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 ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
04/06/2026
Sony Electronics is introducing the SRG-AS10, a 4K 60p-compatible PTZ auto-frami...
04/06/2026
This recent grad from Spring, TX, led creative-video output for the Aggies' men's basketball team last season and has been producing video and creating ...
04/06/2026
For the first time at a women's golf major, every player in the field will r...
04/06/2026
Three Panasonic PT-RQ45 40,000-lumen 3-Chip DLP projectors made their first live...
04/06/2026
Bitmovin and Akamai have announced a collaboration with NRJ Group, a French mult...
04/06/2026
Telestream will exhibit at InfoComm 2026 (Booth N7952), demonstrating media work...
04/06/2026
Sony has announced the development of RIALTO 65, a 65mm format image sensor block for the VENICE 2 digital cinema camera, targeting release in the first half of...
04/06/2026
KOKUSAI DENKI Electric America will exhibit at InfoComm 2026 (Booth N8025, June ...
04/06/2026
Bell Media's TSN and RDS are the exclusive Canadian broadcasters of FIFA Wor...
04/06/2026
The Challenge: Receiving Heavy Media Files From Road Games Quickly and ReliablyT...
04/06/2026
MASV, a managed file transfer platform used in broadcast and live sports product...
04/06/2026
NESN has announced the appointment of Fahad Haider as Vice President of Operations and Engineering. Haider returns to NESN, where he previously served as Vice P...
04/06/2026
David J. Halberstam, who spent almost 50 years in sports as a broadcaster and an executive, died June 2 after a years-long battle with brain cancer.
Over his l...
04/06/2026
Although collegiate production programs are tasked with delivering high-quality ...
04/06/2026
California studio, two production trucks, global distribution system are combine...
04/06/2026
New global program empowers and supports storytellers through scriptwriting course and access to industry experts
TikTok and Sundance Institute today announce...
04/06/2026
Steinberg DAWs now boast in-depth Tonalic integration
Celemony's innovative virtual session musician plug-in has just received an update that brings ARA...
04/06/2026
Get Hands-On With Over 20 Mic Brands
GearExpo UK is fast approaching, and if you've been looking for a chance to check out some new mics, then you'r...
04/06/2026
Combos feature new Amplifier Intelligence engine
Positive Grid's latest release sees the company introduce two new combo amplifiers that promise to offe...
04/06/2026
Is Your Job Making You Work this June?
4 June, 2026
Media releases
SBS Launches the World Cup Watchers' Rights Association to Stand Up For Australians&...
04/06/2026
Statement regarding unauthorised use of SBS logos on third party social content
4 June, 2026
Media releases
SBS has become aware of social media posts in c...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Bitmovin, a leading provider of video streaming infrastructure, and Akamai, the cybersecurity and cloud computing company that powers and protects business onli...
04/06/2026
American Underground (AU), the Startup Hub of the South and a community of mor...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
NVIDIA and Microsoft Reinvent Windows PCs for the Age of Personal AI
Brie Clayton June 3, 2026
0 Comments
RTX Spark - a 1-Petaflop Superchip, the Full...
04/06/2026
Inside the Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man Grade
Brie Clayton June 3, 2026
0 Comments
Simone Grattarola discusses shaping the look in DaVinci Resolve...
04/06/2026
Cine Gear Expo Announces 2026 Awards of Excellence Recipients
Brie Clayton June 3, 2026
0 Comments
Ed Lachman ASC, Caleb Deschanel ASC, and M. David M...
04/06/2026
St. Vincents Live with Orchestra Tour to Feature Berklee Alum Ruby Plume Berklee alumni St. Vincent and Ruby Plume will appear on the same bill across seven d...
04/06/2026
Back to All News
All the Truth in My Lies Coming to Netflix on August 28
Entertainment
04 June 2026
GlobalSpain
Link copied to clipboard
Download the imag...
04/06/2026
Back to All News
Larry Tanz, VP of Content, EMEA, Delivers a Keynote Speech at ...
04/06/2026
Back to All News
Turn Your Living Room into a Stadium With the New FIFA World ...
04/06/2026
Keeping conversations real on LinkedIn Published on Jun 4, 2026 Categories: Product News
LinkedIn Corporate Communications
Share
LinkedIn
Facebook ...
04/06/2026
BackStory follows four Irish young people as they travel back to their parents' homelands
Modern Irish identity is enriched by cultures and influences from...
04/06/2026
June's forecast with GeForce NOW: 100% chance of gaming.
GeForce NOW is lining up new adventures for the month, from big-name blockbusters to quirky indies...
03/06/2026
SES and Viva, Mexico's ultra low-cost airline, have launched multi-orbit satellite inflight connectivity on Viva's Airbus aircraft. A total of 60 A320s ...
03/06/2026
The College Football Playoff, ESPN, and TNT Sports have announced kick times and...
03/06/2026
RED Digital Cinema will exhibit at Cine Gear Expo 2026 (Booth 33, June 5-6, Universal Studios Lot), hosting three panels and hands-on product demonstrations.
P...
03/06/2026
Roku has announced the Soccer Zone, a dedicated hub for FIFA World Cup 2026 content available across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Argent...
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.
