Spotify has teamed with nonprofit organization SoundGirls to launch the EQL Directory, a global database of professionals that seeks to amplify the careers and achievements of women working in music and audio. It is estimated that less than five percent of all audio professionals are women, a stat that nonprofit SoundGirls looks to challenge and change.
“[We] face the myth that there are not very many women or non-conforming people working in audio, and because of this people don’t even bother to look. The EQL Directory proves that this is not true,” says Karrie Keyes, co-founder of SoundGirls and Pearl Jam’s long-time sound engineer.
As of this writing, the EQL Directory lists approximately 20 audio production professionals in the Nashville area. Any person can add their name and information to the database.
“SoundGirls already had this global directory of women in audio and production, and we came together to help them make it more beautiful, more useful, and more visible within the industry,” says Kerry Steib, Spotify’s Director of Social Impact. “We know that increasing equity for women in these fields is a complex problem to solve. We have to work with great partners across the industry and come together to create solutions.”
Visitors to the EQL Directory can also find resources from initiatives and organizations like the Audio Engineering Society, Beatz By Girlz, Equalizer Project, female:pressure, Gender Amplified, Girls Make Beats, Instituto Criar, Secret Genius, shesaid.so, SoundGirls in Mexico, The 7% Series, Upfront Producer Network, Yorkshire Sound Women Network, and the Women’s Audio Mission.
The EQL Directory is one of many initiatives Spotify has developed to support equity in the audio industry. In August, the service created three full-time residencies as part of its Secret Genius and Spotify studios to support career development for female studio engineers. The Equalizer Project has hosted networking dinners and a recent Producer Camp in Sweden. Meanwhile, The SoundUp Bootcamp, an accelerator program for aspiring podcasters in underserved communities, has been launched in the U.S., UK, and Australia.
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Jessica Nicholson serves as the Managing Editor for MusicRow magazine. Her previous music journalism experience includes work with Country Weekly magazine and Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) magazine. She holds a BBA degree in Music Business and Marketing from Belmont University. She welcomes your feedback at jnicholson@musicrow.com.View Author Profile
