Sexual assault in the music industry is, unfortunately, very prevalent.

Women—especially performers and crew—have long been expected to tolerate this culture, as well as undergo harassment or assault themselves.

I support Evan Rachel Wood speaking out about her experience.

"Serial abusers" in the music industry are protected by a culture of silence--much like the culture that protects the Harvey Weinsteins of Hollywood.

I have experienced it. Many women have experienced it.

It takes some brave women to collectively come forward to help end this.

One aspect of sexual abuse in the music industry that needs more discussion: the amount of gaslighting that occurs to make a victim believe what is occurring is "normal" or part of the "culture".

It creates a culture of people normalizing this behavior, allowing it to perpetuate

I have watched women I've worked with, as well as strangers, drugged, used, abused, coerced into sex.

We've seen the consequences of women who spoke out--blacklisted in the industry and publicly shamed.

So no one speaks out for fear of bringing more harm on themselves.

And when the abuse happens to you, you're a "complainer" if you speak out. You too will be blacklisted, removed from every future tour you're booked on.

One bad word against an abuser, and they can scrub you from the industry like you've never existed.

So you put up with it.

And these serial abusers, these "Harvey Weinsteins", continue their abuse. Their actions become "open secrets". Everyone knows what is happening, and no one speaks up, because nobody wants to lose their career.

So abuse slowly, over time, becomes normalized.

There's a point where you realize that it isn't normal to have your body panic and feel fear every time this "Harvey Weinstein" enters a room.

Since the music industry requires a thick skin to begin with, you just tell yourself to toughen up more.

There is no HR department on tour where a performer or crew member can report harassment, abuse, or anything. It's an environment that includes late nights, partying, alcohol. Many young girls linger after shows.

It's a perfect, toxic cocktail for many kinds of abuse to occur.

And abuse isn't just limited to rape or drugging or harassment, but labor exploitation, threats, gaslighting, grooming, and more.

One way to end this toxic culture of abuse and harassment is to normalize the consequences for these actions.

If people can get away with sexual abuse, they'll keep doing it. They'll keep pushing unless they face consequences. This is how we see decades of victims by one abuser.