Gênero, raça e classe na economia da música: uma análise das condições de trabalho das cantoras negras e indígenas da Bahia

Abstract

Music is a significant generator of wealth. Current research shows how this artistic form is capable of impacting various sectors of the economy. However, few studies address the challenges regarding the conditions for women's participation in this context. In the music industry, recent data indicate that the presence of women remains low; many report having experienced gender-based violence, and the participation of black and indigenous women is even more limited. In Bahia, the birthplace of major artists in this sector, music is a fundamental pillar of the cultural economy. Therefore, it is essential to understand, beyond artistic performance, the conditions under which these singers work. This study results from the application of a quantitative research instrument focused on the socioeconomic conditions influencing the work of black and indigenous singers in Bahia. For this analysis, a literature review was conducted, and qualitative results were discussed to investigate how gender, race, and class dynamics shape the diffusion, management, and sustainability of their careers, revealing occupational aspects in the music market. Key findings include the identification of a bibliographic portfolio addressing music and labor, diversity in the music market, the importance of black singers in Bahian music, and the erasure of indigenous music in Brazil oriented toward the market. Through the application of the research instrument to a sample of 149 respondents, the data revealed a scenario of vulnerability and precariousness, highlighting a dichotomy between the multifaceted, overexploited artists and the exhaustion caused by the accumulation of roles in the work of black and indigenous singers.