Female* producers wanted: Female* Producer Prize enters the third round

Music Women* Germany and Sony Music are launching the third edition of the jointly initiatedFemale*1 Producer Prize. Female* producers of all music genres can apply until 15 May. This year, the prize will be divided into the categories 'Producer' and 'Self-Producing Artist' for the first time. The jury includes hit producer and musician Purple Disco Machine.

Women are still underrepresented in music production. In 2021, just 2% of the producers involved in the top 100 singles charts were women2. The initiators of the Female* Producer Prize want to counteract this situation and promote and network female* producers. From today until 15 May 2024, female* producers of all music genres can apply online: www.femaleproducerprize.com

Award winners* in two categories for the first time

"We are delighted to be honouring award winners in two categories - Producer and Self-Producing Artist - for the first time this year. Our aim is to promote excellent female* music producers and give them the spotlight they deserve. Successful role models are key when it comes to paving the way for up-and-coming female* producers and thus making the future of the German music landscape more diverse and richer," says Jovanka v. Wilsdorf, initiator of the Female* Producer Prize.

Making female* producers visible

"With the knowledge and network of Sony Music, we want to support female* music producers in establishing themselves in the industry and thus further increase the visibility of women in a very male-dominated music industry. It is of great importance that women and men alike have the opportunity to work together to honour and utilise the diversity of ideas and perspectives," says Henrike Blome, Senior Manager A&R at Four Music/Sony Music and jury member of the Female* Producer Prize. Also part of this year's jury is producer and star DJ Purple Disco Machine, who has produced hits such as 'Substitution', 'Hypnotised' and 'In the Dark'.

The Female* Producer Prize is aimed at up-and-coming female* music producers and those who have already established themselves professionally. "As the Federal Association of Music Women* Germany, we are delighted that female* producers from all over Germany are applying for this prize. We want to promote empowerment and sustainable collaborations," says Pamela Owusu-Brenyah, board member of Music Women* Germany. The quality of the productions and their own musical signature will be taken into account when judging the submissions.

Building a sustainable network

In addition to a sponsorship package, the winners will also receive a workshop day at the Sony Music Circle Studios in Berlin with high-calibre producers and experts from the music industry. The winners will also be included in the Female Producer Register at Sony Music and thus networked with various labels and artists. Other supporters of the initiative are Sony Music Publishing and the Female* Producer Collective, who will also offer coaching sessions and their broad network. In the last two years, a total of over 300 applications have been received, of which 12 female* music producers have been honoured, including Novaa, Nora Medín, Sheyda Minia and Mona Yim.

"The Female* Producer Prize creates visibility and helps women to be heard more in the male-dominated music scene," says Sheyda Minia, producer and winner of the Female* Producer Prize 2023.

The Female* Producer Prize is sponsored by RBX GmbH with funds from the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media as well as Thomann Musikhaus, Sony Music Entertainment, Sony Music Publishing and the SAE Institute.

Die Jury des Produzent*innenpreises 2024

• Purple Disco Machine, Produzent / Star-DJ, mehr als 3 Millionen verkaufte Tonträger und knapp 12 Millionen monatliche Spotify-Hörer*innen. Hits u.a. Hypnotized, Substitution, In The Dark
• Henrike Blome, Senior Managerin A&R bei Four Music/Sony Music
• Isabel Gracefield, Producer / Mixer / Engineer, Credits u.a. Adele, Sam Smith, Tom Walker, Dua Lipa, Dune 2
• Noraa, Musikerin / Songwriterin, Credits u.a. Sting, Cro, Feder, Fakear, Medine, Jugglerz
• Vincent v. Schlippenbach, Teil des Musikproduzententeams „The Krauts“, Credits u.a. Peter Fox, Beatsteaks, Marteria, SEEED, Dendemann, Miss Platnum
• Inéz, Singer / Composer, Credits u. a ÄTNA, Peter Fox, Dendemann, Nina Hagen, Solomun, Alli Neumann, Krauts, Marteria, BR Sinfonie Orchester
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1 By using the * we want to include all persons identifying as female and non-binary persons

2 Source: An analysis of the GfK Top 100 singles annual charts 2021