Welcome to our web-only edition, dedicated to Women in Music, their impact, and how you can support them.

Let’s take a look at the most influential women in music, the revenue generated, and what has changed in the last four years. And why any of it even matters.

A report by the UK Parliament in 23-24 stated that women are underrepresented in key roles across the industry, including senior leadership roles, A&R, and production. These roles are currently and historically held by men. These ‘higher up’ reflect the lack of women's roles, including female artists on rosters, headliners at festivals, and even airtime.

Is this improving? Yes… but only with the monumental efforts of many targeted and funded programs. The issues that women in music face are intensified and compounded for artists with intersectional barriers.

The report calls for the music industry to act upon the recommendations in the report that were relevant to their area (a little vague).

While noting a landmark year in 2023 for female artists, seeing an increasing number of women artists in the top 10 and 20. It stated that less than a third of the top selling artists were female and only 14% of the song writer credits were female.

So what are the barriers?

To understand the problem, looking at what the barriers are, from women themselves, makes a big difference. Using data from the Be The Change: Women Making Music study, and research from the Musicians’ Union, here are the most significant barriers:

Female artists halt a 20-year slide

Despite the barriers women face in the industry, in December 2024, The Guardian reported that the success of female artists helped stop the monumental slide of physical sales. Albums by Sabrina Carpenter, Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, and Charli XCX were the big names behind a stunning 10% increase in streamed and physical music to the tune of over 200m albums.

Their phenomenal streams and sales halted a 20-year slide in music sales in the UK.

It’ll come as no surprise that for 22, 23, and 24 Taylor Swift was the highest selling artist. Confirmed by the IFPI, here are the other women who made the Top 20 IFPI Global Album Chart for 2024:

The Swift Economy

Or, as it has been termed, Swiftonomics — anything with T-Swift's name on it starts making money in no time at all. So dedicated are the fans that cowboy hats and sequins sell out in local boutiques and online stores. Looking at the Eras tour specifically, she created 3,300 jobs and the local earnings were $160 million in LA. Swifties spent a phenomenal $5 billion in the US, and her eight shows in London created over £300 million for the local economy.

This is impressive for anyone, but when you factor in that Taylor herself has overcome almost all of the barriers to get where she is, it becomes even more impressive (though it really shouldn’t be). Taylor sued David Mueller for assault and battery from an incident in 2013.

She also went toe-to-toe over her masters and left Big Machine Records due to ‘manipulative bullying’. Instead of giving her her own work back, they said she could earn her albums back one at a time. She said that Scooter Braun had stripped her of her life’s work, she wouldn’t give him the opportunity to buy it.

Other artists openly attacked her online through music and social platforms, leaving her with little option but to re-record her old music and include music fans had never heard before (Taylor’s Version) so fans could make the distinction and support her.

She dropped surprise albums, deluxe versions, and vinyls. Again, despite everything she endured, Taylor contributes hundreds of millions to each local economy that she visits on tour. Impact. 

A quote at the end of the Taylor Swift vs Scooter Braun: Bad Blood docuseries:

Chappelle, Charli and Sabrina

The Holy Trinity took 2024 by storm, dominating music streaming, album sales, and almost every music conversation. They’ve all been working on their careers with intermittent hits, but the shift and support changed. While they are all openly pro-women, pro sexuality and pro-equality, they sound and look like the perfect faces of pop.

Provocative lyrics, dressing to be comfortable, not for the male-gaze, and each supporting the other. In doing so, the fans do the same. Swiftly (get it?) tucking under Taylor’s wing on the charts, contributing significantly to the overall streaming revenue and physical sales globally, and changing the game in the UK (as mentioned earlier).

But… who came before them?

Before Taylor, the Holy Trinity and Beyoncé came these women. Forcing their way into spaces they weren’t welcome or wanted. Writing songs for other women, playing instruments they borrowed, and fighting against industry and life discrimination.

Sister Rosetta Tharpe - Sister Rosetta Tharpe
A gospel, jazz, and blues pioneer, Tharpe was playing guitar in Pentecostal churches at age 4. Her song Strange Things Happening was the first gospel track to hit the R&B Top 10.

Lea Salonga Lea Salonga: The Broadway Star
At 20, she became the first Asian actress to win a Tony for Miss Saigon. She’s also the singing voice behind Disney’s Jasmine and Fa Mulan.

Missy Elliott This Is Missy Elliott
A visionary rapper and producer, Missy wrote Aaliyah’s One in a Million and changed hip-hop with her innovative visuals and style.

Hildegard of Bingen Hildegard von Bingen
A 12th-century nun, theologian, and composer, she wrote music for her convent. Her works were rediscovered and performed again in 1979.

Janis Joplin This Is Janis Joplin
The first Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll. A powerhouse performer whose raw emotion influenced artists like Stevie Nicks and Florence Welch.

Michele Anthony One of the most influential women in the music industry. She founded 7H Entertainment, represented artists like Black Sabbath and Pearl Jam, and is now Executive VP at UMG, where she’s pushed for transparency and fairness in artist payments.

Lauryn Hill This Is Lauryn Hill
Her groundbreaking album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill made her the first woman to win five Grammys in one night. A fierce advocate for artistic integrity.

Ella Fitzgerald This Is Ella Fitzgerald
The “First Lady of Song” won 13 Grammys and recorded over 200 albums. She broke barriers as the first Black woman to win a Grammy. Note: she was fighting for recognition at the same time as fighting discrimination in the Jim Crow era.

Help or hinder - the choice is yours.

Understanding the barriers is one thing, but seeing the financial impact makes it clearer. If there were fewer barriers to entry, we’d likely see more artists reach Taylor Swift-level success. With more high-grossing acts, local economies would benefit—tours drive demand for venues, crew, hospitality, and surrounding businesses. The challenge is ensuring the industry infrastructure supports this kind of sustained growth.

And that is where you, dear music listener, make a difference.

Organizations Supporting Women in Music

These groups provide advocacy, networking, funding, and education for women across all areas of the industry.

Spotify Playlists Highlighting Women in Music

If you want to put your support where your streams are, check out these playlists featuring women artists across genres.

Don’t have Spotify premium? Or don’t like using it? No problem. Save these playlists on your free account and use Free Your Music to transfer it to where you’d prefer to listen.

How You Can Make a Difference

Supporting women in music isn’t just about fairness—it’s about keeping the industry thriving, innovative, and diverse. Your choices as a listener matter.