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people & arts Wednesday 7 February 2018
Female songwriters in Nashville say “Time’s Up”

By KRISTIN M. HALL way to go. For example,
Associated Press a radio host who was fired
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) after he lost a groping law-
— Female musicians in suit to superstar Taylor Swift
Nashville have long com- got a new gig at a Missis-
plained about the lack of sippi country station this
representation on country year. And a country singer
radio, but now a collective named Katie Armiger is
of female songwriters are in the midst of an ongo-
singing “Time’s Up.” ing lawsuit with her former
The Song Suffragettes were label Cold River Records,
formed in 2014 in response in which she has alleged
to a growing concern that sexual harassment by un-
women were being ex- named radio personnel.
cluded by labels and radio Cold River Records has de-
and spurred by comments nied they were aware of
by a radio consultant that the harassment.The move-
compared women to to- ment has affected some of
matoes in a salad. Only 18 the Song Suffragettes per-
out of the top 100 coun- sonally and directly.
try singles of 2017 had a “It’s one thing to see art-
female artist featured, a ists come out about it, but
percentage that has been actually a few weeks ago,
stagnating in the genre for In this Jan. 29, 2018 photo provided by Song Suffragettes, Inc., members of the Song one of my family members
years. Suffragettes, from left, Candi Carpenter, Tiera Leftwich, Kalie Shorr, Chloe Gilligan and Jenna came out and said that
Kalie Shorr is one of the Paulette pose for a photo in Nashville, Tenn. she had been sexually as-
original members of the Associated Press saulted,” said Tiera, who
collective that plays in a singers said the #MeToo The music video for “Time’s sexual harassment. Keith goes by her first name as
writer’s round every Mon- and Time’s Up movements Up” features the 23 singers Urban played a song “Fe- an artist.Shorr said that
day night at the Listening that started in Hollywood dressed all in black, linked male” on the Country Mu- those women who have
Room Cafe, just a couple and spread to other in- arm in arm, singing lyrics sic Association Awards last shared their stories about
of miles away from Music dustries is a critical step like “The scales are tipping, November that seemed harassment or assault have
Row.“We had all individu- forward in a conversation the veil is ripping and the to address the #MeToo helped to change the atti-
ally gone into a stuffy Music that has always been a clock is ticking ‘cause the movement. The Country tude about what was once
Row office and had some- secret in many industries. time’s up.” Proceeds from Radio Seminar, an annual a very secretive topic.
one say, ‘No,’ followed by Shorr, along with another the sale of the song will go gathering of the top coun- “I 100 percent understand
‘because you’re a wom- Suffragette singer Lacy to the Time’s Up organiza- try radio stations in the why no one would want to
an,’” said Shorr. “I have Green, were inspired to tion, which has established country held this week in share their story, but now
even had label executives write “Time’s Up” after a legal defense fund. Nashville, will have a panel it’s like we’re creating this
say, ‘I am just really burned watching the scores of ac- It’s one of the few signs on sexual harassment. culture where it’s OK to
out on women right now.’” tresses dressed in black at that more artists in country But other signs suggest that speak about it,” Shorr said.
But Shorr and her fellow the Golden Globes. music are willing to address the genre still has a long q
Mellencamp, Dupri heading to

Songwriters Hall

By MESFIN FEKADU Steve Dorff. Hall of Fame a decade
AP Music Writer Dupri’s induction comes a ago and has written his
NEW YORK (AP) — The 2018 year after Jay-Z became own classic hits, including
Songwriters Hall of Fame the first rapper to make it “Jack and Diane,” ?Hurt
class will include John Mel- into the Hall. Dupri has co- So Good” and ?R.O.C.K. in
lencamp, Alan Jackson, written No. 1 hits like Mari- the U.S.A.”
Kool & the Gang and Jer- ah Carey’s “We Belong Jackson, who was just in-
maine Dupri, who will be- Together” and “Always Be ducted into the Country
come the second hip-hop My Baby,” Usher’s “Burn” Hall of Fame last year, has
act inducted into the pres- and Monica’s “The First been a respected song-
tigious organization. Night.” writer since he launched
The Songwriters Hall told He has released his own his debut album in 1990. He In this Wednesday, April 6, 2016, file photo, Jermaine Dupri
The Associated Press on hip-hop albums and be- has had 26 singles reach attends a movie premiere held at the TCL Chinese Theatre in
Tuesday that Allee Willis, came a popular songwrit- the top of the Billboard Los Angeles.
who co-wrote the Broad- er and producer in Atlanta country charts. Associated Press
way musical “The Color when he launched the re- Kool & the Gang members resonate with everyone,” tive of the history and con-
Purple” and “I’ll Be There cord label So So Def, build- Robert “Kool” Bell, Ronald Kenneth Gamble and tributions that we strive to
for You” — the theme ing careers for Jagged Bell, George Brown and Leon Huff, the organiza- acknowledge and honor.”
song from the hit TV series Edge, Kriss Kross, Bow Wow, James “JT” Taylor will be in- tion’s co-chairs, and Linda The Songwriters Hall of
“Friends” — will also be in- Xscape and more. ducted into the Hall. Moran, its president and Fame’s 49th Annual Induc-
ducted at its June 14 cer- Songwriters are eligible for “The 2018 roster of Song- CEO, said in a joint state- tion and Awards Dinner
emony alongside country induction after writing hit writers Hall of Fame induct- ment. “Each year, the slate will be held at the Marriott
singer-songwriter Bill Ander- songs for at least 20 years. ees is a prodigious repre- of songwriters we induct is
son and Emmy- and Gram- Mellencamp was induct- sentation of creators of more diverse and illustra- Marquis Hotel.q
my-nominated songwriter ed into the Rock and Roll cross-genre hits, certain to