Safety top concern for women in music: Spotify research

A study commissioned by digital music service Spotify has identified safety as the top concern for women in the industry, with more than half (56%) identifying it among the most urgent challenges to be addressed.

Conducted by YouGov, the study surveyed over 1,000 respondents across India, featuring both qualitative and quantitative interviews, and sheds light on the biggest factors shaping women’s experiences in the Indian music industry, according to a statement.

About 70% of the respondents were millennial and Gen Z women, including singers, songwriters, composers, DJs, producers, sound engineers, those employed with music labels, event companies, and more.

Apart from safety, the other two major concerns shared by women include:

• Leadership and mentorship opportunities are limited, affecting women’s growth and visibility across roles.
• Work-life balance and family support continue to be key barriers, influencing women’s ability to sustain long-term careers.

The report revealed that more than 56% of women listed safe and inclusive work environments among their top five challenges, ahead of work-life balance and family support, and representation and freedom of expression (both 52%). About 36% reported personally facing unsafe or non-inclusive workplaces.

When asked about perceived growth opportunities within the industry, women in technical fields - such as sound engineering and production - responded with the lowest percentage of “excellent” at 31%.

Many said this was a result of a lack of mentorship, limited leadership representation, and stereotypes about women in technical roles. In comparison, 50% of all women surveyed—across other roles—believed their perceived growth opportunities to be excellent.

Nearly 40% of female respondents said they faced issues due to the absence of peer or mentorship support. Nearly 39% also cited being given limited leadership and decision-making opportunities, while 61% added that greater visibility and leadership representation were needed to grow their career. They called for more women in leadership roles and recognition for their work across genres and technical spaces.

About 52% of women ranked work-life balance and family support as crucial factors influencing women’s participation in the industry, while 33% highlighted the need for stronger family and community support to help women pursue sustained careers in music. About 31% of all respondents said brands and platforms could best support women by creating safe spaces and community networks for feedback and collaboration.

The research identified possible interventions that could positively change women’s representation and growth in the music industry:

• Creating safe spaces and communities that foster dialogue, feedback, and collaboration.
• Increasing leadership visibility and representation for women across creative, production, and decision-making roles.
• Providing mentorship and peer networks to support women at all stages of their careers.
• Enabling better work-life balance and family support structures to ensure long-term participation.

“The findings of this study reaffirm that safety, visibility, and inclusion remain central to creating an equitable music industry. At Spotify, we’ve been working toward this through initiatives like EQUAL, which celebrates women artists and amplifies their voices globally, as well as by collaborating with partners and communities to build safer and more inclusive creative spaces. Continued dialogue and concrete, on-going action are key to making long-term change,” said Dhruvank Vaidya, Head of Music and Podcast, Spotify India.

(Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay)