Girl Power in Motion

There is a significant “girl math” problem lurking in the music industry, a gap that many felt was unaddressed until someone started shouting about it. The numbers paint a stark picture: women account for only 37% of artists on Billboard’s Year-End Hot 100 chart. This disparity deepens when you look at creation roles; women represent just 18.9% of songwriters and a mere 5.9% of music producers. Over thirteen years, more than 93% of charting songs were created without a single woman producer. It’s not just a statistical anomaly; it reflects a much larger imbalance in market share and opportunity.

While the current chart certainly features powerhouse female artists like The Taylors, Sabrinas, and Beyonces, founder Andie Aronow argues that this visibility is only the tip of the iceberg. Underneath the surface, the opportunities available to women across the entire industry remain profoundly unequal. This systemic gap inspired Aronow to create Women That Rock in 2018—a platform dedicated to amplifying female talent, both in person and online.

Women That Rock acts as a vital music discovery hub, using a thriving online presence to spotlight emerging artists. Beyond digital spotlights, the organization organizes concert series throughout New York and is actively pursuing live experiences. This summer, the group is hitting the road with a mini-tour featuring Abby Holliday and Charli Adams, kicking off in Washington, D.C., and moving through Brooklyn, Boston, Chicago, and Nashville.

Aronow’s path to founding the organization was deeply rooted in personal experience. Starting her career performing jingles for companies like Hasbro gave her an early perspective on the industry, but it was her time spent studying at the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at NYU Tisch School of the Arts that sparked a shift. Internships at major players like the Recording Academy and Geffen Records confirmed what she suspected: despite talent, systemic biases limited female access to power behind the scenes.

She found that many artists, particularly women, consistently sought her out for advice on everything from contract negotiations and distribution strategies to booking shows. This experience solidified Aronow’s realization: simply identifying a market gap wasn’t enough; an active solution was needed. She envisioned something larger than just managing individual careers, leading to the creation of Women That Rock, an entity designed to empower the entire female artist community.

The response to this initiative has been incredible. The platform quickly grew, boasting 65,000 followers on Instagram, filled with messages from women eager to be involved and contribute. Aronow found that by focusing on finding gaps in the marketplace and filling them—often promoting artists for free—she could build a powerful movement.

When it came time to expand the organization into live events, Aronow saw a chance to support independent artists more effectively. A tour format provided an ideal vehicle to channel promotional efforts and resources toward artists who are already touring but often struggle with sustainability. However, securing funding proved challenging. While some organizations successfully raise money for one-off shows, expanding to a full tour requires navigating complex brand partnerships, which often prove restrictive.

This experience highlighted the systemic roadblocks facing women in music. Aronow believes that while high-profile stars create noise, real change happens when we address the numbers and statistics. She advocates for more than just visibility; she calls for fundamental shifts in how the industry operates. This includes demanding that studios prioritize hiring equally represented female staff, implementing training programs for women looking to enter production roles, and ensuring that labels and bookers actively sign and promote a diverse roster of artists.

Ultimately, Women That Rock serves as an affirming entity for developing indie artists, offering a crucial space where talent can flourish without being overlooked. By focusing on the community, fostering intersectional inclusivity—embracing non-binary and trans women alongside all other marginalized groups—and demanding accountability, organizations like this are building a future where opportunity truly levels the playing field for everyone in music.