Linda Coogan-Byrne on demanding change in music: 'A lot of female artists felt validated'

A stalwart of Ireland’s music scene, publicist and manager Linda Coogan-Byrne has made it her mission to call out the structural sexism and racism she sees in her field. As she releases her first book, she shares with Aoife Barry her manifesto for change

Linda Coogan-Byrne calls for a reckoning with structural sexism in the music world in her new book

Many years ago, music publicist, consultant and label manager Linda Coogan-Byrne didn’t think of herself as a feminist. But now she has published her first book, Why Not Her? A Manifesto for Culture Change, which calls for a reckoning with structural sexism in the music world, as well as with other prejudices, like racism. To Coogan-Byrne, now a proud feminist, the issues seen in the music industry show us exactly what the wider world is dealing with on the road to equality.

After starting to work in the music industry, she says “it was impossible not to see the nuances of sexism and the nuances of misogyny”. In her book, she details the challenges faced by women to reach gender parity on music festival line-ups and radio playlists and why it’s important that not just a few voices are heard.