Tag: women in music

ARIETE Shares Her Vision for the Music Industry as Spotify’s EQUAL Ambassador of the Month

April 19, 2022

In Italian, the word “ariete” means ram, which is the symbol for Aries, the first constellation in the zodiac. It is also Roman singer-songwriter Arianna Del Giaccio’s astrological sun sign and the inspiration behind her emblematic stage name. 

ARIETE first entered the music scene via her social media channels, using her strong voice to garner steady attention during long days at home early on in the pandemic. As her popularity grew, she released a certified-platinum single, “L’Ultima Notte,” and two EPs and was selected to be part of Spotify’s global emerging artist program, RADAR. Then, in February 2022, ARIETE released her first full-length album, SPECCHIO. The record’s dreamy sounds and hammering drumbeats reflect both the quiet calm of a young woman producing music in her bedroom and the bubbling stardom of an artist ready to break through. 

This month, ARIETE is the face of Spotify’s EQUAL Global Music Program, which aims to combat gender disparity in the music industry by amplifying and celebrating the work of women creators around the world. As part of ARIETE’s involvement, her song “CICATRICI,” featuring Madame, can be found on Spotify’s EQUAL Global playlist along with music from other women artists making it big globally.

For the Record spoke with ARIETE to learn more about her thoughts on fostering equality in the music industry and the motto that moves her forward. 

The artists who have most inspired me are ____.

Definitely Clairo, PinkPantheress, and all the artists of the new generation who are trying to keep pushing the boundaries of contemporary music.

One piece of advice I’d give other women artists is ____.

Never consider yourself “different” or on a lower level from your male colleagues. Art is art in every form of its deep creation.

One notable moment in my career so far is ____.

The first live shows I played last summer, which sold out. I had begun to release my music during the pandemic, and to be able to see the people [who came to the shows] from the stage and to share their emotions was a unique feeling that I’ll never forget.

My creative process consists of ____.

I don’t have a proper creative process. I take my inspirations from the simple things that color my everyday life and the people I love. Everything can be a source of inspiration for me and my music; I just sit down at the piano or pick up my guitar and everything goes by.

One way I’d like to see greater gender equity in the music industry is ____.

I think the gender gap is definitely an issue in modern music and society. I found it deeply concerning that in the 21st century, we’re still speaking about inequality between genders or genders themselves. We have to normalize this concept with all the cultural weapons we have, but I’m sure that eventually the next generations will treat this issue not as an issue but as the normal topic it should be.

One up-and-coming woman artist I’m excited to watch is ____.

PinkPantheress got me hyped, so I’m looking forward to seeing her as soon as possible!

My girl-power motto right now is ____.

Just kick a**. You’re great as you are, no matter what they say.

Ready to sing along to the world’s most powerful up-and-coming voices? Stream Spotify’s EQUAL Global playlist now.

USC Annenberg’s ‘Inclusion in the Recording Studio?’ Study Finds That More Work Toward Gender Equity Is Needed

March 31, 2022

Women in music hold many roles—they are singers and songwriters, producers and engineers. They must overcome age-old barriers to put their artistry and creativity to work and make their voices heard among fans worldwide. And yet despite decades of progress, women are still vastly underrepresented on the top music charts.  

The 2022 study “Inclusion in the Recording Studio?”, the fifth annual report on the music industry from Dr. Stacy L. Smith and the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, details the numerical realities of this inequality. The report, which was funded by Spotify again this year, provides a comprehensive industry update on inclusion—and shows that much more needs to be done. 

Spotify has been working hard on creating spaces and opportunities for women with on-platform campaigns such as EQUAL. But as we’ve seen clearly, the results are not good enough.

“To rise to a challenge, the industry must first understand it. This is why the efforts of Stacy Smith, Karla Hernandez, and the entire team behind the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative are critical,” said Dawn Ostroff, Chief Content & Advertising Officer, Spotify. “These results underscore the need for action. We are committed to continuing to support this important research, to elevating women who can, in turn, create opportunities for women, and to making meaningful progress to improve equity across the world of music.“

Read on below, or head straight to the report.

Artists of color are increasing on the charts

The study explores the intersection of gender and race/ethnicity for artists. In contrast to the lack of women artists, artists from underrepresented racial/ethnic groups represented over half of 2021’s artists. But Dr. Smith explains, “Although the data reveal an increase for women of color, these findings indicate that there is more work to be done.”

