Women in India’s Music Industry: Overcoming Challenges

Women in India’s music industry encounter various challenges as highlighted by a new study commissioned by Spotify and conducted by YouGov. This research sheds light on critical issues such as safety, inclusion, and leadership visibility, which significantly impact their professional journeys.

Survey Insights on Professional Experiences

The study involved over 1,000 participants, with 70% being women in diverse roles, such as singers, producers, and sound engineers. The results reveal a mixture of progress alongside ongoing barriers as women navigate the music sector today.

Primary Findings from the Study

The research surfaced three key concerns:

• Safety is the leading issue for women in music.
• Limited opportunities for leadership and mentorship.
• Work-life balance and family support remain significant obstacles.

Urgency of Safety Concerns

Safety tops the list of worries for women, with over half ranking it as a principal challenge. More than 56% of female respondents indicated the necessity for a safe and inclusive work environment as one of their top five issues, surpassing concerns related to work-life balance and family support, as well as representation and freedom of expression (both at 52%). Alarmingly, 36% personally experienced unsafe or non-inclusive work settings, underscoring the severity of these issues.

Diverse Perceptions of Growth Opportunities

Perceptions of growth opportunities vary significantly among different roles. Only 31% of women in technical domains, such as sound engineering, view their growth prospects as “excellent,” attributing this to a lack of mentorship, insufficient leadership representation, and persistent stereotypes regarding women in technical fields.

In contrast, 50% of women across other roles perceived their growth opportunities positively. The scarcity of mentorship was also a recurring theme, with nearly 40% of female respondents highlighting challenges faced due to insufficient peer or mentorship support. Moreover, 39% mentioned limitations in leadership and decision-making opportunities.

A considerable majority (61%) advocated for enhanced visibility and leadership representation as essential for advancing careers, urging for more women in authoritative positions and recognition of their contributions.

Importance of Work-Life Balance and Family Support

Work-life balance and family support are also vital aspects affecting women’s participation in the industry. A significant 52% ranked these among their primary concerns, while 33% pointed out the necessity for stronger family and community backing to enable women to maintain prolonged careers in music.

Spotify’s Commitment to Creating Inclusive Spaces

Dhruvank Vaidya, Head of Music and Podcast at Spotify India, remarked that the study corroborates that safety, visibility, and inclusion are fundamental to shaping an equitable music landscape. He noted Spotify’s efforts towards these goals, highlighting initiatives like EQUAL, designed to celebrate women artists and amplify their global voices. Vaidya emphasised the importance of collaboration with partners and communities to foster safer and more inclusive creative environments, asserting that ongoing action and dialogue are essential for lasting change.

Future Steps for Representation and Growth

The research outlines potential strategies to enhance women’s representation and growth, which include establishing safe spaces and communities, enhancing leadership visibility, offering mentorship and peer networks, and improving work-life balance with supportive family structures. Notably, 31% of all participants, regardless of gender, expressed that brands and platforms could significantly aid women by fostering safe spaces and collaborative community networks for feedback.

Spotify actively addresses these challenges through its EQUAL programme, a global initiative that celebrates women artists, amplifies their voices, and provides opportunities for playlisting, marketing, mentorship, and networking across India.