Canadian singer Alessia Cara was the only woman to win one of the major categories at this year91裸聊视频檚 Grammy Awards, and less than a quarter of the 84 trophies handed out Sunday went to either a woman or group that included a woman.

But it was backstage comments from the Recording Academy91裸聊视频檚 president that inflamed critics, who saw this year91裸聊视频檚 awards show is further proof that a pervasive gender imbalance exists in the industry.

91裸聊视频淚 think it has to begin with women who have the creativity in their hearts and souls, who want to be musicians, who want to be engineers, producers, and want to be part of the industry on an executive level,91裸聊视频� Neil Portnow told reporters in the press room after the show on Sunday.

91裸聊视频�(They need) to step up because I think they would be welcome.91裸聊视频�

Suggesting that women aren91裸聊视频檛 91裸聊视频渟tepping up91裸聊视频� in the music industry frustrates Aerin Fogel, organizer of Toronto-based feminist arts celebration Venus Fest. She said she is not surprised by the reaction from the executives.

91裸聊视频淚n a way what he91裸聊视频檚 (saying) represents the larger issues in the music industry 91裸聊视频� and in most industries,91裸聊视频� Fogel said. 91裸聊视频淭here are real inherent challenges for women to be moving through these structures in the same way as men.91裸聊视频�

Backlash against the Grammys over its gender disparity started long before Sunday91裸聊视频檚 ceremony. When the nominations were announced in late November, many fans were quick to note that major categories were stacked with men.

Tension mounted in the days before the event when Lorde91裸聊视频檚 mother, Sonja Yelich, tweeted an excerpt from a New York Times article that said only nine per cent of nominees were women over the past six Grammy Awards.

During the broadcast several female artists 91裸聊视频� including Kesha and Lady Gaga 91裸聊视频� delivered impassioned performances in solidarity with the MeToo movement. Neither artist took home a Grammy at the ceremony.

Some have stood behind the Grammys, saying women haven91裸聊视频檛 been entirely left out. Adele won twice for album of the year over that same six-year period, while Taylor Swift grabbed the award once. Meghan Trainor was chosen as best new artist in 2016 before Cara this year.

But the wins are still mostly men in those categories.

Anne Douris, a Toronto-based musician who performs as Bossie, said Grammy figures suggest the organization91裸聊视频檚 president is 91裸聊视频渢one deaf91裸聊视频� on timely issues.

91裸聊视频淭he attitude of 91裸聊视频榩ull up your bootstraps91裸聊视频� is such an easy thing to say,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淧eople in that position of power need to be working a little bit harder to look at this as a complicated issue.91裸聊视频�

Before she launched her solo career, Douris regularly toured with other bands, including several Canadian rock musicians.

91裸聊视频淚 would work on tours where I was the only woman and the entire time nobody would shake my hand,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频漃eople would assume I was someone91裸聊视频檚 girlfriend.91裸聊视频�

Douris said those memories came rushing back when she heard executives at the Grammys suggest women work harder to pursue industry roles.

91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檚 lots of women working very hard, you91裸聊视频檙e just not talking to them,91裸聊视频� the musician said she wished she could tell the leaders.

Grammy winner Barbara Hannigan said she didn91裸聊视频檛 face a lack of opportunities as a woman when she first started in the music industry. As a soprano, the Nova Scotia singer only competed for jobs with other women.

91裸聊视频� P!nk (@Pink)

91裸聊视频淭hen when I became a conductor, all the sudden I was in a male-dominated field and I started getting all these questions about my gender,91裸聊视频� said Hannigan, who picked up a Grammy for classical solo vocal album at this year91裸聊视频檚 awards.

91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 want to be considered a female conductor, I want to just be a musician,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频滱s soon as someone puts 91裸聊视频榝emale91裸聊视频� in front of my job, they immediately change the focus from my work to my gender, which I find kind of frustrating.91裸聊视频�

Hannigan said that while her priorities are focused on creating music of the highest calibre, she still acknowledges that she was raised in a world where female conductors were put in a box.

91裸聊视频淔or some reason it seemed absolutely appropriate for a woman to conduct a choir but not an orchestra,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淚 don91裸聊视频檛 know why that is. All I know is that I never saw that.91裸聊视频�

While she doesn91裸聊视频檛 dwell on her gender, Hannigan recognizes she is among a rare set of female conductors. She was reminded of the fact during a recent performance for a couple of thousand teenagers, many of whom had little exposure to classical music.

91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 amazing because they91裸聊视频檙e going to sit in the hall and they91裸聊视频檙e not going to find it strange to see a woman on the podium,91裸聊视频� she said.

91裸聊视频淚n that way, by me just showing up 91裸聊视频� and doing what I do the highest of my ability 91裸聊视频� this is what91裸聊视频檚 important.91裸聊视频�

David Friend, The Canadian Press

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