WOMEN IN MUSIC RESOURCES

We are committed to closing the gender gap in the music industry.

Songtrust believes in helping to close the gender disparity we too often see in the music industry. Below is a collection of organizations and resources to support and empower the women in music in your community. 

Organizations

  • A connective and informative global organization increasing opportunity and visibility for women in music. Welcoming to members of all genders, this forward-thinking advocacy alliance helps reshape the music industry’s landscape for greater equity and inclusion in the 21st century.

  • A platform celebrating creative women from all industries and walks of life focused on empowering, educating, and connecting women throughout their creative entrepreneur journeys. Women Sound Off works to create powerful and safe spaces for women to form alliances and have their voices heard.

  • A community consisting of women and gender minorities from all sectors of the music industry with a mission to connect and empower underrepresented communities towards a more equitable music industry for all, one woman or gender minority at a time.

  • A San Francisco/Oakland-based nonprofit organization and the only professional recording studio in the world built and run by women/GNC individuals. WAM weaves art and music with science, technology and computer programming.

  • The world's only print publication dedicated to women guitarists and bassists. She Shreds strives to change the way women guitarists and bassists are depicted and presented in the music industry and popular culture by creating a platform where people can listen, see and experience what it means to be a woman who shreds.

  • A nonprofit organization focused on increasing the number of womxn working in music - songwriters, engineers, producers, artists and industry professionals. SITM provides resources and support for female-focused initiatives that are working to create meaningful change.

  • A community-based arts organization that builds a space for the production and preservation of Black Trans art and culture and mobilizes resources to support Black Trans femme artists.

  • A community created to promote female inclusion in the music industry, to celebrate women who are already thriving in music, and, ultimately, to develop a pipeline for girls and young women to confidently get involved in music.
  • An online platform that boldly confronts inequality in the music industry. Their interviews, partnerships, panels, networking events, and educational initiatives provide our community with the tools and support to confidently pursue a career in music.
  • Supported by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union, Keychange is a global network and movement working towards a total restructure of the music industry in reaching full gender equality.
  • #WomxnCrush Music is a 100% volunteer-run, fiscally sponsored project of Independent Arts & Media, a 501(c)(3) non-profit arts organization, who is dedicated to creating opportunities through community for inspiring rising womxn songwriters.
  • A female-owned education center offering affordable audio engineering classes and private lessons, presented by female-identifying and gender non-conforming teachers.
  • A non-profit organization, founded in 1985, in New York committed to educating, empowering and advancing women in the music industry. WIM now encompasses chapters across the country and across the globe - from LA to India.
  • Women in CTRL is a Not-For-Profit organisation that was set up to empower and inspire women in the entertainment, creative and business sectors of the music industry.
  • Safe gigs for women is an initiative established by regular gig goers with the aim of creating a safer environment for women at gigs.​
  • A global education platform and community that empowers female and non-binary creators to master technical skills like production and mixing in a supportive, jargon-free environment.

Articles, Books, and General Resources

  • Using top industry sources, Stacker presents 50 pioneers, soulstresses, and civil rights heroes who broke barriers in the music industry.

  • While the world of audio engineering still tilts disproportionally towards men (only 2% of working music producers are female), lately more women with more diversity are injecting fresh blood into a niche profession that is only growing in importance along with the constant need for content. Here are five leadings ladies manning the boards.

  • This article by Symphonic spotlights some of the talented women making their mark across genres and scenes today. These artists each bring their own perspective, sound, and story to the global music landscape, contributing to the rich diversity that keeps the industry evolving.

  • Guest column by Molly Neuman - March is International Women’s Month, in which we recognize women everywhere and the advancements that have been made for female rights and representation. However, equity and balance in gender representation has a ways to go in both music and society at large.

  • Like with many STEM-oriented fields, music production and sound engineering are dominated by men—though that’s very slowly changing.

  • These women made some of the most significant music of the past century. They originated genres, broke political boundaries, nurtured generations of followers and in most cases, became icons.

  • An extensive list of music industry organizations, agencies, podcasts, and more that include womxn, non-binary, or gender non-conforming leadership.

