Women's History Month: Women Are Shaping the Future of Music

March is Women's History Month—a time to recognize and celebrate the contributions of women throughout history. In the music industry, women have dominated over the past year with chart-topping albums, record-breaking achievements, and multi-million (some, billion) dollar world tours.

Artists like Beyoncé and Taylor Swift have topped the charts, built business empires, and proven that women can be both creative powerhouses and savvy entrepreneurs.

This past year at the Grammys, Beyoncé won Album of the Year for her country-inspired album Cowboy Carter, bringing her total Grammy wins to 35 and solidifying her status as the most awarded artist in Grammys history. Meanwhile, Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour became the highest-grossing tour of all time, marking a new peak in her career. Not only was her tour a massive success, but she also won 10 awards at the Billboard Music Awards, making her the artist with the most career wins in the award show's history. On top of that, just before, she became the only artist to win the Grammys' Album of the Year award four times.

Meanwhile, influential artists like Billie Eilish and Olivia Rodrigo have enticed audiences with their unique storytelling through both of their most recent albums, Hit me Hard and Soft and GUTS. At only 22 and 23 years old, they have proven to the world that young women are shaping the future of music for the next generations of artists. 

Hip-hop and rap, a genre once dominated by men, have evolved thanks to artists like Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B, Doechii, and Nicki Minaj. These women have not only redefined the genre but also challenged long-standing norms, commanding the same respect as their male counterparts. At the Grammys this past year, Doechii became one of only three women to ever win the award for Best Rap Album.

In addition to her Grammy win, Doechii was named Billboard’s Woman of the Year, an honor that recognizes female artists who have made a significant impact on the music industry through their artistry, influence, and achievements. Past recipients include Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Cardi B, and Madonna, further solidifying Doechii’s place among the most powerful women in music today.

SZA has made a name for herself over the past couple of years. At the 2024 Grammys, she led the pack with nine nominations, including Album of the Year and Record of the Year. Earlier this year, she took the stage at the Super Bowl LIX halftime show alongside Kendrick Lamar. Their performance captivated the crowd and was a powerful celebration of hip-hop culture.

Global music platforms have recently started recognizing female success—and let me just say, it’s about time. Spotify reported that 18% of artists generating at least $1 per year were women, an increase from just 14% in 2017.

This Women’s History Month, let’s celebrate the women who have shaped, dominated, and revolutionized the music industry. They have given us powerful lyrics, groundbreaking performances, record-breaking tours, and chart-topping albums.

Women in music are not just making history—they are the future of the industry.