On Monday, September 28th, the Song Suffragettes hit the stage again at the Listening Room Cafe. With a lineup stacked up authentic female talent, the women join at the stage to fight gender disparity in country music.
We’re presented with the staggering statistic that women only account for 10% of airplay on Country radio, which is an all time high compared to previous years. For the past six years, Song Suffragettes has been hosting a weekly showcase to highlight the powerful up-and-coming women in the genre and demonstrate that country music isn’t just about the boys. Since its inception, over 235 women have played the show with many going on to receive record or publishing deals.
Hosted by Julie Williams and accompanied by Leah Blevins, Nora Collins, SJ McDonald, Madeline Merlo and Mia Morris, each artist performed two original songs.
Highlights of the night included Julie Williams’ original unreleased song ‘Southern Curls,’ a coming-of-age song about growing up and learning to love being mixed race and embracing her natural beauty. Another crowd favorite was Madeine Merlo’s performance of ‘Champagne Nights,’ a song she pitched to top recording artists and chart-topping music producers on NBC’s ‘Songland.’ The song ended up earning the likes of Shane McAnally and Lady A, who tweaked the song and later released it as a single in early June.
To cap off the night, the women joined in collaboration for a cover of Natasha Beddingfields ‘Unwritten,’ a song fitting for the occasion. Week after week, The Song Suffragettes continues to rewrite the narrative for women across the genre and prove that they can sing to the beat of their own drum. To check it out for yourself, see the Song Suffragettes perform at the Listening Room every Monday at 6 p.m.
