Canadian singer Alessia Cara was the only woman to win one of the major categories at this year鈥檚 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 Academy鈥檚 president that inflamed critics, who saw this year鈥檚 awards show is further proof that a pervasive gender imbalance exists in the industry.

鈥淚 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,鈥� Neil Portnow told reporters in the press room after the show on Sunday.

鈥�(They need) to step up because I think they would be welcome.鈥�

Suggesting that women aren鈥檛 鈥渟tepping up鈥� 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.

鈥淚n a way what he鈥檚 (saying) represents the larger issues in the music industry 鈥� and in most industries,鈥� Fogel said. 鈥淭here are real inherent challenges for women to be moving through these structures in the same way as men.鈥�

Backlash against the Grammys over its gender disparity started long before Sunday鈥檚 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 Lorde鈥檚 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 鈥� including Kesha and Lady Gaga 鈥� 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 haven鈥檛 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 organization鈥檚 president is 鈥渢one deaf鈥� on timely issues.

鈥淭he attitude of 鈥榩ull up your bootstraps鈥� is such an easy thing to say,鈥� she said. 鈥淧eople in that position of power need to be working a little bit harder to look at this as a complicated issue.鈥�

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

鈥淚 would work on tours where I was the only woman and the entire time nobody would shake my hand,鈥� she said. 鈥漃eople would assume I was someone鈥檚 girlfriend.鈥�

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

鈥淭here鈥檚 lots of women working very hard, you鈥檙e just not talking to them,鈥� the musician said she wished she could tell the leaders.

Grammy winner Barbara Hannigan said she didn鈥檛 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.

鈥� P!nk (@Pink)

鈥淭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,鈥� said Hannigan, who picked up a Grammy for classical solo vocal album at this year鈥檚 awards.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to be considered a female conductor, I want to just be a musician,鈥� she said. 鈥滱s soon as someone puts 鈥榝emale鈥� in front of my job, they immediately change the focus from my work to my gender, which I find kind of frustrating.鈥�

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.

鈥淔or some reason it seemed absolutely appropriate for a woman to conduct a choir but not an orchestra,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know why that is. All I know is that I never saw that.鈥�

While she doesn鈥檛 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.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 amazing because they鈥檙e going to sit in the hall and they鈥檙e not going to find it strange to see a woman on the podium,鈥� she said.

鈥淚n that way, by me just showing up 鈥� and doing what I do the highest of my ability 鈥� this is what鈥檚 important.鈥�

David Friend, The Canadian Press

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