Alicia Keys Advocates for Gender Equality in Entertainment Industry at Billboard x Amex Impact Brunch

During the Billboard x Amex Impact Brunch on Thursday, the 38-year-old singer shared her strong views on gender equality, particularly in the entertainment sector.

Dressed in a chic ensemble by Michael Kors featuring a navy ribbed tank top and gold pinstripe pants accessorized with a gold chain belt, Keys emphasized the importance of increasing representation of womеn in various roles such as lighting designers, sound engineers, business managers, and lawyers. She highlighted the systemic nature of the issue, where people tend to recommend individuals they are familiar with, perpetuating a cycle of exclusion for womеn.

Keys underscored the need for conscious decision-making to break this pattern and create opportunities for womеn. Addressing the gender disparity in the music industry, she noted that womеn only constitute 17% of artists in the Billboard Top 100 this year, describing it as a “deep and disturbing gap” that requires rectification.

Keys expressed her commitment to making a difference by actively hiring and empowering womеn in her own projects. Currently focused on her upcoming seventh studio album, titled A.L.I.C.I.A., set for release next year, Keys discussed her creative process, describing the new music as more authentic and unfiltered, showcasing different facets of her identity.