spotify India has released the findings of a survey of 1,000 people across the country, which was conducted to better understand the challenges faced by women in India’s music ecosystem.
The research, which included both quantitative and qualitative interviews, was predominantly carried out among millennial and Gen-Z women occupying a variety of roles in the music industry, in September.
The respondents included singers, songwriters, composers, and DJs, as well as those in technical fields such as music production and sound engineering, and those working with music labels and event companies.
The study, helmed by YouGov, uncovered three main findings that offer a snapshot of the persistent gaps in how women navigate the industry today:
–Safety remains the top concern for women in music, with 56% saying that safe and inclusive work environments are among the most urgent challenges to address; and 36% reporting that they have personally faced unsafe or non-inclusive workplaces.
–Leadership opportunities and mentorship are limited, affecting women’s growth and visibility. When asked about perceived growth opportunities, only 31% of the women in technical fields responded “excellent”. Many linked this to a lack of mentorship, limited leadership representation, and persistent stereotypes about women in such roles.
The absence of mentorship emerged as a key thread through the research,with nearly 40% of the female respondents saying they had faced issues due to the absence of peer or mentorship support,and 39% stating they had been given limited leadership and decision-making opportunities.
A majority of 61% felt greater visibility and leadership representation are key to improving career growth, calling for more women in decision-making roles, and recognition for their work across genres and technical spaces.
–Work-life balance and family support continue to be key barriers, influencing women’s ability to participate in the music industry and sustain long-term careers. They were cited by 52% of the women interviewed as among their top five challenges, while 33% highlighted the need for stronger family and community support to help them pursue music as a profession.
Through the survey, Spotify identified measures that could positively impact women’s representation and growth in the music industry:
- Creating safe spaces and communities that foster dialog, 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.
“Continued dialogue and concrete, on-going action are key to making long-term change,” said Dhruvank Vaidya, head of music and podcasts at Spotify in India.
Earlier this week, the platform hosted its first ‘Equal’ event in the country, which featured a panel discussion with singers and composers Dot., Nikhita Gandhi and Shaktisree Gopalan moderated by Akhila Shankar, the head of TuneCore in South Asia.
The event brought together women from across the music industry, including artists, label executives and entrepreneurs.
Equal is Spotify’s global initiative to fuel equality in the music industry by providing greater support to women through playlisting,marketing,mentorship,and on-ground networking opportunities.
