Join us for an enlightening evening as the Berlin-based author, speaker, and activist Rike van Kleef presents an exclusive preview of her upcoming non-fiction book, “Cheap Seats: Gender, Power, and Discrimination in the Music Industry.” Expect an evening filled with musical highlights, diverse special guests, relevant initiatives, and a closing party featuring FLINTA DJs. We giveaway 1×2 tickets for the event, just send an email to win@kaltblut-magazine.com
The Cheap Gala is co-hosted by dq agency and Rausgegangen, highlighting the ongoing issues in the music industry showcased by figures such as Lindemann, R. Kelly, and P. Diddy. The music industry is far from the egalitarian, sparkling paradise it portrays. Even in the post-#MeToo era, patriarchal structures, gender inequality, and opaque power dynamics persist. It’s high time for change!
Enjoy an exclusive premiere reading from Rike van Kleef’s book, where she delves deeply into the sexist structures within the music industry. The evening will also feature an exciting lineup of special guests and musical acts.
When? March 13, 2025, at Heimathafen Neukölln, Berlin.
Get tickets here!
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“The venue is wheelchair accessible on the ground floor. We will address further accessibility barriers in advance of the event.”
“Finally, this important topic is being presented in all its facets. It’s not enough to talk about representation; we need to scrutinize the structures that prevent FLINTA artists from succeeding. Rike van Kleef does exactly that in her outstanding book.” – Ebow
Partners:
This event is made possible with the generous support of TSE AG, in collaboration with Bande, fæmm, MEWEM, Music is Her Passion, and Music Women* Germany. Supported by Better Things and Heimathafen Neukölln.
Photo by @fioniversace
Rike van Kleef (*1995) is a versatile generalist with a clear compass in her endeavours as a moderator, speaker, tour and stage manager, activist, founder, organizer, and co-chair of fæmm. She is a dedicated member of the Audiolith booking team, passionately working towards making the event, culture, and creative industries more diverse, gender equitable, and climate-friendly.
“Rike has created a crucially important and extremely well-researched book that has provided me with numerous new insights, even as someone who has been in the business for so long. Everyone in the music industry should read it and ask the right questions to facilitate meaningful change.” – Markus Kavka
In 2022, she authored the study “Who’s Calling the Shots? Representation of Gender on German Entertainment Festival Stages,” which was one of the first studies on the topic in the German-speaking world and was nominated for the Gender Award of FHP. In 2023, Rike received the International Music Journalism Award in the category “Best Work Of Music Journalism, Under 30.”
Her debut non-fiction book, “Cheap Seats: Gender, Power, and Discrimination in the Music Industry,” will be released in Spring 2025. Rike has spoken with numerous players from the live and festival industry, revealing a portrait of the sector that examines the challenges faced by FLINTA artists, how power structures operate, the ongoing pay disparity, and the safety of female and queer musicians in the post-#MeToo landscape. Van Kleef highlights pathways to greater gender equity, including how bookers can achieve more diverse lineups, what makes festivals safer spaces for FLINTAs, and how to dismantle male-dominated structures.
