Women in music
The SAE Institute Milan project promoting equal gender representation within the creative industry.Discover all the initiatives!
2026 – Bridging the gap between education and industry: being women in the music business
The sixth chapter of Women in Music is now open. This year, it aims to delve into the condition of young female professionals entering the music world, with a specific focus on the role of educational pathways as potential facilitators for entering the industry.
Despite a widespread narrative portraying the music landscape as increasingly inclusive and characterized by a reduction in gender barriers, the data collected last year regarding the economic condition of women presents a less encouraging picture, highlighting the need for more precise empirical verification.
The initiative’s goal is to analyze the potential gap between the collective narrative and the objective data regarding women’s access to the music industry. Specifically, we intend to monitor industry entry pathways based on empirical evidence, focusing on the careers of young women pursuing education in Audio Production, the time required for actual integration into the job market, and the observable differences compared to male career paths. Through this approach, the initiative aims to contribute to a more accurate understanding of gender dynamics in the Music Business and provide valuable insights to guide fairer and more inclusive educational practices and industry policies.
Fill out the survey
2025 – Gender inequalities in the relationship between women, music, and money
SAE Institute reaffirms its commitment to the Women in Music project by presenting, in its fifth edition, the results of the extensive research launched the previous year, #DonneMuDe.
The survey, submitted to a self-selected sample of female professionals operating in various capacities within the Italian music industry, aimed to investigate perceptions and experiences regarding money and the recognition of compensation for their artistic and technical skills.
What emerged is an evolving picture—though not statistically representative—where, although economic value is considered fundamental and an indicator of professional growth, difficulties and resistance in managing this aspect still persist. In order to move from theory to practice, SAE Institute organized a financial awareness workshop aimed specifically at female students and young music professionals, led by an industry expert.
The main findings of the research are available in the 2025 Report.
Despite showing a utilitarian approach to money, more than 30% delegate its management to a trusted third party. When prompted, they rationally recognize the importance of money as a lever for empowerment, recognition of their work, and professional positioning. However, they highlight encountering difficulties especially in fee negotiation—a crucial moment—followed by payment collection.
Even more interesting are the narrative sections, where the interviewees shared direct or indirect episodes that still highlight the presence of clear disparities. One respondent perfectly sums up her professional reality (not being taken seriously): “I am not perceived as a professional, but as a little girl playing with her dad’s tools.”
The research results were discussed during a talk moderated by project coordinator Alessandra Micalizzi, featuring the participation of Anna Zò, Operations Manager at Music Innovation Hub and lecturer in the Music Business course at SAE Institute, Elasi, and Emanuela Ligarò (Gold Mass), well-known Italian producers, along with Anna Carol, singer-songwriter.
Download the report here, or take a look at the survey.
Press coverage
- Women and music, more specialized and less paid: “you do it because you like it” – Il Sole 24 ore
- Who really makes money in music? Spoiler: not women – Il Quotidiano Nazionale
- Female remuneration and music: what the SAE Institute’s Women in Music research reveals – Italiani News
- Women in music: why do they earn less than men? – Donna Moderna
- Bodies on Display – “Si Cambia Musica” Podcast
2024 – Donne #MuDe: Women, Music, and Money
Women in Music reaches its fourth edition, this time focusing on the relationship between women and money within the music industry.
The research launch roundtable featured industry professionals, academics, and representatives from institutions and associations such as Nur Al Habash (Italia Music Export), Celeste Costantino (Fondazione Una Nessuna Centomila), Michela Galluccio (Restart), Rossella Lo Faro (FIMI), Giulia Sesini (Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore), and Isa Maggi (Stati Generali delle Donne). Their dialogue with the research coordinator and SAE lecturer Alessandra Micalizzi marked the starting point of the new #DonneMuDe research.
#DonneMuDe aims to explore the perceptions and, above all, the experiences of women working in music who, despite being industry professionals, are excluded from fee negotiations, delegating the discussion to the nearest male figure. This work seeks to understand the dynamics of this phenomenon and identify potential concrete actions, both in terms of support and education, to reverse this trend.
The event represented the first phase of the study promoted by SAE Institute: through dialogue with experts who are close to the topic by direct experience or research, we will validate the research tools and work toward the launch of the survey.
Take part in the survey and fill out the questionnaire!
2023 – POCHE. The gender issue in the Italian cultural industry
This essay, published by Write Up Books and endorsed by Women in Games, investigates the gender gap in the Italian cultural sector. It brings together studies and research that explore, through different approaches, the reality within the three main industries under investigation: Music, Audiovisual (Film and TV), and Games.
The publication is available in Open Access at this link.
2022 – Women in Music | Scholarship
Aiming to solidify its role as a cultural hub in creative media and to fight the gender gap within the industry, SAE Milan, in collaboration with Equaly and POCHE Cltv, launches the WOMEN IN MUSIC contest.
Aimed exclusively at future female students enrolling in Electronic Music Production and Urban Music Production, the contest is designed to award two scholarships for these courses.
Candidates can submit a proposal to compete for their Scholarship. Once the contest wraps up, an event will be held to announce the winning Scholarship recipients.
DOWNLOAD THE GUIDELINES
FILL OUT THE FORM TO APPLY
APPLICATION DEADLINE: FEBRUARY 20, 11:59 PM
2021 – Women in MUSIC INDUSTRY | RESEARCH PROJECT
An exploratory study on women in the Italian music industry
The pandemic left a deep mark on the creative industry, including the music business, disproportionately affecting precarious workers and women. Sparked by this reflection during one of the most complex historical moments of our time, SAE Institute launched an exploratory study on the gender gap in the music industry, engaging women who work in the field in various capacities. The research brought to light both cyclical and structural aspects of a gap that still struggles to be closed today.
