Jobs Women Can Have in the Music Industry
by Ilaria Mangiardi
Blog
08.03.2022



Let’s admit it: we need more women in the music industry.
Let’s admit it: we need more women in the music industry.
The music industry can do (way) better when it comes to women’s employment and representation. Although things are gradually changing, women in the music industry are still a minority. But why is that?
According to a study by MIDiA Research, gender and identity issues are not going away. Women are still highly underrepresented when it comes to our field. True – some of the barriers that women face are becoming more acknowledged, and this is also thanks to the growing number of supportive networks and movements around the topic.
Yet, there’s also a collective tendency to think that music jobs are ‘something for men’, especially if they have to do with music production, composition or sound engineering.
While women shouldn’t be scared by the technical side of things (I mean, we can do things that are way harder than that, can’t we?), we want to use this article to show you a comprehensive list of jobs that women do at MassiveMusic and surroundings.
Some are more linked to music creation than others, but there are other roles that perhaps you never thought of before. With this article, we’d like to encourage you to apply to jobs in the music industry, whether they have to do with music creation itself or all that gravitates around it. After all, there’s so much more that the music industry needs on a daily basis to make it work!
Scroll down to:
🎧 See a comprehensive list of (some of) the jobs women at MassiveMusic have
💪🏽 Find out what we like the most about our jobs in the music industry
🙅🏾♀️ Read the solutions we’d like to see and implement to finally #BreakTheBias
Abigail Sie, MassiveMusic Sydney
▶ What do you like most about your job?
The energy of collaborating with our composers, sound designers, writers, performers, and production team – all pushing to make something extraordinary. I love the alchemy of great craft, when you realise you’ve delivered something special that moves people, when the piece becomes more than the sum of its parts.▶ Can you think of one solution to break the bias in the music industry?
I hope rigid expectations of attendance = productivity don’t come back. Greater flexibility with work hours is one way to help incredibly talented women to stay working as they manage family life and careers.
Aldana Pagani, MassiveMusic Berlin
▶ What do you like most about your job?
Watching the process of a simple idea growing into a tangible thing, a solid result, A SONG! The projects that I enjoy the most are those that involve diverse, collaborative and challenging human beings.▶ Can you think of one solution to break the bias in the music industry?
“Think outside the box”: we hear it all the time. Then how come we don’t have enough diversity? Music companies, labels and recording studios should demand and insist on having female candidates in every pitch or job interview. We need to give women the space they deserve: they also have knowledge and expertise when it comes to music.There are still many countries where societal expectations and beliefs interfere with the role that women have in society. We keep fighting old stereotypes (“you are too sensitive for hierarchical roles” or “you take everything personal”). We should stop accepting patriarchy-led cultural norms and address the inequalities by speaking up.
International Women’s Day is a day to reflect on how we can make this world more fair for everyone, showing sympathy and empathy for those minorities that are still invisible or in vulnerable situations. It’s time to involve & evolve 🙂
Becky Lowe, MassiveMusic Amsterdam
▶ What do you like most about your job?
I get to talk, think, and strategise music every day with inspirational people. It’s an exciting time for sound and music in the marketing world so the innovative energy carries you on unexpected journeys as a standard. There is never one day the same!▶ Can you think of one solution to break the bias in the music industry?
More inspirational moments between women in the industry, referrals to bring in other great female talent, maybe an annual conference like the Women in Tech conference taking place in Amsterdam?
Bodil Janssen, MassiveMusic Amsterdam
▶ What do you like most about your job?
I’m the ‘spider in the web’ concerning so many different things. That variety within my role is what drives me, yet the people I get to work with make me get out of bed every day. I utterly love working with a bunch of creatives, making sure they are well taken care of. To be around many different kinds of people and personalities is educational and inspiring.▶ Can you think of one solution to break the bias in the music industry?
It starts with the industry itself focusing on diversity, plus women believing in themselves. Men tend to be more confident, or at least pretend to be, whilst women often belittle themselves. I’ve come across so many women who underestimate themselves and sell their talents short. It’s a delicate subject and, in my opinion, there are no clear solutions to break this. Perhaps the solution is to just do it.Also, there are many different kinds of jobs; you don’t necessarily need to be a creative/producer to work in this field. I work amongst the most amazing women in Finance, HR, Communications, Account Management. Take the leap and apply for that job. You are worthy of this and talented enough.
Chloe Heatlie, MassiveMusic London
▶ What do you like most about your job?
