womeninmusic.org

What is Women in Music?

Women in Music is a global non-profit organization that works to advance equality, visibility and opportunities for women in the music industry. Founded in 1985, it operates as a 501(c)3 non-profit and runs a network of local chapters — the site describes 25 chapters worldwide, from Los Angeles to Japan. Its stated mission is carried through education, support, empowerment and recognition.

What it actually does

• Education and career development: Events and resources organized by its headquarters and chapter teams, aimed at professional growth in music.
• Networking: A global community that includes label executives, music-tech entrepreneurs, artist managers, songwriters, musicians, attorneys, recording engineers, agents, publicists, studio owners, publishers and marketers.
• Mentorship and connection: Members range from students seeking mentors to senior executives, so the network spans early-career and established professionals.
• Recognition and advocacy: The organization frames its work around advancing women in the musical arts, not just hosting social events.

Who it is for

Women in Music suits people at almost any career stage. A student or early-career songwriter might join for mentorship and chapter events; a mid-career manager or engineer might use it for industry connections and professional development; a company or executive might participate as a partner or sponsor. Allies are explicitly included as members, so it is not limited to women.

Ways to participate

A practical next step

Decide what you need most: if it is local contacts and events, look for a chapter near you first; if it is broader industry access and resources, membership is the more direct route. If you represent a company rather than an individual, the partnership path is the relevant one. Start at Women in Music and check whether a chapter exists in your area before committing.

How can I join Women in Music and what are the membership benefits?

Joining Women in Music means becoming a member of a global non-profit founded in 1985, with a stated mission to advance equality, visibility and opportunities for women in music. Membership is the main way to access its events, career resources and professional network; you can also take part by finding a local chapter, partnering, or donating.

How to join

• Start with the membership route on the site: the "Become a Member" path is described as the way to grow your career, access exclusive resources and events, and join a supportive community of women and allies.
• Check for a chapter near you. WIM describes 25 chapters worldwide, from LA to Japan, and invites people to find a chapter or apply to start one in their area. Chapter teams run their own events, so a local chapter is often the fastest route to in-person networking.
• If you are joining on behalf of a company or want to sponsor initiatives, use the partnerships route instead of individual membership.

H3: What members get The site groups benefits into two broad areas:

• Education and career development: exclusive events run by WIM headquarters and global chapter teams.
• Global network: access to a community spanning C-suite executives, industry professionals and students seeking mentors.
• Community: a stated membership base of thousands, representing many career stages and roles — label executives, music-tech entrepreneurs, artist managers, songwriters, musicians, attorneys, recording engineers, agents, publicists, studio owners, publishers and marketers.

Choosing your route

A practical next step: open the membership page and the chapter list side by side. If a chapter exists in your city, join the chapter community first and use membership for the broader resources; if not, membership plus the option to apply to start a chapter is the more useful path. For official details, see Women in Music.

How do I find or start a Women in Music chapter in my area?

Find a chapter through the Women in Music website's chapter network, which it describes as spanning 25 chapters worldwide, from Los Angeles to Japan. If there's no chapter near you, the organization says you can apply to start one.

Women in Music

How to find a chapter

• Go to the site's "Find your chapter" section and look for a location near you.
• If you're unsure which chapter fits, contact the organization through its site and ask which chapter covers your area.
• Chapter events and programming are run by local teams, so the chapter page is the best place to see what's happening nearby.

How to start a chapter

• Start with the "apply to start a chapter" route mentioned on the site.
• Expect to explain your local music community, potential members and what you'd bring as an organizer.
• Be ready to work with the national organization on branding, membership and programming.

A practical first step

If you're a student, early-career professional or longtime industry veteran, reach out to the nearest chapter before applying to start a new one. A conversation with an existing chapter can tell you whether your area is already served, and it gives you a realistic sense of what running a chapter involves.

What career development and networking resources does Women in Music offer to help advance my music industry career?

Women in Music (WIM) is a membership-based nonprofit focused on education, career development, and networking for women in the music industry. Its main career-advancement value comes from three things: access to exclusive events, a global professional network, and chapter-level community.

