THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 2021 • THE BULLETIN
GO! MAGAZINE • PAGE 3
ALL THINGS MUSIC
LIVE
MUSIC FOR
THE WEEK
p.23
bendbulletin.com/golisten
Central Oregon women share their
experiences in the music industry
Artists, behind-the-scenes workers talk sexism, inclusiveness and more
BY BRIAN MCELHINEY • The Bulletin
I
n celebration of Women’s History Month, GO! Magazine asked four prominent women in the Central Oregon music scene about their experiences in the music
industry. Their responses are presented here with minimal editing for space.
MARNEY SMITH
at a lot of different venues across
the country. And there’s always
challenges. … Whatever in-
Bend native Smith
dustry that you’re in, typi-
has been director of Les
cally you see a larger male
Schwab Amphitheater for
component than female
19 of its 20 years, usher-
component, and there’s al-
ing the venue through its
ways a challenge that goes
early growing pains and
with that. One of the things
controversies into a top
that I love the most about the
Oregon concert destina-
music industry is that they take
tion for artists such as Dave
you as you are in general. And you
Matthews Band, Michael Franti,
Marney Smith
can come with tattoos head to toe
Jack Johnson and more.
and crazy colored hair and what-
My sense being in the in-
ever outfit you have on and you’re accepted.
dustry, or industry-adjacent, is that
And some of the most brilliant people I’ve had
more often behind-the-scenes roles with con-
the opportunity to work with do not look like
certs, you’re not very common — a director
the banker down the road. They are unique in-
of a venue is usually a man. But that’s just my
dividuals and they don’t judge me or anybody
sense, that might not be true at all. What are
your thoughts?
else that they’re working with in general based
on their gender. It’s provided a different level of
I’ve got a fairly narrow view based on
the experience. I haven’t been backstage freedom than I was used to in the past.
Q:
A:
How have things changed in recent
Q:
years, over the years or in the years
you’ve been doing this?
I don’t know whether I’ve be-
A:
come more confident myself or
whether the workplace environment
has changed, but I’m in my mid-40s
now and I don’t care as much about
what you think as I did when I was
in my 20s. I can’t see clearly enough
whether it’s me or the workplace that has
changed, but it’s probably a little bit of both. I
think that as a society we evolve and we try to
be better at all times, and at a baseline I think
everybody truly is trying to do their best. I
think that we’ve just evolved as people and be-
come better.
KRIS ARNOLD
Arnold has been the music director and
midday DJ at modern rock station 92/9
(KRXF-FM) for close to 14 years. She hosts
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Kris Arnold
Los Angeles, where
she worked with
Danny Goldberg (known for managing
Redd Kross and Nirvana, among others).
I had it in my mind, but I’m kind of be-
ing proven wrong, that it’s not common
to see women in certain roles in the music
industry — if it’s not a woman who’s a per-
former, a lot of times in the industry it will be
women in public relations roles. But at least
Q:
Continued on Page 6
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