Music’s Gender Crisis: Indian Women in Music Still Don’t Feel Safe, New Report Shows

Artwork by Sharanyaa Nair

Earlier in September, a study was commissioned by Spotify, the digital streaming services platform to identify and understand key challenges faced by the Indian cohort. Using both quantitative and qualitative measures, the study was conducted by YouGov. 

A sample of 1000 respondents from across the country was selected. With the majority (70 per cent) of the cohort comprising millennial and Gen Z women, the participants came from a diverse range of professional backgrounds, including DJing, composing, singing, songwriting, sound engineering, event management and more. 

Using both quantitative and qualitative measures, the study revealed the following causes of concern: safety, mentorship, work-life balance, representation, and familial support systems.

Inclusive, safe workspaces emerged as the most pressing topic, not just for female musicians and technicians, but also for those working at labels and event firms. More than 56 per cent listed the above as a challenge, while 36 per cent also reported their personal experiences wherein safety and inclusivity was compromised in the workplace. 

In addition, when asked about perceived growth opportunities, the responses oscillated across a spectrum. 50 per cent of respondents from non-technical roles stated their room for growth as “excellent.” Contrastingly, participants from more technical backgrounds, such as sound engineering, addressed the lack of lucrative career trajectories, with only 31 per cent opting for “excellent,” attributing it to the sparse leadership and mentorship initiatives, along with the added baggage of ingrained stereotypes that women in technical roles face. 

By the same token, 40 per cent of the sample called to attention the sheer lack of guidance as a pertinent issue, with 39 per cent also calling out the limited potentialities given to women in the music ecosystem with regard to key decision making power and leadership positions. Correspondingly, 61 per cent strongly vouched for female voices not just to be recognized by the music and entertainment business, but also valued as catalysts for growth, thereby elevating  visibility across technical and genre-laden spheres.

Lastly, work-life balance, along with familial, community, and peer support systems emerged as driving forces that influence women’s participation in the industry, with 52 per cent highlighting the urgency for it in the industry. 33 per cent of the respondents also emphasized how these systems hold paramount importance for women to sustain their careers in music. 

Overall, the survey highlighted key hiccups that Indian women of the music industry continue to face. Concurrently, it also brought to attention the imminent need for creating safe, inclusive and supportive environments that not just bolster the people involved, but also provide them with equitable roles, solid networking groups, career pathways, and mentorship opportunities.