ATP! Feature: International Women's Day 2015

On March 8th, women’s rights and achievements are globally recognized and celebrated across the world for International Women’s Day.

Since the early 1900s, International Women’s Day has been a movement towards gender equality, including the right to vote, be trained, hold public office and receive better pay. According to the official International Women’s Day website, “The unfortunate fact is that women are still not paid equally to that of their male counterparts, women still are not present in equal numbers in business or politics, and globally women's education, health and the violence against them is worse than that of men. However, great improvements have been made. We do have female astronauts and prime ministers, school girls are welcomed into university, women can work and have a family, women have real choices.”

ATP! Lists: #FlashbackFriday - Top 10 All-Girl Anthems

10. Natalie Imbruglia – Torn


“Torn” is one of those anthems that’s empowering because it’s totally miserable. It has as much authority on blast in your bedroom while you’re drying your hair as it does in a club while you’re dying laughing because your bestie is dancing to it really, really expressively. I have a lot of time for a song that can succeed in both those arenas.

9. Christina Aguilera – Can’t Hold Us Down



Basically, everything the Internet has to say about gender equality in 2014, Christina and Lil’ Kim already nailed. There are, of course, songs that came before this that did the same, but the media is definitely guilty of letting this one fade from memory and it's tragic. It’s the chart-topping feminist manifesto that everybody forgot to mention when it came to processing Lily Allen’s Hard Out Here or Beyonce’s Flawless. Also one time for the styling in this video, which is absolutely on point.

ATP! Lists: 11 Ladies Owning The Music Industry In 2014

Whether it’s what Miley does with her tongue or what Beyoncé does at all, female artists have become an increasing fixture of news headlines over the last few years and discussion around issues of sexism within the music industry has never been more fervent. Sometimes, the comments and controversy surrounding some of these issues can obscure the fact that there are so many women with impeccable game who are absolutely killing it right now, both inside and outside of the charts. So, from indie powerhouses Tegan and Sara to goth princess Taylor Momsen, here are eleven of ATP’s favorite ladies who are dominating the music industry right now.

ATP! Lists: Five Reasons Hayley Williams Is A Role Model

For over a decade, Hayley Williams has been proving the critics wrong. Sexism and a male-dominated music industry immediately labelled Paramore as just another No Doubt copycat. Critics were quick to compare Hayley to Gwen Stefani, unable to see beyond her gender and see that she's less Stefani and more Freddie Mercury, especially during live performances, when she electrifies crowds like a thunder storm of bubble-gum spunk and roaring vocals.

Perhaps Hayley is a rock 'n' roll super hero or Lisbeth Salander-tinged heroine, but what cannot be debated is her ability to inspire through infectious music that's about as perfectly pop as cotton candy at the County Fair. Hayley is the exception to the rule: straight edge, vocally talented, and driven to succeed with her music rather than her behavior on the "scene." If the recently wrapped 'Paratour' is any indication of the future, she seems to destined to continue shattering the glass ceiling, hanging with the boys, and proving that being genuine is the most valuable currency in life.

ATP! Feature: International Women's Day

On March 8th, women’s rights and achievements are globally recognized and celebrated across the world for International Women’s Day.

Since the early 1900s, International Women’s Day has been a movement towards gender equality, including the right to vote, be trained, hold public office and receive better pay. According to the official International Women’s Day website, “The unfortunate fact is that women are still not paid equally to that of their male counterparts, women still are not present in equal numbers in business or politics, and globally women's education, health and the violence against them is worse than that of men. However, great improvements have been made. We do have female astronauts and prime ministers, school girls are welcomed into university, women can work and have a family, women have real choices.”

Part of the success made in women’s history is in the music industry, where female-fronted bands, female musicians and female songwriters have begun to dominate. From Joan Jett’s all-female band, The Runaways, changing the male-dominated rock genre to Beyoncé releasing a “visual album” without a hint of promotion and selling 80,000 copies in just three hours. Kris Littman, Program Director of Chicago’s Fearless Radio, says, “It is an absolutely wide-open playing field; there are no barriers to what you can [do]… The only limit is your imagination, your creativity; your voice can be heard, your writing can be posted, the audience is there and you just have to be good enough to grab their attention.”

ATP! Interview: Taylor Momsen (The Pretty Reckless)

In case you haven’t heard, Taylor Momsen is a force to be reckoned with. Gearing up to release her second full-length Going To Hell with rock metal group The Pretty Reckless, Momsen is throwing a dark, sinful masterpiece in the face of the world. For starters, the band released their “Heaven Knows” music video, which is sure to raise a few conservative eyebrows. But as for the fans, they’re bowing down to Momsen and the group’s clean, weighted rock, striking visuals and propensity for ruthless truth.

While Momsen continues to run down that Gossip Girl past, she’s moving like a badass hurricane on a world tour likely to leave a few scars from those who dare to enter the pit. The rocker spoke with Alter The Press about her relentless sound and the making of the new album, a process that endured some major turbulence. But while they tried, even a hellish tragedy, even an actual act of God couldn’t stop the Pretty Reckless from unleashing Going to Hell on the world.