Two Female Music Journos Reveal Sexual Harassment During Review And Interview

Over the last two days, two instances of sexual harassment have been hot topics on social media with its root in the music industry — the first at a Baroness show, which US music journalist Rosie Solomon attended by herself. The second, during an interview with The Last Shadow Puppets where SPIN journalist Rachel Brodsky was made to feel uncomfortable by a band member.

Solomon writes in the piece This Is Not A Review that while seeing her favourite band Baroness, a stranger started "deliberately thrusting his groin into my leg from behind". 

She writes, "The man followed me round to where I had moved and continued to thrust into my leg as before, like a dog on heat … I think there was a part of me that was still hoping it was an accident, an innocent mistake as if we were both just trying to enjoy the gig and get a good look at the band. He eventually backed off a bit but then I overheard him make an inappropriate comment which made all my doubts disappear."

Solomon finally reported the assault to the police and the venue, and the incident also came to Baroness's attention — the band proceeded to post a lengthy statement on Facebook, stating, "After speaking with Rosie Solomon, and gaining her permission, we decided to share her article.

"We can only hope, anxiously and hopefully, that someone who needs to read this does so, and pays attention to her story, in order that it might have a positive effect. I promise, not one person amidst the Baroness tour-party would show sympathy for the man in this article.

"We do not condone and we do not tolerate any form of sexual aggression or intolerance, nor will we ever. The man detailed in this article, whoever you are, if you read this post, stay the fuck away from Baroness and our audience. We don’t need you at our show, we don’t want you in our audience."

It's upsetting that instances of sexual harassment towards female music journalists continue to come to light in 2016, particularly considering the (welcome) amount of media coverage days like International Women's Day continues to garner. 

The creepiness of the Baroness incident was later echoed during an interview with English supergroup The Last Shadow Puppets published yesterday, during which SPIN journo Rachel Brodsky was subjected to odd, unwelcome propositions and alleged touching by the band's Miles Kane.

During the interview at the band's NYC hotel lobby, Kane allegedly pointed to band mate Alex Turner's "exposed bulge" and propositioned Brodsky to come up to their hotel room.

"So, what else are you guys doing today?" Brodsky asks, to which Kane allegedly replies, "Do you want to go upstairs?"

When the band's publicist says, "I did warn you when you arrived that they were on kind of a downward spiral," Kane simply chuckled, "I’m joking, I’m joking!"

Brodsky continues to write about her feelings of discomfort during the rest of the interview, only to have Kane finish their interview with an unwelcome kiss on the cheek.

She writes, "As I walk away, I try to suppress my ballooning sense that something wasn’t right back there. Is it normal to be asked up to a male musician’s room — even as a joke? Or cheek-kissed, repeatedly high-fived, and stared down? Even if he’s entirely harmless (and I’m sure that he is), is this the sort of thing that I should let go for the sake of my job?"

Kane did send Brodsky a letter of apology days later — "I recognise my ‘Carry On’ humour during the interview was ill judged and I am mortified that it made you feel uncomfortable. Please accept my sincere apologies." — but Brodsky writes, "Notes like it don’t change the events that preceded them. Instead of apologies, I’d like to see a little more foresight and a lot more professionalism toward women in the music industry."