  • Girls I Rate was founded in 2016. The movement pushes for change and creates opportunities for young women in the music and entertainment industry.

  • A Black feminist advocacy organization dedicated to uplifting and centering Black women’s radical political activism.
  • A global empowerment movement dedicated to inspiring, emboldening and celebrating women and girls of color.

  • Created by Candace Reels, Female Collective helps women come together, tell their unique stories, and feel empowered to tackle the missions that matter most to them.

  • A nonprofit organization for women in the entertainment industry aimed at raising the profile, increasing awareness and magnifying the number of economic opportunities women of color experience in entertainment.

  • The Women’s International Music Network™ brings women from all facets of the music industry. The organization produces events, creates opportunities for performance and networking and works to bring the conversation around diversity in the industry into the forefront. The WiMN seeks to create a hub to connect women in all facets of the music industry and works to expose role models, events and educational opportunities that focus on women in music.

  • This guide provides quick access to Harvard Library resources that will be most helpful for research in Music 26: Women Creators in Music. Look here for links to encyclopedias and bibliographies, tips on finding articles, and tools to help you credit your sources and save you time.

Video and Audio Resources

  • In honor of International Women’s Day, this panel discusses women on the frontlines and Pope Francis’ recognition of female leadership in the church.

  • AJ Moultrie is a multidisciplinary music artist specializing in performance art, creative direction, and digital design. AJ is an active community organizer and works to liberate the voices of all silenced identities through media communication, artistic expression, and interpersonal fellowship.

  • Charlotte Carpenter, a widely acclaimed singer/songwriter and founder of Babywoman Records, shares her top tips for women in the music industry having set up her own record label. Learn more about her ideas on how to build a community that supports women in the music industry.

  • Host Bree Nobles shares insights on how to create a sustainable career as a woman in the music business. This show includes two different episode formats, solo shows where Bree provides tips and tricks from her own knowledge and experience, and interviews with women musicians and industry pros.

  • The Women of Substance Music Podcast features music by Female Indie Artists every Monday, Wednesday, Friday.

  • Female Frequency is a community dedicated to empowering female, transgender & non-binary artists through the creation of music that is entirely female generated.

  • To inspire and empower the next generation of women in audio. SoundGirls' mission is to create a supportive community for women in audio and music production, providing the tools, knowledge, and support to further their careers.

  • Sound Women podcast, featuring news and reports about the UK radio industry, plus interviews with some of the finest Sound Women (and Men) in the land.

  • Gender Amplified is a nonprofit organization that aims to celebrate Women in music production, raise their visibility and develop a pipeline for girls and young women to get involved behind the scenes as music producers. The movement also connects passion for music with technical skills that can be used in a wide range of scientific and arts based fields, areas in which Women are traditionally underrepresented.
  • Hosted by Thea Wood, the show is produced by Backstage Chats Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization offering scholarship grants to the next gen of female music makers.

  • Respect Her Crank!: Sounds of Blackness workshops are tailored for educators (but open to all) on Tuesdays and exclusively for teens on Thursdays. Do not miss out on this groundbreaking opportunity to learn about Black women’s contribution to music.

  • Although she is only 15 years old, Katelin Jackson has already experienced gender inequality and negative pressures associated with being a female musician. She plans to create a program in which women of all ages and experiences can grow their voice and self-esteem through the development of their musical skills. Katelin is a singer song-writer and lead vocalist in her post-hardcore female fronted rock band, December Deceive.

  • Women’s musical practices in Africa reveal the complexities, contradictions and conflicts that characterize the life of the African woman. The African Woman is neither a victim nor a heroine!

  • Popular music is often riddled with misogynistic lyrics that objectify and demean women ... so why are we listening and dancing to it? Performing a sample of her original song "Top Knot Turn Up" and sharing clips from her female-directed music video of "See Me Thru," activist and musician Madame Gandhi explains why she's making sex-positive music that doesn't contribute to anyone's oppression -- and calls on music lovers to get down to tunes that empower everyone.