Spotify is dedicated to amplifying and celebrating the incredible contributions of all artists and creators worldwide. As part of that commitment, on March 6 we teamed up with Billboard to host the first-ever Women in Music Executive Honoree Reception, an intimate gathering in Los Angeles.
The evening served as a pre-celebration for the magazine's annual Women in Music event on March 29, which recognizes top artists, creators, producers, and executives for their contributions to the industry.
NEXT
Guests had a chance to network with some of this year's Women in Music honorees and more female trailblazers. Spotify leaders-including Chief Public Affairs Officer Dustee Jenkins, Global Head of Editorial, Music Sulinna Ong, and Global Head of Music Go-to-Market Madeleine Bennett-shared their perspectives. EQUAL artist and DJ Empress Of provided the soundtrack for the night.
It's so exciting to partner with Billboard. This is the first time we've done this for the Women in Music event, so really thrilled to be here, said Dustee. I also want to note that for some time, Spotify has been funding a study with the USC Annenberg team to look at the data of women in the industry, because it's very hard to change something if you don't track it.
When you look at the data, you see progress and there are certainly some bright spots, but it shows us we still have a lot of work to do, she continued. And at the end of the day, it's going to take us supporting each other. It's going to take us fighting for each other. It's going to take us cheering for each other in rooms that we're not even in before we see the kind of progress that we're looking for.
EQUAL: Global reach, global impact The event aligned with International Women's Day on March 8. Spotify's EQUAL Global Music Program, introduced in 2021, is at the forefront of our efforts to raise women's voices in the music industry.
This year, we're expanding support to more EQUAL ambassadors through editorial, marketing, and partnerships, while doubling events worldwide-from educational sessions to songwriting camps, networking, and concerts, said Bel Aztiria, Lead, Global Music Programs at Spotify. It's exciting to see this program not only unite women globally, but also reinforce local culture and networks. The past year has been incredible-women raising their voices, leaving a lasting mark in music, and breaking records. We believe in the power of music to shift culture, and EQUAL is committed to being a space for that.
EQUAL by the numbers Since launch, EQUAL has supported more than 1,200 ambassadors, and EQUAL artists have received 1.5 billion editorial streams within their first month of joining the program.
In total, our EQUAL hub has generated more than 12 million editorial streams across 330,000 listening hours. The hub contains our flagship EQUAL global playlist (featuring tracks from our ambassadors and women artists worldwide), as well as local playlists cocurated by ambassadors, a podcast shelf, an audiobook shelf (available in select markets), and more.
In 2024 alone, more than 30 million artist discoveries were made through EQUAL playlists. Here are a few more program highlights:
Artists who experienced the biggest boost in listeners in 2024 after EQUAL inclusion
Paola & Chiara (Italy)
GONEISBACK (South Korea)
Baaba J (Ghana)
(Taiwan)
So!YoON! (South Korea)
Oumaima Taleb (Tunisia)
Perrie (Egypt)
Diana Burco (Colombia)
Laura Weng (Slovakia)
Julieta Laso (Argentina)
Most-streamed EQUAL global ambassadors (all-time) in 2024
Billie Eilish
Sabrina Carpenter
KAROL G
Shakira
Tate McRae
In addition to on-platform support, EQUAL continues to amplify its mission in communities around the world.
EQUAL Day returns to Mexico On March 14, Mexico's EQUAL Day will return for its third consecutive year, bringing more than 1,000 women together in Mexico City-including artists, creators, partners, influencers, and for the first time, fans. From live performances to panels and workshops, the event will serve as the ultimate destination for women in audio to connect, learn, network, and collaborate.
Colombia's empowerment anthem Spotify is also proud to support women in music through our longest-running original recorded music franchise, Spotify Singles. In Colombia, this support shines through in Rayo, the first Colombian Spotify Single created entirely by women.
The track features Ana Sanz, a pop-rock singer-songwriter from Bogot , Lil Keren, a Cali-based rapper, and Maria McCausland, a genre-bending singer-songwriter from Barranquilla. The trio was selected to create this Spotify Single with renowned music producer Natalia Bautista after participating in EQUAL's 2024 Empowerment Day at Casa Spotify Bogot .
The three emerging artists are also our EQUAL global ambassadors this March, in addition to Cazzu, a singer and rapper from Argentina.
A career milestone I'm proud of is being able to live from music and achieve international recognition, despite coming from a place where such opportunities are limited-it is my greatest accomplishment, said Cazzu. It's the legacy I want to leave for women from similar backgrounds.
Ana Sanz, Lil Keren, and Maria McCausland
Cazzu
Women artists are earning from their art worldwide Canada, South Korea, Sweden, and Argentina are among the top markets globally when it comes to the proportion of women among the top-earning artists. In Canada, for example, more than 40% of artists generating more than $1 million (US) on Spotify are either women artists or women performing in bands with men and women. And globally, 18% of all artists generating at least $1 million in 2024 on Spotify were women, an increase from 14% in 2017.
Check out Spotify's EQUAL global playlist.
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
09/10/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
09/10/2026
COW Jobs: Visual Storyteller - Emeryville, CA
Brie Clayton October 9, 2026
0 Comments
Visual Storyteller
October 7, 2026 COW Jobs: Cinematographer...
