The “Female Producer Prize” is entering its second edition. Female producers have been able to apply since April 19th. However, the problem of the lack of visibility of women in the music industry goes much deeper.
The “Female Producer Prize” from Sony Music Entertainment and Women Music Germany will also be announced this year. Since April 19 at 10 a.m (CET) producers can apply for this one here until May 22nd apply.
Female Producer Prize
The award was launched last year with the aim of increasing the visibility of women in the music industry. In 2022 it said, among other things: “The winners are expected: A feature as Woman of the Month by Music Women Germany; a grant for three €300 music productions to be released in 2022; a one-off grant of €200 for music equipment or production tools”. This year, too, it is about “a coaching and sponsoring program”. The prize aims to “shape the German music landscape better and more diverse together”.
Novaa, Nora Medín, Jenny Gerdts, Maxi Menot and GOTOPO won last year. The jury includes producer Charlie McClean, Moses Schneider, music consultant and “Music Women Germany” board member known for his collaboration with Beatsteaks and Tocotronic Pamela Owusu-Brenyah, last year’s winner Novaa, creative consultant Jovanka v. Wilsdorf and Columbia Germany A&R Sarah Schneider.
women in the music industry
It should be clear to everyone that women are fundamentally disadvantaged. In the music industry in particular, there have been an increasing number of studies that prove this specifically in relation to the industry with bare figures. For example, USC Annenberg of South Carolina released theirs report about gender equality the “Billboard’s Hot 100” charts 2022, which the Musikexpress reported on at the beginning of February. In the German charts, the proportion of women has even decreased from 13.2 percent in 2012 to 10.9 percent in 2015 and 8.3 percent in 2019, according to a study by the MaLisa Foundation out. Also released this monthLost in the mix‘, an analysis of female music producers and engineers in ‘DSP Playlists, Genres, Awards, Record Certifications and Distribution[n]“. For example, YouTube showed that none of the 10 most-streamed songs of 2022 were produced by a woman and, following the same pattern, not a single woman was involved as a music engineer on TikTok. Since Sony Music is one of the three largest major labels in the world, some popular and well-streamed songs logically come from their forge.
Also this year the project is in cooperation with “Music Women Germany”, an umbrella organization for women throughout the German music landscape. There will also be 5 winners again. The organizers state the main criteria as “the quality of the productions and their own musical signature”.