What members can access, according to WIM

• Education and career development events run by WIM’s headquarters and local chapters, ranging from LA to Japan. These are positioned as member-exclusive resources.
• A global network of industry professionals, described as spanning C-suite executives to students seeking mentors. That mix matters if you want both senior guidance and peer support.
• Chapter participation across roughly 25 chapters worldwide, with the option to apply to start a chapter if none exists locally.
• A broad member base that includes label executives, music-tech entrepreneurs, artist managers, songwriters, musicians, attorneys, recording engineers, agents, publicists, studio owners, publishers, and marketers.

How to use it for your career

If you are early-career, the highest-return move is usually joining a local chapter and attending its events consistently, rather than only consuming online resources. WIM’s chapter structure is the clearest path to repeated, in-person contact with people who work in your city or region. If you are mid-career or senior, the global network and chapter leadership roles are more useful for visibility, partnership, and mentoring others.

A practical next step

Decide what you need first:

Then check the chapter list and event calendar before paying for membership, so you can confirm there is active programming in your area. Start at Women in Music.

How can my company partner with Women in Music to support gender equity in the music industry?

Partnership with Women in Music is handled through its partnerships team, and the organization describes several routes: supporting a specific global initiative, sponsoring a local chapter or event series, or building a broader partnership aimed at equity in the music industry. Because it operates as a 501(c)3 non-profit with chapters worldwide, the practical starting point is to contact that team with a clear idea of what your company wants to fund or contribute. See Women in Music.

Choose the partnership shape that fits your goal

What to put in your first message

• Your company, sector, and why gender equity in music is a fit rather than a generic CSR line.
• The route above that you're leaning toward, plus flexibility if WIM sees a better match.
• Whether you're offering funding, in-kind support (space, equipment, expertise), employee time, or a mix.
• Any constraints: geography, timing, approval cycles, or public-communication rules.
• A named contact on your side who can move things forward.

A realistic scenario

A mid-size music-tech company wants visibility in two markets and a credible equity story for recruiting. Rather than a single large sponsorship, it could sponsor one chapter event series in each market and offer staff as mentors, then review after a year whether a global initiative partnership is worth scaling into. That sequencing keeps the commitment proportional while you learn how the relationship works.

Decision criterion

If your main aim is hiring and local presence, chapter or event sponsorship usually fits better. If your aim is industry-wide positioning or funding a specific program, ask about a global initiative or a broader partnership. Donations are also possible and are described as fuelling the organization alongside membership dues, so a company that wants to give without a sponsorship structure can use that route.

Next step: contact the partnerships team through the site and ask which chapters or initiatives currently need support, what sponsorship levels exist, and what reporting partners receive.

How can I donate to Women in Music and what impact do donations have?

You can donate directly through the Women in Music website, which describes itself as a 501(c)3 non-profit fueled by membership dues and donations. The site's "Get Involved" section lists "Make a Donation" as one of three main ways to participate, alongside becoming a member and becoming a partner. There is also a separate path for larger or more targeted support: contacting the partnerships team to sponsor a global initiative, a local chapter, or an event series.

What donations support

Based on the organization's own description, donations fund a global network working to "educate, empower and advance women in music." Concretely, that network includes:

• 25 chapters worldwide, from Los Angeles to Japan, with the site inviting people to find a chapter or apply to start one in their area.
• Educational and career-development events run by the headquarters and chapter teams.
• Networking and mentorship connections between industry professionals and students.

So a donation is best understood as funding infrastructure — chapters, events, and community programs — rather than a single earmarked service.

How to decide your approach

A practical next step

If your goal is simply to give, start with the donation option on the site. If you have a specific interest — say, backing a chapter near you or sponsoring an event series — the partnership route will get you a more tailored conversation. Since the site does not publish donation tiers or a breakdown of how funds are allocated, you may want to ask directly about those specifics before committing a significant amount.

For broader context on the organization, see Women in Music.