Women songwriters and producers remain outnumbered 

“Inclusion in the Recording Studio?” didn’t only look at front women but also at those behind the scenes, and it found that women songwriters and producers remain outnumbered. Overall, across a total of 1,522 producing credits in the 10-year sample, 97.2% were men and 2.8% were women. 

A nod toward nominees

The study assessed every nominee at the Grammys® that received recognition in the categories of Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Best New Artist, and Producer of the Year for the same time frame. It found that women were more likely to be nominated for Best New Artist (44.4%) and Song of the Year (28.8%). On the other hand, they represented the lowest percentage of nominees in the Album of the Year (9.7%) and Producer of the Year (1.9%) categories. 

“Uplifting women in music is crucial, as it allows women to grow in their careers and opens the doors for younger women aspiring to work in this industry,” said Karla Hernandez, the study’s lead author. “This is especially true for women of color, who are often excluded from prestigious institutions and career recognition. We must see women’s work showcased and nominated, giving them space in writing rooms and studios. By actively working toward inclusion, we can bring forth a new wave of talent and creativity.”

There’s much more to be done, and the report also recommends changes to increase the number of women as artists, songwriters, and producers and provides solutions for sustaining growth for underrepresented artists. Read the rest of the data, as well as the recommendations, in the full report.

Carl Chery and Sydney Lopes Discuss Spotify’s Home for Women in Hip-Hop

June 10, 2021

Hip-hop’s new golden age is here, and it’s being led by women. There’s arguably more female rap stars now than ever before in hip-hop history, and these women—including City Girls, Cardi B, and Megan Thee Stallion—have influenced the taglines and catch phrases that are now part of the cultural vernacular. Yet, the majority of Spotify hip-hop playlists still have a predominantly male listenership. 

In 2019, Spotify launched a new playlist, Feelin’ Myself to start to equalize the barriers to entry for female rappers. The playlist has since become the second-fastest-growing hip-hop playlist on Spotify with over 1.7 million followers. And starting today, we are launching a full-scale campaign to transform the playlist from innovative to truly impactful. 

Carl Cherry, Spotify’s Creative Director, Head of Urban, developed the idea for the playlist a few years ago, and formed a passionate team to help make it a reality. One member is Sydney Lopes, Spotify’s Head of Hip-Hop and R&B, Artists and Label Partnerships. We brought the pair together to discuss the campaign, the importance of spotlighting female rappers, and where the playlist goes from here. 

Sydney Lopes: Can you explain the essence of Feelin’ Myself? How did the playlist come to be?

Carl Chery: The essence of Feelin’ Myself is confidence, edge, and high self-esteem. If you look at the songs that have been playlisted on Feelin’ Myself over the course of the last year and a half, there are a few songs that really embody the playlist. I’m thinking about Erica Banks, “Buss It” or “Best Friend” from Saweetie or even “WAP” by Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion. They exude confidence, self-esteem, and sexiness. 

The playlist came about because there’s an industry-wide gender bias when it comes to women. It came about as an attempt to level the playing field. “What can we do to create a space where women can thrive?” The first step was really reaching out to my female colleagues to see how they felt about creating a space for women only. The answer was to create a space where women can thrive—and then go on to other playlists. 

Sydney: This isn’t the first time we’ve seen women in hip hop, but it’s the first time there seems to be a dedicated platform and playlist for them. What makes this the right time for it, and what would the mood of the playlist be if this playlist was created 20 years ago, for the rappers who were in the game? 

Carl: Wow. Well, 20 years ago, I think it would have been a little bit more split in terms of the aesthetic of the playlist. It wouldn’t have been all women who are from the lineage of Lil’ Kim. There would have been Lauryn Hill, Da Brat—there would have been like a little bit more diversity 20 years ago. But right now, trap is the dominant sound. It’s not only specific to women—there’s always a dominant aesthetic in hip-hop—same around RapCaviar. They want to hear Saweetie, they want to hear Doja Cat, they want to hear Cardi. 

But also, from the time we had the idea for the playlist, to the time it launched, to now, the field is completely different. When we first had the idea, we actually would have struggled to find artists to populate the playlist. We probably would have added a few male artists with big female fan bases, to just round it out and make sure there was enough music. I don’t think Doja Cat was having a moment just yet. I don’t think Meg was what she was just yet. But by the time it launched there was enough, and now a year and a half later there’s just a lot more activity like that. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect. 

