AlphaTheta’s Equal Beats Initiative is Battling Gender Inequality in Electronic Music – notion.online

Addressing Gender Disparity in the Music Industry: A Report on the Equal Beats Initiative

Introduction: Aligning with Sustainable Development Goal 5

A significant gender disparity persists within the electronic music industry, presenting a direct challenge to the principles of Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5: Gender Equality). Recent data from audio technology firm AlphaTheta revealed that only 13% of its users identify as women. This statistic is corroborated by the 2023 Musicians’ Census, which found that women and non-binary individuals constitute a mere 11% of producers, 3% of DJs, and 2% of sound engineers in the UK. In response, AlphaTheta has launched the Equal Beats initiative, a targeted program designed to dismantle barriers and promote gender parity, thereby contributing to the achievement of SDG 5.

The Equal Beats Initiative: A Framework for Action on Gender Equality

Strategic Activations and Partnerships

The Equal Beats initiative implements a multi-faceted approach to empower women, non-binary people, and minoritised communities, directly supporting the targets of SDG 5. Key activities are designed to foster an inclusive environment and provide professional opportunities.

• Networking Events: The initiative hosts networking lunches at major industry conferences, including Sónar (Barcelona), IMS (Ibiza), and most recently, the Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE).
• Strategic Collaborations: The ADE event was held in partnership with shesaid.so, an independent community for women and gender non-conforming people in music, amplifying the initiative’s reach and impact.
• Industry Dialogue: The ADE lunch, hosted by AlphaTheta’s Amy Francesca, featured discussions with industry leaders such as shesaid.so founder Andreea Magdalina, DJs Bella Claxton and HAIVAI B, and Phiona Okumu, Head of Music in Africa at Spotify.

Fostering Inclusive Dialogue for Collective Action

In a significant step towards a more inclusive approach to achieving SDG 5, the ADE event marked the first time men were formally invited to participate in the Equal Beats conversation. This highlights the necessity of a collective, industry-wide response to address systemic gender inequality.

Enhancing Accessibility and Reducing Inequalities (SDG 10)

The Equal Beats Podcast: Democratizing Mentorship

To broaden its impact and contribute to SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), AlphaTheta has launched the Equal Beats podcast. Hosted by DJ Kikelomo and recorded with an all-female crew, the seven-part series provides accessible mentorship to a global audience, removing geographical and financial barriers to entry. The podcast addresses critical career development topics:

1. Initial industry entry and navigation
2. Brand building and performance crafting
3. Sustaining long-term careers
4. The role of social media in the music industry
5. The impact of parenthood on a music career

Isabel Sugrañes, Marketing Executive at AlphaTheta, stated the podcast’s goal is to “open up those stories and insights to anyone, anywhere in the world, who’s trying to find their own path in music.” This aligns with the goal of reducing inequalities by providing equal access to information and opportunity.

Industry Perspectives and the Path Forward

Expert Commentary on Structural Change

Industry leaders have emphasized the need for proactive and systemic change. Phiona Okumu noted, “It is imperative that we are very proactive about acknowledging where there are gaps in marginalisation on every level…so we can positively change what the industry looks like.” Andreea Magdalina added that overcoming unconscious bias requires “a level of empathy to make the music industry a better place,” underscoring the deep structural changes needed to achieve genuine gender parity.

Measuring Progress and Future Outlook

While initiatives like Equal Beats and Women of House demonstrate positive momentum, data confirms that significant work remains. Research platform In The Key found that women and gender non-conforming individuals still only account for 2-5% of music producers. The ultimate objective, as articulated by DJ HAIVAI B, is a future where artists are judged on their art rather than their gender. This vision represents the full realization of SDG 5 within the creative sector, where “an artist is not determined by their gender, but rather the art they put out.”

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 5: Gender Equality

• The article’s central theme is the gender disparity in the electronic music industry. It explicitly discusses the need to achieve “gender parity” and highlights initiatives like “Equal Beats” that are designed to support and empower women, non-binary people, and minoritized communities, directly aligning with the core mission of SDG 5.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

• The article addresses the systemic exclusion and underrepresentation of specific groups (women, non-binary people, minoritized communities) within an economic sector. By focusing on breaking down barriers, tackling “unconscious bias,” and promoting the inclusion of marginalized groups, the issues discussed are directly related to reducing inequalities of opportunity and outcome.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• The discussion revolves around creating sustainable careers and professional opportunities in the music industry. Initiatives that provide mentorship, networking, and workshops aim to equip women and non-binary individuals with the tools to achieve productive employment and build long-term careers as DJs, producers, and sound engineers, which contributes to inclusive economic growth.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 5: Gender Equality

1. Target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere. The article highlights the “deeply entrenched stain” of gender inequality and the need to address “unconscious bias,” which are forms of discrimination that prevent women and non-binary people from succeeding in the music industry.
2. Target 5.5: Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life. The Equal Beats initiative’s goal of helping women and non-binary people “break predetermined barriers in music” and increase their numbers as DJs, producers, and sound engineers is a direct effort to ensure their full participation and equal opportunities in the economic life of the music industry.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

1. Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status. The article describes programs like workshops, networking lunches, and podcasts specifically created to empower and promote the economic inclusion of “women, non-binary people and minoritised communities” within the electronic music scene.
2. Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome… The article calls for “structural changes needed in the industry to inspire gender parity” and for projects that “actively search for answers” to tackle disparities. This aligns with the goal of ensuring equal opportunity and reducing the inequality of outcome, which is evidenced by the low percentages of women in key industry roles.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

1. Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men… and equal pay for work of equal value. The Equal Beats podcast covers topics like “how to get your foot in the door” and “sustaining long-term careers,” which are aimed at helping women and non-binary people achieve productive employment and build sustainable careers in the music industry, a sector where they are currently underrepresented.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article provides several quantitative statistics that serve as direct indicators of the current state of gender inequality and can be used as a baseline to measure progress.

Explicit Indicators Mentioned:

• Proportion of women in a company’s user base: The article states that “only 13% of [AlphaTheta’s] account users identified as women.” This is a specific metric that can be tracked over time to measure the impact of initiatives on user demographics.
• Proportion of women and non-binary people in specific professional roles: The article cites two different research findings that act as key performance indicators:
  1. The Musicians’ Census found that women and non-binary people make up “11% of producers, 3% of DJs and 2% of sound engineers in the UK.”
  2. The “In The Key” research platform found that these demographics “currently make up only 2-5% of music producers.”

Implied Indicators:

• Participation in empowerment programs: The number of women, non-binary people, and minoritized individuals participating in Equal Beats events, DJ workshops, and networking lunches can be tracked.
• Reach and engagement of educational resources: The audience size and engagement metrics for the “Equal Beats podcast” serve as an indicator of its success in providing accessible mentorship.
• Representation in industry events: The existence and growth of events like “Women of House — an event series at the conference with a 100% women DJ lineup” is an indicator of changing industry practices and increased visibility.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article. In this table, list the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), their corresponding targets, and the specific indicators identified in the article.

Source: notion.online