I love getting into the studio and recording live musicians and vocalists. It’s incredible to watch an instrumentalist pick up their instrument and nail the recording first time. I also love listening to demos. There’s usually a slight nervousness before receiving submissions and it’s wonderful to hear the composer’s creations and interpretations of our briefs.▶ Can you think of one solution to break the bias in the music industry?
Transparency from companies in terms of salaries and progression requirements is necessary. Targets for promotion should be specific and the results should be transparent to show that individuals are promoted for the work that they do, not because of who they are. Salaries should be equal for anyone with the same experience doing the same job.
Chloe Sitton, MassiveMusic London
▶ What do you like most about your job?
As a music producer and predominantly focusing on new business, each week I’m lucky enough to meet and collaborate with so many strong and talented women across the industry! So many have become genuine friends, and for that I’m very grateful.▶ Can you think of one solution to break the bias in the music industry?
It’s hugely important to continue the conversation and not be afraid to challenge yourself and others close to you. It can be scary but it often paves the way for small changes in the way people treat each other; and ultimately reminds people to #breakthebias between genders in the industry.
Dawn Redmann, MassiveMusic Los Angeles
▶ What do you like most about your job?
I love the fact that creativity swirls around me on a daily basis. It’s exciting to work for a company that has such a wide range of capabilities. We have the chance to work closely with clients in a variety of ways and it’s fulfilling to not only help them bring their projects to life through music but to also form friendships that will last well beyond the finish of the job.▶ Can you think of one solution to break the bias in the music industry?
Seek out a mentor and attend industry events to increase your chances of bumping into other fabulous females that might inspire you. Ask them about their experiences and start growing your network so that, as opportunities become available, your name will be top of mind.
Emma Byford, MassiveMusic London
▶ What do you like most about your job?
It sounds cliché but I love that no two days are the same! We work with such a variety of amazing brands which means that every project brings with it its own unique opportunities and the chance to get creative. I really enjoy being part of the sonic branding process from the pitch stage right through until it gets launched and beyond.▶ Can you think of one solution to break the bias in the music industry?
Joining communities and organisations that support women in the music industry is a really valuable thing to do. I’ve been a member of shesaid.so for the past few years and it has been a great way for me to connect with and learn from a community of women, gender minorities and allies within the industry. Also, speak up! Don’t be afraid to make your voice heard if you feel that it is not as valued as others.
Helen Ryder, MassiveMusic London
▶ What do you like most about your job?
People fascinate me! We are all so different in many ways, and yet fundamentally we have the same wishes and ambitions too. I love that my job is all about trying to get the very best out of our brilliant teams and creating an environment where people can thrive and be their very best selves. It is a real privilege to work with such talented and ambitious professionals.▶ Can you think of one solution to break the bias in the music industry?
Look for opportunities where you can support people aspiring to join the industry, be it school, college talks, mentoring. Make sure language, images, and examples you share are inclusive and representative to all.
We all need to take responsibility for promoting our industry in the most inclusive way possible and to ask ourselves and others: “Can we do more?”
Ilaria Mangiardi, MassiveMusic Amsterdam
▶ What do you like most about your job?
The fact it allows me to combine my passion for words and notes. I like writing and crafting copy, content and stories for a music agency that speaks to many.▶ Can you think of one solution to break the bias in the music industry?
According to a TUC study, women work for free for nearly two months of the year. So, practising what you preach is paramount: there are still way too many companies that promote women initiatives yet pay women less than their male counterparts.But also, as a woman, be vocal about your values and beliefs. Call people out if they treat you differently. Call mansplainers out if their tone is condescending or patronising. Show what it’s like to be a woman working in the music industry, and brag a little – women often tend to underestimate what they’re capable of. Encourage younger women to believe in themselves and let them know it’s a skill they can nurture and grow. And, last but not least, pay attention to how you speak to yourself – the moment you start elevating yourself, you also teach others how to treat you.
Irma Holmgren Holm, MassiveMusic London
▶ What do you like most about your job?
The fact that I am, pretty much on a daily basis, scouting and engaging with talent from all around the world. It’s such a joy to discuss music with creative people who love to create music just as much as we do. Music is such a universal language and it’s so fun to be able to communicate it every day.▶ Can you think of one solution to break the bias in the music industry?
Actively call out any gender bias, discrimination or stereotyping is key. Question it and open up a discussion as to why a bias has been said or actioned. When it isn’t called out and broken down, in a group or even with yourself, it takes hold, even though it may take hold subconsciously. It’s important that people feel and believe that they should stand their ground for something that isn’t just, and to feel that they have the support and space in our industry to call out any injustices, to question it and discuss it.