Sydney: On our team, we constantly talk about all the different sub-genres of hip-hop, but we’re always thinking about men, right? We talk about lyricists, we talk about West Coast versus East Coast, Down South, trap; we never really think about how that applies to women. As more female rappers enter the landscape, I’m curious about how we will start to think about the sub-genres and how they apply to women. 

Did you have a specific vision of how you wanted this campaign to roll out? What was your thinking around the energy you wanted to bring to the campaign?

Carl: Feelin’ Myself is the second biggest, second-fastest-growing hip-hop playlist on Spotify. I knew it was something that needed to be marketed. So, part of the idea or the goal was to have the playlist become such a destination for women in hip-hop that some of these women would then migrate to other playlists, and hopefully change the audience and in turn, help improve the performance of songs by women on a lot of those playlists. We’re starting the campaign by featuring women on all of our hip-hop covers, and they’re going to remain there the rest of the month of June. 

A lot of it was more collaborative—I had shells of ideas—but I have to give credit to the team, it was important to have a full female team behind this. The director, Jillian Iscaro; visual identity artist Laci Jordan; the production company, Spang TV; and some of the merch, designed by Divine Individual, all of that was created by women.

Sydney: We’re even seeing female vocalists and lyricists on the playlist. You’ve got SZA, Yung Baby Tate, talented singers, too. There’s a wide breadth of what could be on this playlist and a part of this brand. 

And so, as our first big push on the marketing side for this playlist, not only are we gonna make sure that editorial is supporting in a significant way on platform, but we’ll have a couple of social ads featuring Coi Leray and Iamdoechii, who are rising artists right now that have made an enormous impact in what feels like a really short amount of time. Carl, can you speak to the reason for choosing these two artists and bringing their energies into this campaign?

Carl: Coi Leray is arguably the hottest rapper who just happens to be a woman right now. We talked about diversity earlier—her style is different. I hate making comparisons because I think it’s unfair, but she reminds me of a female Playboi Carti, a little bit. She’s fearless. And Iamdoechii is different because she’s a little bit lesser known, but she’s one of the earliest examples of a woman being playlisted early on Feelin’ Myself, and her song taking off and being on the trajectory of potentially becoming a hit. She’s unique. She has duality. 

Sydney: Right, and this is really just the beginning, just the first time we’ll be doing something of this nature. And our hope is to bring this back to life in some way when the pandemic is over. Our RapCaviar Live show that featured all women was one of the most successful RapCaviar Live shows we ever had. We’re hoping we can do something similar. Do you see Feelin’ Myself making an impact in culture the way RapCaviar has?

Carl: One hundred percent. It’s already happening more than we know. The campaign is not only about Feelin’ Myself, it’s a campaign celebrating women in hip-hop and the moment that they’re having. Sydney, what do you think needs to happen to break down barriers to entry?

Sydney: One part is dialogue. A huge part of it is listening, for the gatekeepers. There are not enough women who are considered the gatekeepers. It’s about providing opportunity. It’s about taking a risk on things that haven’t been done before, in a way we haven’t seen before—and doing so in a way that isn’t performative. We need to be a lot more collaborative, we need to listen to women, and let them do what’s never been done. 

No matter what you’re feelin’, there’s no better time to stream the women of hip-hop. Check out Feelin’ Myself below. 

Celebrating International Women’s Day With Our New Campaign: EQUAL

March 8, 2021

Spotify is always dedicated to empowering women creators and giving them a place to share their content with the world. Today, International Women’s Day, we are especially excited to launch a new campaign, EQUAL, to demonstrate our commitment to fostering equity for women in audio and celebrating their global contributions. The campaign will include partnerships, activations, new content experiences, and on- and off-platform support on local, regional, and international levels. Finally, it will also call on users to actively take control of their listening habits, making sure they play more women creators, no matter the day.

On-platform support 

Our new EQUAL hub is a one-stop destination that will highlight the work of women artists and podcasters. Over 200 of our top playlists, like Today’s Top Hits, Viva Latino, and Modus Mio, will feature women on the cover art. Spotify will also work with nonprofit partners such as Girls Make Beats, She’s The Music, Sound Girls, GLAAD, Color of Change, Women in Music, and Women’s Audio Mission to curate specialty playlists that highlight artists who are shaping the future of music.

