Lane Marie O’Kelley is the associate director of the Music Business Certificate at the University of Georgia, as well as an independent indie pop artist by the stage name Lane Marie. 

Q: Being a woman in the industry, how is the scene here in Athens with women in music?

I would say the scene is still largely male dominated, obviously, but I would say most of them are accepting to women. And it’s not necessarily that I would say that women don’t have a place, it’s just that we need more representation. Like, I think there’s a space, and I think there’s more girls rising up right now that are empowering one another to make that space for women. I would say, like Gabriella Delliponti, she’s at the Georgia Theatre. She’s also an artist, and Sarah Mootz. And, you know, I feel like a lot of the women are friends and want to help each other and push each other forward. So I think that the space is growing, but it definitely is lacking, for sure. But I think that there’s some men who are in support and are willing to get behind that as well.

Q: Have you seen stuff that’s kind of made you discouraged?

I think the biggest issue with women in the industry as a whole, not just in Athens, is that women are over sexualized. And it is the most frustrating thing, because sometimes it’s like, well, if you sexualize yourself, you’ll get big. Like, that’s how you go to stardom. And I’m like, “Are you kidding me?” Men don’t have to sexualize themselves at all to have a career in the industry. Of course, you have that in Athens; you have that everywhere. But I would say overall, I feel safe in Athens in that regard. And I think it also just depends who you surround yourself with. Like, I’ve chosen to surround myself with people that I know I can trust, that I know are real, honorable and friends. I think, also, it’s discouraging when I look around and I’m the only girl in the room, you know? But it’s not that I’m not invited. Like, I definitely have a place at the table. It’s just we need more representation. We need to figure out how to get more women in that room.

Q: How do we make that more accessible? 

A: I think it just needs to be an intentional thing. Because the guys who are running the music scene, they’re all friends. That’s not their fault. And so they’re going to vouch for one another. So I think there needs to be, literally, an intentional conversation. It needs to be at the forefront of our minds all the time to look around and say, “Who can we get in this room that’s not just my friend, but is a good artist, and, you know, has a different background than me?” I think that is really what it takes.

Comments trimmed for length and clarity.

Jack Cooney is a journalism major covering local music.