Woman to Woman
Women like Doja Cat and Dua Lipa seem to be praised and adored the world over by music fans but it's no secret that men have dominated behind the scenes in the music industry for decades. More and more we see women like Holly G from the Black Opry Revue and Gayle Dillman from The Ladybug Music Festival stepping up to take the reins of the music industry to allow for more diversity and inclusion.
Allies are important to any movement for reform but it’s vital to have leaders that represent the communities that are shouting to be heard. We asked several music industry professionals what they would say to themselves in moments of doubt right before the leap in hopes to inspire anyone looking for that extra push to follow their music business dream.
(Photo Credit: Amanda Swiger of Swiger Photography)
Name: Elaine Rasnake
Job Title and time spent in this field: Mastering Engineer since 2015. Owner of Daughterboard Audio since 2019.
Company: Daughterboard Audio
If I were to give myself some advice during early moments of doubt, honestly I had to remind myself of this last week, I would say to remember that the quiet periods of no work are okay.
In the beginning, as a business owner with pretty high anxiety, I would often start to question whether I was "good enough" whenever there was a period of time when I had no work coming in. My brain would create this long false narrative that I had made a small error in a project, the client had told everyone how terrible I was, and no one would ever want to work with me again. It's kind of funny reading that back and hearing how ridiculous it sounds but it felt very real at the time.
So during any period of time where the workload is light or non-existent, remember that the quiet is okay. It's most likely because people are enjoying their own quiet time, working on new projects, or they just don't know I exist yet. Overall, it is really important to remember to stay grounded, be kind, and care for your music community because they will 1000% return the love that you put into them.
(Left: Deanna DiLandro, Right Madison Hetterly. Photo Credit Sara Laufer)
Name: Deanna DiLandro & Madison Hetterly
Job Titles: DiLandro; Project Manager, Event Coordinator, A&R, Artist Manager. Over 5 years in Project Management, Event Coordination & A&R.
Hetterly; Co-Founder at Weird Sister Records, Founder of Indie Witches, Marketing Coordinator at Baby's All Right, Artist Manager (Rosehardt), 6 years in music industry.
Company: Weird Sister Records
DiLandro; Don't be afraid to disrupt. Challenge the norms. Your perspective is valuable and NEEDED. Trust your ear, your intelligence and your intuition. Speak up and speak loudly about issues you care about, especially in rooms full of men. It is in these rooms that your input is needed the most. Continue to remind yourself of your worth in moments of doubt. Don't compare yourself to others. You're on a unique path and it's yours for a reason. Be present in the work you're doing and give yourself credit. Given the circumstances you're doing exceptionally well. Fuel yourself with music and people that matter to you. Step into your own power and step into it firmly because no one can take what has always been yours. Be confident but lean into your empathy- it is your strongest tool.
Hetterly; In this industry there truly are no rules so don't feel the need to fit into a mold and silence yourself. You're stronger and smarter than you think you are! The community you'll find through Weird Sister is so incredibly valuable so keep pushing forward and don't listen to those doubting you along the way. This life is too short to spend in a life-sucking job with people who don't support you but there is a light at the end of the tunnel! And in moments of doubt- turn on some Charli XCX and push through <3
(Photo credit Nathalie Antonov)
Name: Lauren Kuhne
Job Title and time spent in this field: Artist Manager (less than 1 year), Singer/Songwriter (10+ years), Former Director of Special Events (1 year)
Company: Currently Sole proprietorship
Take the leap and don't look back. You are able to, and responsible for, creating a life that you're excited about - and it doesn't have to look like everybody else's. It's possible to balance all the pieces that you want together - creative work, passion, flexibility AND stability. Have confidence in your abilities to continually adapt and learn and connect with others in any industry, while also knowing that you won't get everything right the first time - but that's not an indicator that you should give up.
Trust your gut and listen to your body, prioritize your physical AND mental health first, set good boundaries and be protective of how and where you spend your energy. Notice what energizes you and what drains you – and chase working on the things that energize you as much as you can. Never stay in a toxic environment to the point where it depletes you & erodes your self-worth – if that’s the case, take action to find your next stepping stone and move on (this applies both professionally and personally).
Remember to pause and think before reacting and making major decisions, and stay open to life's possibilities that you may not have considered. I started in music as a singer/songwriter and always will be, but I never set out to be an artist manager, and so far, working in the business side of the industry while helping a wonderful friend reach her goals has been some of the most rewarding work I've done. Above all, take action, trust the process, and know that what’s meant for you won’t miss you.
