Diversify the Stage, with Noelle Scaggs

Noelle Scaggs is best known for her stage presence as the co-frontperson for multi-platinum group Fitz and the Tantrums, as well as an accomplished songwriter whose credits include co-writing her band’s singles, “Out Of My League” and “The Walker.” But today we are talking to Noelle about her work behind the stage rather than on it. In the spring of 2020 Noelle felt the urge to transform the workforce of the live music industry into a better reflection of the diverse communities through a new movement she dubbed Diversify the Stage (DTS). DTS counts on the support of industry professionals and artists to collectively and actively build a culture of accountability that establishes more inclusive hiring practices and greater access to opportunities for BIPOC, LGBTQ, and female-identifying and gender non-conforming individuals. In less than a year, Diversify The Stage has set forth long-term change by partnering with the Music Forward Foundation to create educational and mentorship opportunities, in addition to working with NeverFamous.com to establish a central hub for accessing a wide pool of qualified crew members. In our show we talk about the creation of DTS, the industry response to the movement, and the need to get more artists on board with the message.