Sexualisation In Pop Music

There has been much outcry recently in the US and UK news about the sexualisation of the modern female popstar. 

In a recent interview Charlotte Church said that she was put under pressure to wear revealing outfits from the age of 19. She also added that the music business is a 'male dominated industry' with a juvenile perspective on gender and sexuality. There has also been an open feud between Sinead O'Connor and Miley Cyrus about the latter's overtly sexual behaviour in her 'Wrecking Ball' video.

However, the sexualisation of female popstars is not an exclusively modern one. Artists like Donna Summer in the 70s, Madonna in the 80s and Britney Spears in the late 90s have all sexualised themselves for videos and live performances. It's because the fact that there is this legacy that modern female artists believe they must exert this image in order to be successful, therefore they subsequently feel less self-conscious when it becomes realized. And surely Charlotte Church must of known that there were elements of sexualisation involved in female pop performances! The main elements of pop music are fashion, which comes down to looking good, which inevitably has elements of sexualisation.

Because the vast majority sexualize they inevitably sell a lot records, which is good business for the artist and the record label, and any subsequent publicity created sells more records as it gravitates more attention to the artist. The sad fact is there are not enough acts like Adele who don't really sexualize themselves, create a great music performance and sell well.

I can't see female sexualisation ever being phased out in the music industry, as it's a commodity the industry can't get enough of.