Johanna Cranitch, MassiveMusic Los Angeles
▶ What do you like most about your job?
I love that every day is different, yet every day has me intimately involved in music composition and production. I love to problem-solve as well, so it’s always keeping me on my toes, thinking outside the box to service our clients needs the best possible way, with the most creative foot forward.▶ Can you think of one solution to break the bias in the music industry?
Every music (production) house needs to actively make sure that, on each demo round or library search, there is at LEAST one woman composer/producer. Honestly, it should just be 50/50. The issue I’ve come across is that, for so long, these doors were closed to us. Now that they’re open, it’s not enough to just leave them open; you have to actively participate in creating opportunities for composers, and visibility to their work.Help them walk through it by not just choosing your most convenient composers. Try someone new and unexpected with each search and demo round. They may sell through on the first round, and then you have another composer who can become your ‘go-to’.
Kat Feather, MassiveMusic Amsterdam
▶ What do you like most about your job?
I love the collaborative nature of my role and workplace. Every day, I get to work with brilliant minds and personalities who each bring huge value to every project. It’s a great feeling knowing your contribution is truly valued as part of the bigger picture.▶ Can you think of one solution to break the bias in the music industry?
Listen, and be receptive to change. To create the best work and build an authentic belief system, internally and externally, we have to live that truth. We need to represent our audience (who, by the way, is everyone who listens to music and watches our ads, all over the world). I’d love to see a forum that invites open discussion between industry people and consumers. Maybe in the format of panel discussions or via a good old-fashioned survey. We need to have that open communication stream to make change happen.
Laura Grzeszczak, MassiveMusic London
▶ What do you like most about your job?
The fact that it’s global. I can work with many different people and cultures. It broadens your horizon. Plus, the fact that I work with music. I was able to turn my passion into a profession. Massive also allows me to be my weird self. Well, not at all client meetings.▶ Can you think of one solution to break the bias in the music industry?
Just don’t look at a person through the lens of his/her ‘status’ (gender, religion, relationship). Look at the person and who s/he is as a complex character.
Laura Jones, MassiveMusic London
▶ What do you like most about your job?
Being able to talk about music and sound all day. I feel lucky to be able to spend my days talking to clients about something I feel passionately about. The real bonus is, because of the universality of music, our clients often get just as excited as we do!▶ Can you think of one solution to break the bias in the music industry?
In my past life working in advertising agencies, we backed a brilliant initiative called Free The Bid. It advocated for equal opportunities for women directors by ensuring that they were included when triple bidding a production for a client. It would be interesting to apply the same initiative to the music industry, ensuring that women composers and creators are always included when briefing out demos, whether it’s for a bespoke advertising composition or a sonic identity project.
Lieke Blommers, MassiveMusic Amsterdam
▶ What do you like most about your job?
I really like the environment I work in, all my colleagues are musical or creative and that creates a relaxed and nice atmosphere to be in.▶ Can you think of one solution to break the bias in the music industry?
To have more women standing up and being a role model for other women. Sharing our knowledge is essential to inspire other women to work in the music industry!
Mallaury Boudier, MassiveMusic Amsterdam
▶ What do you like most about your job?
Being able to use my sales, branding and marketing knowledge at the service of creativity and music. I always knew I wanted to move into the music industry one day, but I was unsure of the roles and companies where I could leverage my skill set until I found out about MassiveMusic.▶ Can you think of one solution to break the bias in the music industry?
Upstream, we need to encourage young women to explore fields and skills where they are usually underrepresented. Giving them the access and the confidence to pursue education, training and careers in production, sound engineering, creative direction or even in tech as it is increasingly crucial to the industry.Downstream, music companies need to be accountable for hiring more women creatives and professionals at every level of a project and beyond traditionally female-dominated roles (marketing, communication and HR roles).
Marianna Kosch, MassiveMusic Warsaw
▶ What do you like most about your job?
People. I love being surrounded by such supportive and creative minds who are passionate about what they do and constantly looking for ways to make things better and make you smile 🙂 The way each day and project is different and you can approach it with a different creative perspective is also a big plus to me as well as the way we collaborate no matter the time zone.Also, I love how ideas turn into reality, observing how composers interpret the briefs, from ideation to completion. Seeing how these two forms of art – music and the moving image, belong to each other is so delightful. Last but not least, my job keeps me discovering new talents and new music. Who doesn’t love that?
