatelles from Liverpool, for example – but they have to overcome something else – the ridiculous musical snobbery, which is probably another reason why so few Beatles tribute bands are all female. From what I gather, there is less misogyny in the music industry now than in previous decades, but sadly, there is still a way to go.”
The noticeable lack of female tributes can discourage women who want to venture into the tribute scene. Without visible role models in this industry, there’s a potential chance that women question their authenticity and talent when taking on musicians such as Dolly Parton, Amy Winehouse, and Whitney Houston. Another respondent said, “It’s more acceptable for a man to be a tribute than a woman, most audiences are predominantly female, I don’t think a Whitney Houston tribute would have a large male following, again, it would be a woman taking her partner/husband along.” Female tribute acts are often held to a higher standard than their male counterparts when it comes to appearance and voice.
Having to ‘look the part’ goes beyond their choice of costume; embodying a version of the original artist comes with the challenges of beauty standards and femininity. Another respondent commented on the outdated values of female performers and how female tributes are at more of a disadvantage. “Due to the musical snobbery mentioned previously, and the fact that some audiences still cling to outdated values, female performers are often at a disadvantage and may feel they have more to prove on stage. That said, I don’t think any tribute act, regardless of gender, necessarily has to be visually or historically accurate, unless that’s the specific aim of the performance. What matters most is that the act is musically accomplished—no one wants to watch someone struggling to play—and that they’re genuinely engaged with both the music and the audience.”
The lack of inclusion can add pressure to prove themselves musically, something that male artists don’t necessarily feel. Female tribute artists should feel they can be more visible in the music industry, which will create a more diverse tribute culture. The tribute industry is seen as a more male-oriented industry. “This could potentially put them off, and they won’t see it as a full-time, viable career. Having seen a female John Lennon tribute and an all-female Beatles tribute perform at Beatleweek, it’s interesting that they all made a career from performing as men.” Female tributes continue to face the same challenges fighting for legitimacy in a niche industry, a space where people do see female musicians as their gender before musical talent. Via the questionnaire, there was response that mentioned how nostalgia can be problematic at times, due to the prominent male bands that stand the test of time like The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Queen and much more. “the entertainment industry, especially with music, has been breaking down gender stereotypes and led the way for many years, probably going right back to David Bowie in the early Seventies or earlier. Although stereotypes do prevail with some people, I think broadly, the music industry does so much these days to break away from stereotyping. The tribute scene is probably behind the times – potential reasons for that may be that the audience is older, and as such, they may still be clinging to older, outdated values. For these reasons, nostalgia can be problematic at times.”
These female tribute acts are rightfully reclaiming their space in the tribute music industry. Breaking stereotypes and honouring their musical heroes defines what it means to be a woman in music. We see the tribute scene evolving, and women are at the forefront of this change, carving an authentic future for new generations.
