14 FEMALE-FOCUSED AUDIO ORGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT
We’re so proud to be part of the growing movement for music equality here at Gender Amplified! Although the fight is far from over, this Women’s History Month we’re highlighting some of the outstanding organizations working toward gender equity in music.
We hope this list helps you find a collaborator, a community, a work opportunity, a new friend, an inspiring educational event, or a great club night once it’s safe to gather again!
Amethyst Collab
Amethyst Collab is a creative agency offering an ongoing series of all-female panels and virtual events to connect women in the music industry. The organization also produces Boss Talks, a YouTube interview series highlighting successful women in music, hosted by founder Olivia Shalhoup.
Discwoman
Discwoman is a collective and booking agency promoting women and nonbinary artists in electronic music. Originally started as a two-day festival at Bossa Nova Civic Club in Bushwick, the collective has curated club events featuring talent from all over the world. Check their website for new mixes and interviews with creators.
Discwoman founders Emma Burgess-Olson, Frankie Decaiza Hutchinson, Christine McCharen-Tran, in Brooklyn, February 2019. (Laurel Golio/The New York Times)
Female Frequency
Female Frequency is dedicated to “empowering female, transgender & non-binary artists through the creation of music that is entirely female generated”. The collective releases albums that are female-centered at every step– written, performed, arranged, recorded, produced, engineered, mixed, mastered, and marketed by women.
Finessed Media
Finessed Media is a music collective and startup led by women of color, with a focus on minority representation in entertainment. Finessed Media is relatively new to the scene, but in the year since its founding, the organization has led beat battles, hosted educational events for artist development, and helped minority musicians collaborate, learn, and grow.
Girls Make Beats
Girls Make Beats works with kids ages 5-17, hosting summer camps, panels, and educational events and teaching hardware and software skills for music production, DJing, and engineering. The organization “empowers girls by expanding the female presence of music producers, DJs, and audio engineers.”
Girls Who Listen
Girls Who Listen is a female-founded nonprofit that aims to support future female music industry executives and musicians. The nonprofit aims to diversify the male-dominated music industry through mentorship programs, panels, songwriting sessions, and more.
She Is The Music
She Is The Music is a nonprofit working to increase the number of women in roles throughout the music industry. The organization maintains a database of female creators and mentorship opportunities. They also provide support and resources for related initiatives to move towards equity in music.
She Knows Tech
She Knows Tech is on a mission to “close the industry’s gender gap through highlighting and celebrating women in music tech”. The organization hosts workshops, master classes, and concerts, as well as offering mentorship opportunities.
shesaid.so
shesaid.so is an intersectional feminist community based out of London and LA that works to “connect and empower underrepresented communities towards a more equitable music industry for all, one woman or gender minority at a time.” The organization runs mentorship programs, manages female-only online communities, and hosts events.
SoundGirls
Founded in 2013, SoundGirls works to “create a supportive community for women in audio and music production, providing the tools, knowledge, and support to further their careers.” With chapters in numerous cities, the organization hosts frequent virtual events, including skill-building workshops and a monthly meetup for BIPOC members.
The Creator’s Suite
The Creator’s Suite is “an alliance of women producers, DJs, and audio engineers united to broadcast their collective voices through creative content, showcases, and workshops”. The organization hosts an annual festival featuring masterclasses and live beat-making sessions.
Women’s Audio Mission
Women’s Audio Mission is a Bay-Area nonprofit that works to train and inspire women in creative technology careers. Based out of a recording studio built and run entirely by women and GNC individuals, the organization hosts regular conferences and audio-related courses.
Women In Music
Women In Music is a well-established nonprofit founded in 1985 that works to “advance the awareness, equality, diversity, heritage, opportunities, and cultural aspects of women in the musical arts through education, support, empowerment, and recognition.” The organization provides internship and mentorship opportunities, panels, and educational events.
Womxn Crush Music
Womxn Crush Music is a completely volunteer-run nonprofit working to support and create opportunities for female songwriters at any career stage. The organization hosts educational workshops, showcases, and events for a growing community across the US.
This Women’s History Month, we’re celebrating everyone working to make music more equitable! Which of these initiatives are you the most drawn to? Let us know in the comments!