The missing half of music history | Gabriella Di Laccio

Gabriella Di Laccio emphasizes that music history is significantly incomplete due to the underrepresentation of women composers. Her foundation has identified over 18,000 women composers who have been overlooked, highlighting a stark disparity where nearly 90% of music across genres is attributed to male composers.

Di Laccio raises concerns about the implications of this historical oversight, particularly in the context of artificial intelligence. She notes that AI systems designed to generate music are trained on a biased historical dataset that excludes the contributions of women, which could perpetuate existing inequalities in the music industry.

While acknowledging the permanence of technology in music creation, Di Laccio insists that the role of musicians should remain central. She argues that human creativity and expression are irreplaceable, and that music should be crafted by artists rather than solely by algorithms.

To rectify the historical imbalance, Di Laccio advocates for the documentation and promotion of women's contributions to music. She believes that making these voices accessible and teachable is essential for a more inclusive musical landscape. This effort could lead to a richer understanding of music history and a broader appreciation of diverse influences.

Di Laccio predicts that if technology companies commit to expanding the musical catalog to include these missing voices, it could transform the future of music. The decisions made today about which composers are recognized will have lasting effects on what music is celebrated and remembered in the years to come.