New content experience

WOMN, a new music + talk show, will release special episodes for International Women’s Day. The content features a diverse group of creators, influencers, and cultural figures discussing women-centered topics, making personal reflections on music that has inspired them, and  encouraging listeners to stream more women too. Guests include record producer and DJ TOKiMONSTA, actor and content creator Jenny Lorenzo, Spotify’s Dope Labs hosts Titi Shodiya and Zakiya Whatley, model and influencer Jazzmyne Robbins, and more.

Off-platform initiatives

Spotify is also making strides off the platform. We are creating a new invite-only EQUAL Board consisting of 15 organizations from around the world. Spotify will provide a one-time grant to each organization, with the goal of finding tangible ways to make the audio industry more equitable for women creators.

We will also be amplifying creators on social media and beyond. This includes highlighting the top-streamed women artists and most popular podcasters from around the globe. For music, Taylor Swift takes the top spot with more than 2.3 billion streams. Ariana Grande is up next, followed by Dua Lipa. Additional top-streamed women artists include Halsey, Karol G, and BLACKPINK.

When it comes to podcasts, Crime Junkie, hosted by Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat, is the most popular podcast from women podcast creators globally. The show is followed by Call Her Daddy’s Alex Cooper. Other popular women podcast creators include: Elise Hu, host of TED Talks Daily; and Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark, hosts of My Favorite Murder. 

Spotify’s New SAWTIK Initiative Shines a Light on Emerging Arab Women in Music

November 17, 2020

From Umm Kulthum to Latifa, Arab female artists have played a pivotal role in shaping the region’s music. The goal of Spotify’s new SAWTIK initiative is to re-ignite the flame and help the next generation of female creators carry the torch. 

While SAWTIK is Spotify’s inaugural women-in-music initiative for the region, it’s not the first time we’ve worked to help creators and promote diversity. Spotify’s Equalizer Project highlights female and non-binary creators in the Nordic music industry, and Sound Up supports podcasters from underrepresented backgrounds in the U.S., UK and Ireland, Germany, Australia, Sweden, and Brazil. Now, with SAWTIK, we are extending our efforts to female artists in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

SAWTIK means “your voice” in Arabic, and with the initiative, Spotify is hoping to raise the voices of female artists in the region, making it easier for labels and fans to uncover these talented stars. Through education, networking, and on- and off-platform marketing support, these artists will have a chance to shine like never before as fans are introduced to the rich and diverse music they have to offer.

First, to see what the experience was like for women in the region’s music industry, Spotify partnered with Nielsen, a global data and insights company, to conduct market research with artists, listeners, and music experts. We also sent a separate, anonymous survey to MENA-based music labels. The results helped us better understand the landscape and the type of support these artists needed.

For example, the Nielsen insights showed that in MENA, 60% of aspiring female artists feel stigmatized for pursuing a career in music. Those who do choose to move into the industry have a hard time finding label support. In fact, responses from MENA-based music labels showed that female artists make up less than 13% of label signings in the past five years. There is, however, hope for a brighter future—that same survey showed that 86% of the labels agree that there is a demand for Arab female artists; it’s just that finding this talent remains a challenge. 

“As an Arab female artist myself, I have witnessed how difficult it is to pursue a career in music,” shares Lynn Fattouh, Spotify Consumer Marketing Manager in Middle East and Africa. “Our journey to create a more inclusive creative ecosystem in MENA’s music industry has just begun, and we hope that these initial steps and actions will help push these conversations forward and lead to positive and lasting changes for female creators.”

To celebrate the arrival of SAWTIK, Spotify launched a regional campaign highlighting the musical and cultural contribution of female artists through a series of activities and experiences, including female artists taking over the covers of 18 flagship playlists, such as Arab X and Arab Hip-Hop. Each of these playlists will lead with a song by a female creator. Listeners will also get to know these women through our digital billboards in Cairo, Casablanca, Amman, and Riyadh. 

Equalizer Producer Camp Empowers Women, Non-Binary, and Trans Artists to Take Production Into Their Own Hands

November 27, 2019

Gender inequality continues to be a challenge in the music industry, including in Sweden, where only 10% of the songwriters and 0.8% of the producers behind the 50 most-played songs of 2018 were women. That’s why we created the Equalizer Producer Camp, now in its second year, to provide a safe learning environment for Nordic artists who identify as female, non-binary, or trans. 

Over the course of six days this fall, artists and songwriters got a crash course on the ins-and-outs of music production—including a deep dive on recording, production, beat making, mixing, and more at studios such as Benny Andersson of ABBA’s RMV Publishing, Producers and artists Vincent Pontare and Salem Al Fakir’s Gottefar Studios, and Northbound Studios.  

