Highlighting and Celebrating Women in the Music Industry

I’ve been wanting to discuss the topic for a long time: how few or many women are represented in music? Specifically, music producers, sound engineers, and songwriters. Now, before you continue reading this blog, what are your thoughts on female representation in the music business over the last several decades?

While everyone is aware with female musicians like Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande, and Katy Perry, there is little representation or recognition for women who create and write music. However, there has been a lot of rising recognition in recent years, but there has been very little in over a decade. According to a research by the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, just 12.3% of songwriters and 2.1% of producers on the top 600 songs on the Billboard charts from 2012 to 2017 were women. Though I feel it will take time for women artists to get recognition, equal opportunity in the women’s business will be achieved soon. I feel that more representation of people of color and women in music will encourage newer generations to pursue their hearts’ desires. I believe that it is essential to provide opportunities for inclusiveness, creative freedom, and real self-expression in a studio setting. Artists such as Lizzo and H.E.R. are famous female artists who use their platforms to push for gender equality. There are also several platforms, like non-profit organizations, that are notable for empowering women in the music business. It’s encouraging to see that music is often associated with social media since there are some benefits. It allows other groups, underrepresented voices, and individuals from all around the world to support female-led music projects or more equal opportunities for women to be represented in recording studios. According to the Billboard’s news, in the 2023 Billboard for women representation in music, there was a percentage of 38.4 of females. There was a total of 164 musicians featured on the Hot 100 Billboard Year-End Chart. There were 64.6% males, 34.8% females, and 0.6% gender non-binary.

What I believe and want to see is that there would be a growth of equity in the music industry. It is also important that women have equal existence and opportunity in recording studios and sound engineering. Though producing is a technical job, and many people do not feel it is suitable for women, producing and creating music is all about creativity and passion.

Anyone, regardless of gender, may experience the music and use it into a creative process. More exposure, support, and representation of women in the profession may bring about change. We can bring about change and representation!

As consumers and listeners of artists, we’re able to support those groups. Now, what do you wish to see in the industry of music for underrepresented groups?