THE struggle for women to have their voice heard in the music industry is nothing new - it has been the story behind the lives of some of Scotland's most talented artists.
Annie Lennox, Barbara Dickson, Sharleen Spiteri, Eddi Reader, Clare Grogan, Lorraine McIntosh, Shirley Manson - all trailblazers in the music industry, who have paved the way for generations of Scottish female artists to emerge.
KT Tunstall, Emma Pollock, Amy Macdonald and the Chvrches' Lauren Mayberry all picked up the baton and are, today, some of the biggest names in the UK.
Now, there are dozens more on the scene: Be Charlotte, Stephanie Cheape, Cody Feechan, kitti, Fourth Daughter, SHEARS, Cara Rose, Stina Tweeddale (Honeyblood), Zoe Graham, Rachel Swinton (Cloth), Robyn Smith (RAAB), Deni Smith, Linzi Clark (Drift), Tamzene, Scarlett Randle, Ruby Gaines, Nova, Carla J Easton, Lucia Fairfull, Anna Shields (Dead Pony), Keira McGuire and Emily Downie (Spyres), Alice Johnson (Swim School), Misty Galactic, Rianne Downey, Lizzie Reid, Bow Anderson, emaé, Louise Connell, Laura Begley, Marie Collins (The Vegan Leather), Liv Dawn, Lyndsey Liora (100 Fables), Anna Doody (False Friends), Jojo Hawley (Post Ironic State), Kohla, Indoor Foxes, Katie Lynch (st.martiins), Carly Connor, Amy Campbell (Constant Follower), Chloe Van Thompson and Hannah Van Thompson (The Van T's), Kerri Watt, PINLIGHT, Becci Wallace, Millie Kidd (The Ninth Wave), Sarah Montieth-Skelton (Primes), Monique Maurel (GRAVELLE), Shuna Lovelle, Alex Amor, Katee Kross, Claire McArthur Bain (Raintown), Niamh Corkey (Jupiter Strange), Rachel Jack, Robin Ashcroft, Jen Ella and so many more... But tell us again about the lack of female acts?
However, in spite of the very obvious talent that Scottish women have brought to the industry, it is still a male-dominated arena.
A new BBC ALBA documentary - God Save the Quine - has taken a serious look at the stories behind Scotland’s most talented female music stars to discover what it’s like to be a woman in the music industry.
Presenter Fiona Mackenzie, said: “Scotland has a wealth of formidable female singers, songwriters and musicians who have made a huge impact on the music industry both at home and around the globe.
“This heart-warming documentary, featuring a host of Scotland’s finest, celebrates the female global superstars, national treasures, local heroes and newly emerging talents of the country’s music scene.
“It charts the stories of these female trailblazers as they overcame adversity to achieve huge success.”
Dunfermline folk hero Barbara Dickson recounts the transition from folk hero to pop star and the rise to fame that followed. International megastar Annie Lennox talks about her life on the road and reflects on the challenges behind her incredible career. Eighties pop heroes Clare Grogan and Lorraine McIntosh reflect on the excitement and thrill of life as a music star during this great period and the pressures of maintaining image and style. While Sharleen Spiteri describes her rise to stardom through the ’90s.
Scotland’s female bard Eddi Reader recalls her fascinating career path; KT Tunstall describes her path to fame; Amy MacDonald considers the image pressures; while Emma Pollock shows just what it takes to not conform and run your own label while surrounded by the powerful major record companies.
Chvrches’ Lauren Mayberry reveals the challenges of social media where women are often unfairly put under the microscope, while Dundee's Be Charlotte shapes are brighter future by working to support other female artists.
The show's producer Helena Gallagher added: “God Save the Quine reveals life as a woman in the music industry, considering the extra pressures that they felt to not only sound the right way, but to also look and dress a certain way.
“They talk about everything from their early days of starting out, first gigs, joining bands, record deals, struggles, juggling life at home, including their role as a mother, with life on the road and managing global success and consider if things have changed today.
“God Save the Quine rightly celebrates the spirit and attitude of these strong women who have overcome adversity on the road to success. With tales across the decades, this upbeat documentary examines the shared experiences they all have in common and reflects on their collective battle to be heard.”
HG Productions made God Save the Quine for BBC ALBA, and it airs on Friday, January 1 at 9pm. It will be available on BBC iPlayer for 30 days afterwards.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here