“We are continuing to build on the Equalizer Project’s mission to empower female and non-binary artists in the studio, by providing the opportunity to learn more about music production, in a safe space, together with handpicked instructors from the music industry,” explains Jenny Hermanson, Nordic MD. 

Participants, including Linda Pira, Petra Marklund, Sarah Dawn Finer, Sabina Ddumba, Frida Öhrn, Amanda Winberg, Molly Hammar, Tiana Salmon, Bishat Araya, and Silvana Imam also got a chance to work with and hear from some of the biggest names in the industry including Selen Özan, who’s worked with Swedish pop stars including Veronica Maggio and Miriam Bryant; Grammy-nominated producer and artist duo Vaz; and producer, songwriter, and musician Oskar Görres, who has worked with Maroon 5, Britney Spears, and Adam Lambert.

Spotify Cultivates Female Podcasters of Color with Sound Up’s Return

September 17, 2019

Podcasting continues to grow as one of the most influential ways for people to share their voice with the world. And while female podcasters of color are making their mark in this territory, there’s still a significant opportunity to bridge the gap in representation. Just consider that 22% of podcasts in the U.S. are hosted by women, and even less than that are hosted by minority women.

Spotify’s immersive Sound Up accelerator program was created to tackle this issue head on. Returning for the second year in a row, the program is designed to uplift and amplify the voices of women of color. The intensive, week-long program lead by longtime facilitators Rekha Murthy and Graham Griffith trains the next generation of leading podcasters through education, mentorship and support from Spotify.

We hand selected 10 participants from over thousands of applications for this year’s class. The aspiring podcasters were invited to Spotify’s New York offices for daily sessions, working directly with podcasts’ biggest power players to cultivate storytelling, production, and marketing skill sets. The experience culminated with a pitch session in which participants competed for the opportunity to have their podcast pilots funded, produced, and featured on Spotify.

“It was such a pleasure to help usher these creators into podcasting,” says Juleyka Lantigua–Williams, CEO of Lantigua Williams & Co. and a speaker during the week. “Thanks to Spotify’s training, more women of color can shape the future of podcasting. These women have so much to say, and I simply cannot wait to hear all of it.”

This year’s participants include: Alyssa Castro, Christina Orlando, SK, Janae Burris, Kacie Willis, Michel Rosario, Rebecca Jackson-Artis, Shayla Martin, Yvette Ankunda and Mohini Madgavkar, who were provided one year Journalist PRO Licences courtesy of Hindenburg Systems during the program. At the end of the course, Christina Orlando, Janae Burris, Shayla Martin and SK were awarded $10,000 each to fund their proposed podcasts. 

“The response to the Sound Up program has been incredible, so we’re proud to bring it back a second year,” said Spotify’s News and Documentary Lead, Natalie Tulloch. “At Spotify, it’s vital to give voices and platforms to those that would not normally have the opportunity, and the women that come through these doors continue to amaze us with what they have to say. The participants have unique backgrounds, personal stories, and pivotal experiences that others resonate with, and we’re thrilled to give them the chance to share it with the world.”

Past alumni of Sound Up have received podcast development deals, connections to industry leaders, and production grants to take their concepts to the next level. Dope Labs, one of the three podcast winners from Sound Up 2018, and recently renewed for a second season, is a new original podcast that launched this past February, diving deep into the intersection of science and pop culture.

“It was surreal to be back and sit on the other side of the pitch competition,” said Dope Labs co-host Titi Shodiya. Titi serves as a scientific auditor at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. “I’ve learned so much from this program and have honestly watched my dreams become reality by launching a podcast on something I’m so passionate about. Seeing women of color raise each other up is really inspiring, especially in the podcast space because there aren’t that many of us. And last month at Spotify’s office, there was a room full of exactly that. I cannot wait to for all of their podcasts to debut and continue to change the podcast landscape.”  

Spotify is committed to reaching beyond the borders of music to being the leading audio-first platform and top destination for podcasts. Through programs like Sound Up, Spotify provides curated listening experiences to connect users with culture in a visceral and personal way, while inspiring a new wave of cultural and socially-minded podcasts. 

Read on to learn how the accelerator program has expanded to London and Australia, amplifying the campaign’s impact on a global scale.

