By Gabriella Steffenberg
The Divas Panel held on April 28 at the Billboard Latin Music Conference discussed many relevant topics, including gender treatment, the usefulness of modern-day technology, and which emotions bring out artists’ best work.
Featuring artists Ivy Queen, Rosana Arbelo, Kany García, Ha*Ash and Sofia, the panel held equality as a main-point, which the artists believed is not always about gender, but that women do have the pressure and societal expectation of showing skin and being ‘sexy.’
When social media was brought up, all of the women agreed on how it plays a crucial role in their careers and the amazing way it connects them to their fans. From meeting them in person, to being tagged in fan-art that is posted on Instagram, the fan connection is boosted across the board by social media platforms, as well as being an efficient self-marketing tool.
As musicians, the panelists can relate to writing about their lives, and finding that in sadness, the most beautiful music arises. García stated, “the best thing is writing when someone tears your heart.” Not only is the process therapeutic, but also it’s another powerful way that connects the musicians to their listeners, through sharing stories of heartbreak, love, and loss.
For more on The Divas Panel, visit billboard.com.
