BumaStemra research: Female music creators still underrepresented and earning less, but progress is visible.

BumaStemra presents the results of a study on the position of female music creators in the Netherlands, following up on the same research from 2018. Female music creators still face significant disadvantages compared to their male counterparts, but slow progress is visible, with an increase in female members and greater awareness of the challenges they face.

In 2018, 13% of lyricists and composers affiliated with BumaStemra were women; by 2024, this has risen to 16%, with higher percentages among younger members. Among music authors aged 19 to 35, 23% are women, and in the youngest group (under 18), the figure is even 31%.

The gender pay gap remains substantial: men receive nearly three times the BumaStemra income of women. However, there is a trend of rising earnings for women: the average income of the top 100 female members has increased by 68% over the past eight years, while their male counterparts saw only a 3% decline.

There is also slight progress in the visibility of female role models: 35% of women can now name three female role models, an 11% increase. However, the perception of the music industry as a “man’s world” remains strong, with 68% of women sharing this view, compared to 25% of men.

Despite these improvements, the findings show that female music creators still face significant challenges. 72% of female respondents expressed concerns about their position in the sector, compared to 45% of men. This is supported by 2024 interviews, in which women reported often being assumed to be “the singer”—even when they are the songwriter or producer—or facing assumptions that they lack technical or instrumental knowledge.

There are hopeful signs regarding initiatives to improve the position of women: 64% of female respondents believe that gender equality initiatives have a positive impact.