Spotify Launches Original Podcast ‘The Conversation with Amanda de Cadenet’

June 27, 2019

As women navigate the ever-evolving social paradigms that shape our cultural discourse, there’s a need for clear, candid, and powerful voices to help society move forward. Amanda de Cadenet, host, photographer, and Girlgaze founder and CEO, has been one of those voices for over a decade.

With the 2011 launch of The Conversation with Amanda de Cadenet on Lifetime, Amanda created a unique place on TV, one where women could feel safe to talk to each other about a wide range of important issues and shared experiences. Now Amanda is  taking the conversation to the sound studio, with a podcast of the same name and mission.

Beginning on July 2nd and airing every Tuesday thereafter for nine weeks, Amanda’s Spotify exclusive podcast will feature one-on-one intimate and candid conversations with women and non-binary individuals who reveal their respective journeys and the wisdom they’ve gained along the way.

Guests will include actresses, activists, authors, politicians, filmmakers, providing a wide range of perspectives. Amber Heard, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Jameela Jamil, Olivia Wilde, Sophia Bush, and more will be joining Amanda on the show.  

“I’m excited to launch The Conversation as a podcast format because it really lends itself to the long form, in depth conversations I like to have with my guests. The Conversation is a place for raw and honest discussions on topics that need to be addressed right now” said Amanda de Cadenet. 

The launch of this podcast further showcases Spotify’s commitment to delivering interesting and unique original content to listeners, with a new generation of cultural and socially-minded podcasts. Spotify’s diverse, growing podcast slate includes: Stay Free: The Story of the Clash, Dope Labs, Jemele Hill Is Unbothered, Amy Schumer Presents, Riggle’s Picks with Rob Riggle & Sarah Tiana, Dissect and the newly announced partnership with President Barack Obama & Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground Audio. 

Check out the The Conversation with Amanda de Cadenet trailer here.

Spotify Celebrates Latinas in Music

March 28, 2019

During International Women’s Month, we celebrate the voices and stories of female creators around the globe. This includes showcasing an ever-growing band of Latina singers in our campaign Mujeres en la Música (Women in Music), in which Spotify brought together more than fifty female artists who are breaking barriers and stereotypes.

In the campaign, each artist relays their experiences of standing out in the music industry, the challenges she faced in getting ahead in her career, and details on how to overcome the various difficulties that women still encounter. The singers also recommend up-and-coming artists who inspire them.

Mujeres en la Música raises the volume on women who champion equality and inspire other women through their art—during International Women’s Month and every day.

Read on for their advice.

“To all the girls who are starting their musical careers, I want to say this: remember that it is not a question of gender, but of talent and defending what you are. Don’t be the same as the rest just because it’s fashionable or because it’s what sells. Be honest to yourself and work hard.” – Ana Torroja, Spanish feminist icon

Ana Torroja

“I’ve always had little hair. ‘Take the bald girl out,’ they said, because nobody was used to seeing that onstage. But it never mattered to us, we were the most rebellious in pop music.” – Federica, of Mexican pop band Kabah

Kabah

“All the women I’ve crossed paths with inspire me in some way. I have composed songs about women in maquiladoras, women in domestic life, migrants and those who challenge society. It is dangerous for women to be powerful, it seems important to me to tell that.” – Lila Downs, Mexican singer-songwriter

Lila Downs

“When I started in music, I was always the only woman in the band. Now I feel that the world is realizing that we have many women in music doing super interesting things, that we can play, compose, and be producers of our art. We have something to say.” – Mon Laferte, Chilean singer and songwriter

Mon Laferte

“When girls are starting their musical careers, I tell them, ‘Now is the best time to be a woman and make music. But this does not mean that we have conquered everything, and it does not mean that people won’t say no. They are going to doubt you. We still have a lot to overcome, but we are doing it with work and with facts, because we are better prepared than ever.’” – Paty Cantú, Mexican pop star

Paty Cantú

“[Today] it is easy to question the necessity of feminism, because girls think that we’re doing very well, without thinking that we only recently started voting and studying. It is important that we achieve equity in all aspects. We need to maintain a critical position and to not give in to the fight.” – Andrea Echeverri, leader of legendary Colombian rock band Aterciopelados

Andrea Echeverri

Listen to the music of these women and the many more who inspire us in our International Women’s Month hub.

Sound Up Bootcamp UK Amplifies Diverse Women’s Voices

December 21, 2018

This autumn, hundreds of podcast hopefuls submitted their pitches for an original show. Ten were awarded the opportunity to learn how to bring their stories to life. Ultimately, three finalists emerged, who will go on to make their own podcasts, thanks to Spotify UK’s first-ever Sound Up podcast bootcamp.

