In honor of Women's History Month, we reached out to some of the most driven, thoughtful, and inspiring women working across the music industry today, from licensing and creative marketing to distribution, nonprofit leadership, academia, and production. What better way to close out the month than with the voices that deserve to be heard not just in March, but all year long.
In our conversations, a few threads ran through loud and clear: relationships are the real infrastructure of this business, sustainability is personal before it's professional, and the most powerful thing you can do once you've earned your seat at the table is pull up a chair for someone else.
Whether it's Kristin Graziani building systems at Stem designed to give promising talent meaningful responsibility early, Meirav Savyon taking the time to understand what actually motivates the people around her, or Jessica Messier's hard-won reminder that how you show up for your peers matters just as much as how you perform for leadership, these women aren't just navigating the industry, they're actively reshaping it. Toby Lightman is channeling her own creative journey into mentorship, helping women find their voice in production. Michelle Santosuosso is watching the next generation arrive with a clarity of purpose that makes the future feel genuinely bright.
From the rise of female artists breaking chart records to more women stepping into production, engineering, and executive roles, there's real momentum. With that momentum comes real responsibility. As Jessica puts it, when you get into a position of power, the question isn't just how you got there, it's who you're bringing with you.
Women's History Month may end today, but the voices driving this conversation aren't going anywhere.
Kristin Graziani
President | Stem
In your current role, how do you approach supporting or creating opportunities for others?
I think a lot about leverage - more specifically how to create systems and structures and a business that is durable - because that can open doors for more people than I could individually. Practically that includes investing in talent early, giving people meaningful responsibility maybe earlier than other executives would and exposing promising talent to how we make decisions so we can set them up to make big decisions for us one day.
What does a sustainable career in the music industry look like to you?
To preface this, I've only been in the industry for what is about to be a decade .. prior to that I built my career in tech. But I think sustainability in any industry is about a few things: creating real value for the marketplace, building real relationships and real friendships, and staying adaptable .. thinking about what comes next (you don't need to be on the cutting edge but you do need to stay at least a few steps ahead). And finally, sustainability means regulating yourself physically and mentally. For me, selectivity is my chosen path for survival - that's how we run Stem and how I manage other aspects of my life as well.
Meirav Savyon
Head of Creative Licensing | Baxter House Music
In your current role, how do you approach supporting or creating opportunities for others?
In my current role, I support and create opportunities for others by really getting to the root of what motivates them, what makes them happy, and what they want their careers and lives to look like. Taking the time to understand someone’s passions and goals is incredibly important because it helps people feel seen and valued.
I also try to create an environment where people feel safe being honest about challenges. I expect a very high level of work, but I also know that no one can operate at 100% all the time. It’s important that people feel comfortable asking for help, learning from mistakes, and leaning on their team when they need support.
I’m a big believer in balance as well. People do their best work when they have space to recharge and enjoy their lives outside of work.
Another way I support growth is by making meaningful introductions, connecting people with peers, mentors, and role models who can help them develop and expand their networks. Being recognized, supported, and connected can make a huge difference, especially in the middle stages of someone’s career.
Ultimately, I find that if you surround yourself with exceptional talent and create an environment where people feel supported and motivated to do their best work, everyone wins. I really enjoy being someone who helps others feel connected, fulfilled, and excited about what they’re building in their careers.
Hallie Cross
Director, Creative Marketing | Save The Music Foundation
What perspective or lesson has most shaped how you show up in your work today?
Ahead of starting my first role in music, my mentor and former boss told me something that has stuck with me ever since: 95% of the work is working with people.
Working relationships have been one of the most grounding forces in my career. Finding your “get-it-done” counterparts early on is invaluable. It sounds simple, but showing up as someone who can be trusted is everything. The relationships you build in the trenches carry you much farther than you expect.
I’ve been incredibly fortunate to work alongside brilliant colleagues, and many of those relationships have evolved into creative collaborations years later, even as we have moved into different corners of the industry. Like any business, the music industry runs on trust. When you lead with that, everything else tends to follow.
Where have you seen meaningful progress for women in the music industry, and where do you feel change is still needed?
There is a thoughtfulness and intentionality that women bring to this industry, and that kind of care is powerful. In recent years there has been a huge emphasis around community and collective support among women in music which feels meaningful. Shout out to organizations like She Is The Music and EqualizeHer!
The music industry can still be a tricky place to advocate for yourself when so much of the work is selfless. You are often working overtime to advance the careers of artists, and your own advancement can quietly take a backseat.
While the number of women entering the industry is increasing, there is still room for growth when it comes to leadership representation. Executive leadership at major labels remains overwhelmingly male. The industry has made strides, but true equity means creating pathways to leadership that are accessible and sustainable for women. I would love to see more women in decision making roles, shaping strategy and culture from the top down.
