Reader in Music Business at Westminster’s School of Arts, Dr Sally Anne Gross, recently delivered a keynote speech at Kobalt Music in celebration of Women’s History Month, discussing women in music, equality and mental health based on her long-term expertise as well as industry insights.
In her talk, Dr Gross tackled the complex and often challenging conversation around equality in the music industry, particularly focusing on the intersections of music, inequality, gender and mental health.
Drawing on her academic research, she highlighted how the pressures of striving for equality, combined with structural discrimination, can negatively impact wellbeing. She explained that many women and other marginalised groups report feeling burnt out to the point where basic necessities like sleep, breathing and healthy eating can become difficult, commenting that this exhaustion is part of the experience of inequality.
She further explored how music is more than just a job for many, addressing that it is a source of identity. Her research indicates that those who describe music as their profession are more susceptible to mental health challenges, particularly anxiety and depression. Women and people under 40 were found to be especially vulnerable.
Dr Gross’s keynote drew from contemporary theories within music industry research and offered a timely reflection on the emotional and structural challenges that persist within the music ecosystem. Her talk called for a more empathetic and systemic approach to creating an inclusive industry where all creatives can thrive.
Kobalt Music is a leading independent music publishing and rights management company. Founded in 2000, it offers innovative services to artists, songwriters and music publishers, including royalty tracking, licensing and transparent data insights. Known for its artist-first approach and technology-driven platform, Kobalt Music represents a wide range of global talent and has been a pioneer in reshaping how rights and revenues are managed in the music industry.
About the speech, Dr Sally Anne Gross said: “Equality itself can be a triggering subject. Talking about it forces us to look deeply at ourselves and the systems that uphold inequality, such as misogyny, racism, ableism, homophobia and ageism. These are not just social issues, but deeply embedded structures. And confronting them can feel overwhelming, even exhausting.
It was an honour to be asked to give a keynote in Women’s History Month at Kobalt Music, particularly because so many of our alumni from the Music Business Management MA course have worked at Kobalt Music, and I have had a long professional association with the company as a music manager. So, it felt like a full circle moment and a lot of fun, and I have received lots of nice messages too.”
Dr Gross’ keynote speech directly contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 3: Good Health and Wellbeing, 5: Gender Equality and 10: Reduced Inequalities. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
Learn more about Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at Westminster.
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