The week-long, intensive bootcamp for up-and-coming podcasting producers was specifically created to help foster talented—but often underrepresented—voices in the field. To qualify for consideration, Sound Up applicants had to identify as a woman or non-binary person of colour.

“We wanted to look at ways in which we could highlight diverse voices in podcasting,” says Alexandra Adey, UK Podcast Partner Manager at Spotify, “and to give people the tools to make content if they weren’t able to do so previously.”

Inspired by the success of a similar Spotify event in New York, Alexandra and her London-based team invited ten creatives to join the budding podcasters for five days of talks, master classes, and studio time. Attendees heard from industry experts on how to develop and improve their skills in sound design, editing, branding, production, social media, and storytelling.

At the end of the week, they pitched their podcast ideas to a panel of external judges, all prominent figures from across the UK audio industry. Three winners were selected: Sangeeta Pillai, Kym Oliver, and Olorunfemi Fagunwa. They were rewarded with ongoing technical and marketing support from Spotify, as well as free software packages and studio time to help bring their podcasts to life.

“A lot of women from my culture don’t even listen to podcasts, because [the topics are] not relevant to them. I think if we make content that speaks to what they care about, and open up spaces for them, I think there will be a lot of engagement,” says Sangeeta, whose Masala podcast focuses on “lovely warm chats over a cup of tea” with other women “doing something fantastic in their field.”

Sound Up also leaned into the democratising power of the medium. As Alexandra shared, “Podcasting is fantastic because in one respect it’s a very level playing field … A good podcast creates its own little fan club or listening gang. And it gives you room to hear content you wouldn’t hear on mainstream radio.”

Accessibility, in a different sense, is especially important to Kym Oliver. A wheelchair-user, she values the fast-track options to creativity that a podcast readily offers. Her winning submission was for an audio play about a failed fictional reality TV star.

“A podcast is super accessible,” she affirms. “You can just put your thought out there. And I don’t think people historically went into it thinking, ‘I’m gonna do a podcast, I’m gonna become a millionaire!’ They did it because they wanted their voices to be heard. It’s an audience-driven thing.”

Kym further shared that her week at Sound Up “was collaborative, it was loving, it was sharing, and everyone was supporting each other. And even the generosity of the people who were coming to give the master classes was really inspiring.”

The third winner, Olorunfemi Fagunwa, is the force behind the podcast Notorious, “about women in history who are known as being disruptors or troublemakers in some ways. We want to throw a light on women around the world who are often overlooked or not paid attention to, and get a sense of their time and space.” Her work focuses on interviews with historians, researchers or people who might have known them. First up: Winnie Mandela and Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti.

Sound Up is now sounding off—helping to amplify voices and increase diversity—and it’s clear that the podcast revolution is on.

Amplifying Women’s Voices in the Music Business

December 20, 2018

Women are vastly underrepresented in the music business—producers, agents, songwriters, and managers included. In fact, only 13.5 percent of the songwriters behind Sweden’s 50 most played songs in 2017 were women, and all of the producers—yes, 100 percent of them—were men. Our mission is to change that.

“We want women to become better represented, behind the music and on the charts, and at every level in between,” says Jenny Hermanson, Spotify’s Nordic Managing Director.

That’s why we created the Equalizer Project, a progressive initiative devoted to equalizing opportunities for women in the Swedish music industry. The project launched from our Stockholm headquarters in early spring 2017.

“We aim to bridge the gap by bringing women together to build a music industry where everyone can succeed and thrive,” Hermanson says. Our project, which consists of an empowering podcast, meaningful semi-annual networking events, a producer camp and all-women and non-binary meet-ups, stems from a desire to spark conversations around increasing equality and breaking gender barriers in the world of music.

2018 was a busy year for the Equalizer Project. Check out these four ways the initiative is setting the stage for achieving greater representation in the music business.

1. Equalizer Project Networking Events—Breaking Bread and Barriers

The goal of these intimate roundtable networking dinners for five rising talents and five industry professionals—including global pop sensation Katy Perry, Icona Pop, Max Martin, First Aid Kit, Noonie Bao, Tove Styrke, and Shellback—is to create a space where female artists, songwriters, producers, and other music industry professionals can openly share experiences, strength, and hope—without the commitment tied to meeting in a studio for a session. Guests also have the opportunity to learn from each other, all in the name of supporting career development and breaking norms.