Jessica Messier
Music Consultant | Former Head of Indie Label Partnerships | TikTok
What perspective or lesson has most shaped how you show up in your work today?
Honestly? Being a good person to work with matters more than people think.
Over my 20+ years in the music industry, I’ve learned that being kind, collaborative, and someone people genuinely enjoy being around can go a long way. It’s not just a “nice to have,” it can actually shape your career. I know this firsthand. Early in my career at Columbia Records, during a round of layoffs, I was told that when decisions were being made, and my name was on that list, key decision-makers spoke up and said, “We have to find a place for her. People love working with her, and she brings great energy to the room.” That stuck with me. Because as we all know, this industry changes quickly… and let’s be real — I’ve also been laid off other times where that didn’t save me LOL. But it reinforced something important: how you show up does matter, and people remember it.
It sounds obvious: be nice, be a team player, be a great coworker but, you’d be surprised how often people overlook this. And here’s the part I think matters most: don’t just “manage up” or focus on impressing senior leadership. How you show up for your peers and direct teammates is even more important. Those are the people you grow with. They’re the ones who will recommend you, hire you, collaborate with you, and eventually lead teams and companies alongside you.
The people around you today are shaping your opportunities tomorrow & show up accordingly.
What gives you optimism about the future of women in the music business?
The women I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and actually becoming real friends with, because of this industry… that’s what gives me optimism.
Over the years, I’ve worked alongside, learned from, and built genuine friendships with some of the most creative, smart, driven, hardworking, and honestly, cool AF women in this business. Some were coworkers, some were introduced through mutual friends at a show, others were those “we just met on a shoot and now we’re bonded for life” situations. The common thread? We all frickin’ love music. And the women I surround myself with work their butts off, show up for each other, and are just good humans — inside and out. They’re talented, yes, but they also don’t get too caught up in the ego that can come with this industry. That combination is powerful.
What’s even more exciting is seeing the next generation coming up. So many of the younger women I’ve mentored and met over the last few years are beyond inspiring. Watching that evolution and knowing what the next gen of female leaders in the music industry are capable of, makes me feel really hopeful about where things are headed. The industry has also shifted in meaningful ways since I first dipped my toe in. We’re seeing more women step into roles that were historically male-dominated: executives, artist managers, tour managers, front of house, audio engineers, the list goes on... That progress matters. Now, let’s be real, we still have a long way to go before anything close to true equality. But I do believe the next wave of female leaders is moving the industry in the right direction.
And with that comes responsibility. It’s on all of us to make sure we’re in the room, using our voices, and claiming our seat at the table. And when we get into positions of power, we have to look around and ask: who else can we bring with us? Because at the end of the day… as Queen B says: Who run the world? Girls.
Toby Lightman
Recording Artist, Songwriter, Producer, and Governor of the Recording Academy's New York Chapter
What perspective or lesson has most shaped how you show up in your work today?
The main lesson that I learned is to follow my gut. When you connect genuinely to what you are creating and don’t force it, everything else comes easy. You can stand behind your music whole heartedly and feel truly represented. Never second guess what your gut is telling you.
In your current role, how do you approach supporting or creating opportunities for others?
Through my own process of learning how to produce my own music and find my voice, I have made it a personal mission to support other women in doing the same. I mentor through different organizations like She is the Music, Grammy U and Symphonic as well as speaking out as much as I can to show women, particularly of my generation, that it’s never too late to grab the reins.
Michelle Santosuosso
Professor of Practice | Syracuse University
Where have you seen meaningful progress for women in the music industry, and where do you feel change is still needed?
There are more women in leadership positions across record labels, publishing companies, and live music than at any time in the music business' history. That's the biggest sign of progress I've seen. Whether it's Wendy Goldstein at Republic, Jaqueline Saturn at Virgin, Taylor Lindsey at Sony Music Nashville or Jody Gershon at Universal—there have never been this many strong female leaders at the top. This is a dynamic change that has a major impact when it comes to mentorship because in a relationship-driven industry like music, access to senior leaders can make or break a career. Female executives are proven to be more collaborative, and that representation in leadership creates more inclusive company cultures as well. But the change that is still needed is in the disparity in boardrooms, as equity partners, and in the general pay for these positions. Women are still not making the same money for the same work!
What gives you optimism about the future of women in the music business?
I see this clearly in my classes among students. Gen Z women are built different. For the last two to three years it seems, the women have outnumbered men seeking work in the music industry and their goals are not regulated to positions that were traditionally female-centric such as marketing or promo—I have women who want to go on the road as Tour Managers, are already working on the side as Artist Managers, or plan on continuing their education to become Music Attorneys. These young women are smart, driven, hardworking and have strong ethics grounded in purpose and passion. It makes me so hopeful for the future!