There is no denying that the most prominent figures in pop music today are predominantly women. The question is why? Here are some tentative answers:
1. Rock is dead yet again. Great rock music is usually fueled with testosterone. Most of today’s rock stars are old enough to rely on Viagra.
2. Max Martin doesn’t write for men. No elaboration necessary.
3. TV singing competitions emphasize bluesy pop over rock and hip-hop and thus favor women. Women and men win these competitions in roughly equal numbers, but the shows themselves emphasize genres that work well for female performers, which, I suspect, ultimately has an impact on the music that is played on the radio.
4. Cirque de Soleil style live shows favor women over men. Who wants to see some scruffy rocker change clothes five times during a set?