New all-women CD challenges the music industry

Tuesday July 26 Media release by Rosemary Cadden

The new various artists CD More than a pretty face launched today is set to reshape the music industry in South Australia.

The CD, written, performed, arranged and produced entirely by women, will be used to raise the profile of women in all aspects of the industry.

The project, devised by Jenny Clark, former member of top Scottish folk-rock group Battlefield Band, who now lives in Adelaide, received part funding through the Australia Council.

"A first step will be to have event organisers begin to book more women as top-line acts in addition to the handful of "stars" who exist at the moment," Jenny said.

"There is an incredible lack of women in the contemporary music industry in Australia, and it appears particularly bad in South Australia," she said.

"The talent is there-but they are not recognised."

The CD has been produced by Women Performing, a South Australian organisation formed to promote women's talents and to challenge some of the myths about women in the music industry.

The CD stems from monthly women-only cabarets run by Women Performing to develop and showcase women musicians and performers.

All the performers have played at the monthly venue over the past couple of years. While the 13-track CD is predominantly South Australian, two New South Wales acts which have performed at the concerts are also featured.

Artists include award winner Ronnie Taheny, Arram Aieda, Andrea Rieniets, Willie and Fleur, Dani Burbrook, Jenny Clark, Pat Rix, Archipelago, Tina Namow, Vicki Bennett, Kate Battersby, Sue Galbraith and Lee Pickard and Louise and Tania.

The various artists CD, which involves 30 performers and covers a range of contemporary music from rock and punk-pop to folk, is available at selected music stores.