During the events, aspiring female creators get a chance to meet industry professionals to pick their brains about their career and ways of working and encourage them to chase their dreams. We’ve also welcomed rising Swedish music standouts Janice Kavander, Thea Gustafsson (aka Becky and the Birds), and many more.

2. Equalizer Producer Camp—Creativity at Work

In the project’s first course in music production, 11 female, transgender, and non-binary artists from diverse backgrounds and music genres received expert instruction from American producer Trakgirl and Swedish producers Jenny and Cecilia Vaz, Charlie Bernardo and Vargas & Lagola, the duo behind major hits for Avicii and Axwell Λ Ingrosso. This unique camp was created to give these underrepresented songwriters and artists a chance to develop their skills and learn more about production. Swedish singer-songwriter Linnea Henriksson participated in the three-weekend long camp alongside fellow artists like Maria Andersson, Naomi Pilgrim, and several others.

“A producer has a lot of power in the creative process, and it’s important we see more diversity in this role,” says Hermanson, who took part in the camp held at both Northbound Studios and Spotify’s Stockholm headquarters. “We wanted to give participants valuable knowledge, inspiration, and fun weekends at Spotify. It’s so exciting to follow their journey.”

3. Equalizer Dinner—Cultivating Connections

During this special meet-up dinner last October at Spotify’s headquarters, 40 of Sweden’s most prominent female artists, songwriters, and producers gathered to celebrate women in music production. We created a space where female and non-binary artists and several other industry professionals could openly connect and share experiences. Guests also enjoyed live performances by hip-hop artist Imenella and Linnea Henriksson. Check out the recap video:

4. Equalizer Podcast Seasons 2 & 3—Sharing Stories of Triumph

This insightful 24-episode Spotify Original podcast highlights female role models in music and brings hosts and guests together to chat about creation, production, and most of all, their biggest passion—music. You’ll hear everything from advice on breaking through from some of Sweden’s most successful female artists, to personal stories of overcoming common industry challenges, to inspiring pep talks and more.

The first season of the podcast was hosted by Henriksson, who was joined for the second and third by writer and DJ Evyn Redar. Season two guests include pop sensations Peg Parnevik and Molly Sandén, R&B singer Cherrie, artist and songwriter Sabina Ddumba, and rapper Silvana Imam. Season three guests include electro pop duo Icona Pop, Imenella, and Canadian pop and R&B singer Alessia Cara. Among past guests are singer Seinabo Sey and singer-songwriters Tove Lo and Zara Larsson. Check out the Swedish-language podcast here:

Stay tuned in 2019 for more about our upcoming activities for female songwriters and artists. We’re just getting started.  

Girls Make Beats and Spotify Inspire Young Women to Find Their Voices

December 13, 2018

Twelve-year-old Destiny once dreamed of dancing backup for Beyoncé. After participating in Tiffany Miranda’s girl-powered program Girls Make Beats, those dreams have grown. Her new ambition? “Becoming the next Beyoncé.”

Girls Make Beats focuses on empowering and teaching the next generation of women studio engineers, DJs, and producers. With 200 trainees and counting, Girls Make Beats utilizes educational programs, summer camps, networking events, and after-school seminars in cities like L.A. and Miami to educate girls ages 8 to 17 on the ins and outs of the music industry.

Given the underrepresentation of women in music, Miranda’s project is an important one. Spotify has made supporting females in music production a priority. Our EQL Directory and EQL Studio Residency program both work to provide resources and recognition for up-and-coming female producers, our Equalizer project includes a producer camp and podcast to help women navigate the world of production, and our Sound Up Bootcamps provide opportunities for women in the U.S., UK, and Australia to break into the podcasting world.

But, we know inspiring the next generation is critical to continuing to make the industry more inclusive. That’s why we’ve partnered with Girls Make Beats to help provide scholarships for talented young women working toward their dreams.

“I created Girls Make Beats because I started in the music industry at a very early age as a singer. There were very few women that were actually in the creative control positions, and I became passionate about learning how to do it on my own,” Tiffany “Delilah” Miranda, president and founder of Girls Make Beats, says about the program.

In our exclusive video below, meet a few of the girls making beats as they share why being female in this field matters.

Miranda’s advice to young women making music? “Educate yourself as much as possible.”

Join our efforts for equality in the music industry. Click here to help provide a Girls Make Beats scholarship for a talented girl in need.