CONNECT // COMPRESS // CHANGE is a project that aims to increase the amount of young women and non-binaries in music production. The music industry is underrepresented by women. 2% of all music producers and songwriters internationally are women, which has negative effects on the quality and creativity in the music world. Together with partners in both industry, civil society and education, we will greatly strengthen young women and non-binaries' position in music production and contribute to a more varied, equal and creative Nordic music life. We intend to work with young girls and non-binaries aged 13-25 years as well as female and non-binary leaders / educators / role models in music production. We will focus on reaching and including young people from socio-economically weak areas in particular. A basic prerequisite is to start with the youngest. In our case, these are both children (under 18 years) and young adults (over 18 years). We intend to work with at least 800 active participants per year. During the project, we will work a lot with young employed leaders who are close to the target group. We will continuously evaluate and develop our efforts together with the target group. We see that we are at our best when we adapt the development directly according to the target group's feedback. This also means that the design of the activities may differ somewhat between different geographical, cultural and socio-economic conditions. The project is a completely new co-operation project between three Nordic parties where all three will carry out activities in their country. The lack of female music producers is equally relevant in all our countries. All three parties are selected based on the fact that they have a large network, commitment to both music and young people and the capacity to carry out larger projects. Each organization has worked with the issue of gender equality in music before the project idea began to take shape. Our goal with this project is to increase the proportion of women and non-binaries in music production and contribute to more diverse, equal and creative Nordic music. IMPACT AND RESULTS Intended Impact • More young women and non-binaries get tools and access to the opportunity to become music producers • Change the view that music production is something that only boys do • Created community and platforms for women, non-binaries and organizations where participants feel supported and have a positive context • Contribute to more diverse, equal and creative Nordic music. Project aims and results: • Increased number of educations and activities aimed at helping young women and non-binaries to become music producers by at least 50% (compared to what was present in all the partner organizations' activities at the start of the project) • Developed a toolbox for recruiting and engaging young women and non-binaries to begin with music production • Visible female and non-binary music producers through digital and analog presentations and gigs that have a total of at least 500 000 visits / views / listens • Produced impact material for the industry • Created two events with over 500 visitors per event to spread tools and methods developed during the project • Created at least three different types of networks with regular meetings and relevant content ACTIVITIES Within the project we will: • Develop and test a toolbox to increase the recruitment of young girls and non-binaries into music production • Develop a course plan for transfer with coherent educational steps and content from interest to professional music producer • Develop and test a training material for self-empowerment that can be implemented in training activities around music production • Create digital information platforms and disseminate the project's goals, knowledge and tools • Arrange two large dissemination events • Train leaders • Start four networks • Hold digital seminars for stakeholders and participants • Arrange several activities for participants aimed at engaging more young women and non-binaries in music production
MAIN OBJECTIVES Our goal was to increase the proportion of women and non-binary people in music production in the Nordic countries and contribute to a more varied, equal and content-rich Nordic music scene. EFFECT AND RESULT OBJECTIVES Effects • More young women and non-binary women are given tools and access to the opportunity to become music producers • Change the view that music production is something only guys do • Create community and platforms for young women and non-binary people and organisations within the issue where participants feel supported and get a positive context • Contribute to a more content-rich Nordic musical scene Results: • Increased number of trainings and activities aimed at helping young women and non-binary people to become music producers by at least 50% (compared to what was present in all the partner organizations' activities at the start of the project) • Developed a toolkit to recruit and engage young women and non-binary people to start with music production • Featured female and non-binary music producers through digital and analog presentations and gigs totaling at least 1,000,000 listens • Produced advocacy material for the industry • Created two events with over 750 visitors/event
Internationally, about 2% of all music producers and songwriters are women, which in turn reduces the artistic breadth of music creation. There are few young girls or non-binary people who can or dare to take the step to learn to produce music. The few women and non-binary people who have entered face a male-dominated industry with many norms and attitudes that disadvantage women and non-binary people. This problem exists in all three Nordic countries that participated in the project. We wanted to initiate a process of change so that the situation for young women and non-binary people would improve. We knew that to begin with we needed to create the conditions for young women and non-binary people to want, be able and dare to start. By working together to collect and develop our methods and ways of working, we wanted to be able to reach out to and welcome the target group in a better way. In order for the target group to continue, development opportunities are needed in the form of networks, stages, educational materials and a receptive industry. Today, the target group within this development stage is very small in each country, but by working in three Nordic countries, we wanted to give them access to a much larger network.