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 🙂

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 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.

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.

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.

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’.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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?

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.