Women Pushing Boundaries in Music Tech Innovation

*In the burgeoning music technology sector, women are seizing burgeoning opportunities to influence its trajectory. Against this backdrop, female leaders share their insights on the evolving music technology landscape with our platform Tech.

The challenges and barriers facing women in the technology music industry are growing more widely acknowledged, thanks to the efforts of numerous networks and industry groups striving to empower women for a more inclusive environment. The music industry has undergone a shift over the past decade, with women artists climbing the mainstream ladder and dominating the charts. A recent USC Annenberg School study reveals that 2022 saw female performers occupy a record 30% of spots on the Billboard Hot 100, up from 22% in 2012. Despite progress, there remains work to be done to ensure more women gain opportunities within the music technology sphere. The sector's male-dominated culture often overlooks female talent, limiting opportunities for women in technology, production, and engineering roles. This gender imbalance impacts the variety of music produced and hampers innovation and creativity. The Women and Equalities Committee report underscores the existence of "endemic" misogyny and prejudice faced by women in the music industry.

Despite obstacles, women are steadily making their mark in the field. By harnessing their artistic visions to create music software and gear, coupled with an entrepreneurial spirit, women are actively reshaping the tools shaping the music-making process.

Lily, a sound design lead at Arturia, notes the escalating representation of women in music tech. "There were almost 40% women in my sound engineering program south of Paris a few years ago, and the director even commented on it, saying this had never happened before. I also see more and more women sound designers and sound engineers on LinkedIn than ever, even meeting some at the top ranks at Superbooth," Lily mentioned. While the representation of women in the industry has improved, they remain underrepresented or overlooked in significant contributions to the sector.

Katherine Wing, Vice President of Marketing at Roland Americas, echoed the sentiment. "At Roland, this has been a top priority since I joined the team in 2016. I now serve as the vice president of marketing on the Roland Americas team, demonstrating the company's commitment to further strengthen its team of women," Katherine said.

Jointly addressing the evolving role of women in the industry, Lindsey Smith, Brand Marketing Manager at ADAM Audio, stated, "There is still a noticeable lack in the representation of women in music technology in my experience. However, I have observed a visible effort from many companies to make an effort in inclusivity in their hiring and marketing practices, which is always encouraging to see!"

Supporting existing initiatives financially is vital to further empower women, according to Piper Payne, mastering engineer for Waves & owner of Physical Music Products. "Funding women supporting organizations in the music world is the biggest thing that is going to help. There are already so many great ones like Women's Audio Mission, Soundgirls.org, Equalize Her, Gender Amplified...the only thing that is going to help is funding them."

Addressing the issue, Idah Turner, Content Director at ADSR, noted a lack of representation in certain areas, such as plugin development and sound design. "We have hundreds of independent sound creators on ADSR, and almost none are women. It's not that they don't exist, or that I haven't met women who can create presets, but almost none who are making their living from it."

While challenges exist, a new generation of talented and driven women is dismantling barriers. With their innovative tools and sounds, they inspire others to follow in their footsteps. As mainstream music embraces female voices, the music technology realm will inevitably become more diverse and inclusive - a positive disruption that will elevate the entire industry to new creative heights.*

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Music Technology
Women's Day*

*In the expanding music technology sector, women are seizing burgeoning opportunities to influence its trajectory. Against this backdrop, female leaders share their insights on the evolving music technology landscape with our platform Tech.

The challenges and barriers facing women in the technology music industry are becoming more recognized, thanks to the efforts of numerous networks and industry groups striving to empower women, leading to a more inclusive environment. The music industry has undergone a transformation, with women artists climbing the mainstream ladder and dominating the charts. A recent USC Annenberg School study found that 2022 saw female performers occupy a record 30% of spots on the Billboard Hot 100, up from 22% in 2012. Progress, however, remains necessary to ensure more women obtain opportunities within the music technology sphere. The male-dominated culture often overshadows female talent, limiting opportunities for women in technology, production, and engineering roles. This imbalance impacts the variety of music produced and hampers innovation and creativity. The Women and Equalities Committee report emphasized the existence of "endemic" misogyny and prejudice faced by women in the music industry.

Lily, a sound design lead at Arturia, highlights the growth of women in music tech. "There were almost 40% women in my sound engineering program south of Paris a few years ago, and the director even commented on it, saying this had never happened before. I also see more and more women sound designers and sound engineers on LinkedIn than ever, even meeting some at the top ranks at Superbooth," Lily notes. The sector's representation of women has seen improvement, though reaching parity will take time. Moreover, women remain underrepresented or overlooked in significant contributions to the sector.

Katherine Wing, Vice President of Marketing at Roland Americas, echoes the sentiment. "At Roland, this has been a top priority since I joined the team in 2016. As a result, I now serve as the vice president of marketing on the Roland Americas team, signaling the company's continued commitment to cultivating its team of women," Katherine says.

Together, they speak about the evolving role of women in the industry. Lindsey Smith, Brand Marketing Manager at ADAM Audio, observes a gap in the representation of women in music technology. "However, the situation is improving, with many companies making an effort in inclusivity in their hiring and marketing practices, which is always encouraging to see!" she notes.

Financial support for existing empowerment initiatives is crucial for further progress, according to Piper Payne, mastering engineer for Waves & owner of Physical Music Products. "Funding women supporting organizations in the music world is key. There are already several great ones like Women's Audio Mission, Soundgirls.org, Equalize Her, and Gender Amplified. Funding is what's needed."

Challenges persist, from lack of representation in key roles to deeply rooted gender biases, but a new generation of talented and determined women is smashing barriers. With their innovative tools and sounds, they inspire others to follow in their footsteps. As mainstream music embraces female voices, the music technology sphere will inevitably grow more diverse and inclusive - a positive upheaval that will ultimately elevate the entire industry to new creative peaks.*

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What Is Sampling in Music, and How to Do It Correctly
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Women Pushing Boundaries in Music Tech Innovation