▶ Can you think of one solution to break the bias in the music industry?
More funds promotion and education programmes giving opportunities to female producers, sound engineers and executives to be part of the industry.But also, encouraging the women around us to follow their passion and to apply for the male-stereotyped job positions: that’s how you inspire the younger generation.
Michał Krajewski, MassiveMusic Warsaw
▶ Can you think of one solution to break the bias in the music industry?
Use your ears and imagination rather than your eyes and mouth. Music and creativity have no sex so start listening and processing instead of judging and talking. To quote Epictetus: “We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak”.
From listening we can draw conclusions. Conclusions have no sex either so shut up on what women can and cannot do. We breathe the same air and exhale the same beautiful thoughts and ideas so just relax.
Pamina Husseini, MassiveMusic London
▶ What do you like most about your job?
That my schedule is different everyday, from juggling several accounts to preparing presentations or giving feedback on music demos. All of this with a team of lovely people!▶ Can you think of one solution to break the bias in the music industry?
First, we need to look at bias through an intersectional framework: gender is one factor in this equation, but race, sexual orientation, socio-economic background, disabilities and so on also contribute to inequalities. I would encourage all of us, not just today but all year round, to reflect on our own biases, listen to women’s experiences as well as proactively educate ourselves on the topic. I can recommend reading ‘Invisible Women: Exposing Data in a World Designed for Men’, although it unfortunately does not include data on non-binary and transgender people, who should be supported and included in every solution put in place to break the bias.
Paul Reynolds, MassiveMusic London
▶ Can you think of one solution to break the bias in the music industry?
Accept responsibility. Get some training and, if you can, provide training for others.
Phuong Boi Nguyen, MassiveMusic Amsterdam
▶ What do you like most about your job?
How diverse it is. One day I’m in the studio, composing and producing, the other day I’m reading contracts and doing business calls. I love both sides of the job; it’s a perfect mix.▶ Can you think of one solution to break the bias in the music industry?
More role models. The more representation younger people see, the more normalised having women in different fields is going to be. This goes for both ‘the real world’ as for TV and commercials. Why would we, for instance, only have men as engineers?
Taylor Thomas, MassiveMusic New York
▶ What do you like most about your job?
The ability to collaborate with so many passionate and creative people. Everyone here lives and breathes music and cares about the clients we represent. Also, Massive has allowed me to explore my own creativity when it comes to helping brands use music to connect with consumers. I have loved being able to flex my own creative and strategic muscles to concept new initiatives and ideas. The support from the team when it comes to not only presenting these ideas but to my career growth in general is awesome to feel!▶ Can you think of one solution to break the bias in the music industry?
Representation: that’s why things like this are so powerful! Just talking about all the inspiring, successful and powerful women here at Massive alone is a great way to show other new young female professionals that the industry not only has space for them but that they deserve a seat! Taking it a step further, as women in the industry, we can help other females find the seat they are looking for and help them take it by encouraging and recommending each other for open positions we see.
Tom Tukker, MassiveMusic Amsterdam
▶ Can you think of one solution to break the bias in the music industry?
Start listening. And when I say that, I mean to actually and actively listen to each other. Not with the intention to respond, but to understand. We are all the same, human. That’s why I like ‘ubuntu’ as a word; a Nguni Bantu term meaning ‘humanity’. It is sometimes translated as ‘I am because we are’.Listening to someone can be the start of so many incredible things. It forces you to ‘contemplate’ the words you hear, to take them really in, to feel emotions, to connect and reflect. When you listen, you don’t interrupt nor judge but you give someone the freedom to express themselves instead. Show interest, respect and empathy, kindly agree to disagree, laugh, give support or sympathy. Be human, basically. That’s how we can have equal conversations that can lead to equal opportunities.
“Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination. A world that’s diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women’s equality. Collectively we can all #BreakTheBias.”
“Imagine a gender equal world. A world free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination. A world that’s diverse, equitable, and inclusive. A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together we can forge women’s equality. Collectively we can all #BreakTheBias.”
The IWD website makes it clear: this year, let’s celebrate women’s achievement, raise awareness against bias and take action for equality.
Happy International Women’s Day to all the women out there, especially the ones who are suffering right now. We’re an incredible force of nature. Let’s never forget that.
As every year, our ultimate goal is to spark a much-needed conversation so that the industry can continue to move forward with male, female, queer, gender-fluid human beings working together as equals.
PS. Since you’re here, why not have a look at our Careers page?
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