To mark International Women’s Day 2020, we wanted to celebrate the amazing women in music. From solo artists to female lead bands and everything in between, the industry is indebted to the artistry, creativity and business acumen that women bring to the table.

Of course the music industry is made up of more than artists. And at beatvyne, we’re lucky to have worked with some of the most outstanding women behind the scenes turning the wheels, helping to make the magic happen. From photographers, festival producers, engineers, to technologists, marketeers and promoters, we’d like to take this opportunity to tip our hat to the awesome women in music.

In fact, all photos in this article are taken by our very own Co-founder and CMO/COO Isabel Thomas.

To kick things off, we’ve put together a playlist of emerging and established female artists from across the globe for you to enjoy. Featuring music from the likes of Pillow Queens, First Aid Kit, Maija Sofia, Lykke Li and many more, we’ve got you covered with over six hours of acoustic, lo-fi, electronica, post-punk and much more.

However, it’s not all rosy! In it’s default state, the music industry, it could be said is inherently misogynistic. It may not intend to be, nor in fact know it is, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t. Similar to racism, as South London rapper, Dave sang in his freestyle performance of his song “Black” at this year’s Brits Awards, “It is racist, whether or not it feels racist, the truth is our prime minister’s a real racist / They say – ‘you should be grateful, we’re the least racist’/ I say the least racist is still racist”, sexism is sexism, whether it is meant or not.

While we have moved along ways from the 1950’s-style-advertisement world of ‘Madmen’, that discriminates against women so candidly and blatantly that would be laughed at today – it is so ridiculous -there is still much to do to correct issues of diversity, gender gap pay and harassment.

 Recent world events also tell us, such as Brexit, the rise of nationalism, Trumponian-1984-style governance, or coronavirus doomsday scenarios, we’re never too far from slipping into mass hysteria and dark-ages-kind-of-thought, and should remain vigilant and ready to fight against all types of prejudice, stereotyping, or discrimination, if we are to triumph and evolve as a species.

But let’s not get the pitchforks out just yet. Things have improved a lot, and today, the music industry is full of extraordinary women doing amazing things. To mark the day that’s in it, we’re shining a light on just some of of the outstanding women in music and the roles they’re in.

Fruzsina Szep – Festival Director Lollapalooza Berlin

Desiree Perez – COO, Roc Nation

Caroline Duke – Production Manager Vicar Street

Michelle Whitehead – PR Manager, Aiken Promotions

Katina Bynum – Executive vp East Coast labels, ­Universal Music Enterprises

Melissa Thomas – Senior vp international marketing, Columbia Records, Epic Records

Oana Ruxandra – Executive vp new business channels/chief acquisition officer, Warner Music Group

Alison Davis – UKI Lead Telcom, Media & Entertainment

Vickie Nauman – CrossBorderWorks Consulting

Nicole d’Avis – Senior Director Berkelee College of Music, Open Music Initiative

Susse Sonderby Jensen – Experience Designer, Adobe

Traci Adams – Executive vp promotion, Epic Records

Maria Fernandez – Executive vp/COO, Sony Music Latin Iberia

Lanre Gaba – GM/senior vp urban A&R, Atlantic Records

Michelle Jubelirer – COO, Capitol Music Group

Cris Lacy – Executive vp A&R, Warner Music Nashville

Jessie Maldonado – VP promotion operations, RCA Records

Michele Nadelman – CFO, Warner Records

Colleen Theis – COO, The Orchard

Lisa Barbaris – Owner, So What Management

Ann Edelblute – Owner, The HQ

Kerri Edwards – President, KP Entertainment

Rebeca León – Founder/CEO, Lionfish Entertainment

Joyce Smyth – Manager, The Rolling Stones

Sas Metcalfe – Chief creative officer, Kobalt

Molly Neuman – President, Songtrust

Mary Megan Peer – Deputy CEO, peermusic

Elizabeth Matthews – CEO, ASCAP

Anjula Singh – Executive vp/CFO, SoundExchange

Tami Hurwitz – VP global marketing, Amazon Music

Vivien Lewit – Global head of artist services, YouTube

Dawn Ostroff – Chief content officer, Spotify

Lizzie Widhelm – Senior vp ad innovation, Pandora

Marissa Morris – Senior vp artist relations, iHeartMedia

Lisa Alter – Founding partner, Alter Kendrick & Baron

Poppy Crum – Chief Scientist, Dolby Laboratories

Sarah Hopper – Creative Director, Sigur Rós

Beatie Wolfe – Artist, Innovator

Rebecca Sandiford – Commissioner, BBC Music Day

Isabel Garvey – Managing Director, Abbey Road Studios

Niamh Byrne – Manager Gorillaz, Blur

Jackie Wilgar – SVP Marketing International, Live Nation

Carlotta De Ninni – Head of Research, Mycelia

Sophie Goosens – Counsel, Reed Smith

Megan Best – Senior Consultant Native Events

Aoife Ahern – Tour Manager, Production Manager

Elaine Doyle – Managing Director, Youtube Ireland 

Mia Tinari – Global Head of Marketing, TAIT

Sofia Brazzola – User Experience Manager, Sennheiser

Carrie Davenport – Photographer

Kathrin Baumbach – Photographer

Leah Carroll – Photographer

Anamaria Mei – Photographer

Lucy Foster – Photographer

Ruth Medjber – Photographer

Donna DiBenedetto – VP global touring, AEG Presents

Ali Harnell – President/chief strategy officer, global, Women Nation/Live Nation ­Entertainment

Jenna Adler – Agent, Creative Artists Agency

Sara Bollwinkel – Agent, Paradigm Talent Agency

Lucy Dickins – Head of U.K. Music, WME

Amy Cranford – VP publishing administration, Sony/ATV

Maria Egan – President/head of creative, Pulse ­Music Group

Carianne Marshall – Co-Chair/COO, Warner Chappell Music

Dahlia Ambach Caplin – Senior vp A&R, Verve/Impulse!

Rayna Bass – Senior vp marketing, 300 Entertainment

Sharon Dastur – Senior vp promotion, Republic Records

Catherine Downey – Manager, Hozier

Angela Dorgan – Director, First Music Contact

Sinead Troy – CEO, Yangaroo Music

Phylicia Fant – Co-head of urban music, Columbia Records

Nicki Farag – Executive vp promotions, Def Jam Recordings

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Till next time,

The beatvyne crew