09/10/2026
Master 3-Point Lighting in After Effects With an Orbiting Light Rig
Graham Quince October 9, 2026
0 Comments
Ever wondered why your 3D renders in Afte...
09/10/2026
nxtedition will exhibit for the first time at Asias Broadcasting & Infotainment Show (A.B.I.S) in Mumbai, bringing its integrated production platform and latest...
09/10/2026
Today's AI Isn't the Answer
Andy Marken October 8, 2026
0 Comments
Let's say you're telling the truth, and this is all a dream. - Do...
09/10/2026
Ikegami to Introduce New UHK-X700VN Camera at NAB New York, Offering Advanced Cr...
09/10/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
09/10/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
09/10/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
09/10/2026
Witness world firsts, new arrivals and the work that goes on behind the scenes a...
09/10/2026
September 10 2026, 06:00 (PDT) Dolby Expands Dolby OptiView Platform with New Capabilities at IBC 2026
New Sports Intelligence helps providers better unders...
08/10/2026
Modern venues have come a long way since the tinny, echoing audio of the mid 20t...
08/10/2026
ESPN's first Super Bowl production will stream in English and Spanish on Disney+, while the ESPN App carries the full slate of game, ManningCast, studio, an...
08/10/2026
From high-school videoboards to War Eagle Productions, the Opelika native is learning how to lead shows and capture big moments
The future of live sports produ...
08/10/2026
The Television Academy and Prime Video have announced a six-year agreement making Prime Video the exclusive global home of the Emmy Awards beginning with the 20...
08/10/2026
Techex will exhibit at NAB Show New York 2026 (Booth 623, Javits Center, October...
08/10/2026
X Games has announced the appointment of Steve Rogers as Chief Operating Officer. Rogers previously served as COO of World Supercross and spent nearly a decade ...
08/10/2026
Fonn Group has appointed Trevor Spielmann as Sales Director for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Spielmann joins from EVS, where he held sales and business de...
08/10/2026
The flagship program will originate from major PG events with a four-camera production, live distribution across PGTV, social platforms
Perfect Game is bringin...
08/10/2026
Innovation rarely happens in a vacuum. More often, it happens at the point of collision: when worlds that have run on separate tracks begin to converge. That is...
08/10/2026
For decades, the production and broadcast services business has run on a familia...
08/10/2026
Uplynk, Zixi, BroadView Software, and Grass Valley have published The IP Converg...
08/10/2026
The NFL has announced the return of the Big Data Bowl, the league's analytics competition, now in its ninth year and again powered by AWS. Registration is o...
08/10/2026
Eutelsat has renewed its partnership with T l diffusion d'Alg rie (TDA), Algeria's national broadcasting network operator, for continued distribution of...
08/10/2026
Disney will livestream Super Bowl LXI on February 14, 2027, alongside the game's broadcast on ESPN and ABC. All Disney subscribers in the United States wi...
08/10/2026
RHStv and Red House Streaming have announced an expansion of their partnership w...
08/10/2026
Gray Media has announced a distribution agreement with TEGNA and DAZN to simulca...
08/10/2026
SVG readers can save 10% on registration and receive a complimentary Solutions H...
08/10/2026
PROTON Camera Innovations GmbH has been named a recipient of a 2026 Technology a...
08/10/2026
Industry leaders discuss real-world cloud workflows for live game production, pl...
08/10/2026
The next-gen audio technology joins Dolby Vision as part of Apple TV's immersive F1 experience...
08/10/2026
David France, Jesse Short Bull, Mato Wayuhi, N. Bird Runningwater, Jodi Archambau, Jhane Myers, Paul McGuire, Amber Morning Star Byars, Holly Macarro, Nick Tils...
08/10/2026
Dynamic panning plug-ins get an upgrade
Sound Particles have just announced major updates for two of their popular dynamic panning plug-ins. Energy Panner 2...
08/10/2026
New expandable instrument boasts full DMNO engine
UDO Audio have just announced the upcoming release of a new, expandable synth that packs the power of the ...
08/10/2026
Two new subwoofers added to monitoring line-up
ADAM Audio's monitoring range has just been expanded with two new DSP-equipped subwoofers, the Sub8 PRO a...
08/10/2026
eds3_5_jq(document).ready(function($) { $(#eds_sliderM519).chameleonSlider_2_1({ content_source:......
08/10/2026
Calrec gives broadcasters freedom of choice at NAB Show New York We're looking forward to meeting up with you all at NAB New York on 21st-22nd October.
Cal...
08/10/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/10/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/10/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/10/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/10/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/10/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/10/2026
Globecast, a leading provider of broadcast, media and entertainment managed services, will showcase its next generation of media orchestration services at NAB S...
08/10/2026
Clear-Com played a critical role in the production communications infrastructure for Rock in Rio 2026, one of the world's largest and most recognized music...
08/10/2026
Sohonet Launches ClearView Rush: A Leap Forward in Studio Review, Built for Crea...
08/10/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/10/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
Spotify is dedicated to amplifying and celebrating the incredible contributions of all artists and creators worldwide. As part of that commitment, on March 6 we teamed up with Billboard to host the first-ever Women in Music Executive Honoree Reception, an intimate gathering in Los Angeles.
