Behind the Curtain: Celebrating Rockstars of the Music Industry This Women's Herstory Month
- Stefani M.C. Janelli
- Mar 28
- 16 min read
This Women's Herstory Month, The MIC Music Group highlights the women, queer, and non-binary individuals who drive the business side of the music industry.
As a women-founded and run company, we understand the unique challenges they face—struggling to break in, fighting against steeper expectations, and enduring pay disparities in a male-dominated space.
Despite these obstacles, their unwavering dedication to music and the artists they support remains a testament to their resilience. We see these warriors, and we want to give them a platform to share their stories and voices. In this feature, we celebrate their strength, offering insight into their challenges, triumphs, and advice for others navigating the industry.
Ava Lynch
Company & Position:
Rose Peak LLC, Founder
Time in the Business:
~3 Years
Do you have a story about a time you were uplifted in the music industry space by another woman?
It took me many, many intro calls with artists to find my way to really starting my business. After close to 6 months of trial and error, I met Carina Marie who decided to be the first artist to take a chance on me. Not only did she enable me to start what has become Rose Peak, but she was an artist who was just building herself. She allowed me to build with her and we've been working together for over 2 years now. Not only that, but she led me to realizing what Rose Peak was meant to be and finding what it was I really loved about working with artists.
Do you have a piece of advice for girls just starting out that you wish you were told? I definitely do! The biggest lesson I can give is if you aren't given the opportunities, build them yourself. Prove yourself through your own initiative, find chances to put your skill to work, and then build on it. Rose Peak started out of a lack of opportunities being given to me, and I decided that meant I had to take matters into my own hands if I wanted to get to do what I wanted to do. Put your knowledge to the test, and don't be afraid to put yourself out there.
Find Ava Lynch on Instagram here!
" "Your network is your net worth," but to push it even further I'll point out that most women in the industry want to uplift one another. They know what it's like to be in your same position, and we're best as a united front rather than isolated and trying to take it on ourselves. So it's important to take time to connect with other like-minded women in the industry and find ways to build together." - Ava Lynch
Danielle Zanoni
Company & Position:
Songbirdz Studios, Founder
Time in the Business:
Vocal Coach, 5 Years Performer, over a decade
Do you have a story about a time you were uplifted in the music industry space by another woman?
Gosh...all of my previous vocal coaches. Since I was young each and every one of them reminded me to stand my ground, believe in myself, trust my gut, and above all - my voice. (Singing and speaking wise!) There is nothing like having a powerful circle of independent, kind, and supportive women in your life!
Do you have a piece of advice for girls just starting out that you wish you were told? I would just pass on the same advice as I've been given by my female mentors...never dull your shine to "fit in," and do not be afraid to say "NO" when something doesn't align with you. Have courage and confidence in who you are and what you do. The right people and opportunities will make themselves known to you.
"Stay true to your own voice, support your fellow ladies in the industry, and always remember WHY you do this and what music means to you and your journey." - Danielle Zanoni
Laura Nicaise
Company & Position:
Amplify Her Voice, Lead Photographer
Time in the Business:
10+ Years
Do you have a story about a time you were uplifted in the music industry space by another woman?
I am so so so fortunate in that most of my peers in the music industry are women, and all of them are fabulously supportive. My group of girls who work for Amplify are some of the most caring, genuine, and community-based people I know, and I am so thankful to be surrounded by such strong female forces!
Did you ever receive any great or powerful advice from another female in the music industry? When I was just starting to take photography more seriously, I asked as many questions as I could to elder female photographers. One introduced me to a phrase that I had never really thought about: "mutually beneficial." At the time, I was taking any and every photo shoot that came my way with the goal of gaining experience, adding to my portfolio, and spreading word of mouth. These are all great things, yes. But it is a special moment in one's career when you can start denying opportunities just because you don't want to do them. That sounds harsh, but above all else, I am a photographer because I like to create. Every photographer has their own version of what they consider "mutually beneficial," but for me, that usually just means I had fun while shooting and I got unique photos. All of this is to say - don't forget about what YOU want to create. Clients are what keep the business side of photography running, but YOU are what keeps the creativity and art flowing.
Do you have a piece of advice for girls just starting out that you wish you were told? Do not let anyone convince you that you aren't capable of "making it." Always come back to your roots - why were you interested in the music industry in the first place? For me, it was the thrill of live music and the joy of capturing someone doing what they're most passionate about. Come back to that in times of doubt. And know that "success" looks different for everyone.
Find Laura on Instagram here!
"When I was 17, I worked at a concert venue in my hometown for a few years, usually standing as security in the pavilion or scanning tickets. I have a ton of stories of the wild things I saw during those years, but the one thing I will never forget is when a man came up to me and said: "You know they pay you more if you smile?" It was infuriating because I was simply trying to do my job - not frowning or pouting, not being rude to patrons, just scanning the crowd like I was supposed to do. And to no one's surprise, NO - they DON'T pay you more if you smile!" - Laura Nicaise
Marilyn Reles Lozano
Company & Position:
Present PR, Founder & Publicist
Time in the Business:
15 Years
Do you have a story about a time you were uplifted in the music industry space by another woman?
Yes! In fact, this happened recently. I had the pleasure of working with a fellow publicist and business owner, Kaytee Long Becker. Kaytee is the Founder of DIY Publicity and a long-time Recording Academy member. She and I worked on two very exciting PR campaigns in 2024/early 2025. One of the artists was nominated for a Grammy this year! We went to the Grammys together and Kaytee guided me through my very first red carpet experience. It was incredible and I learned so much from her. I'm very grateful to have connected with Kaytee because she challenged me - she also supported me while I returned to work from maternity leave, which proved to be one of the most demanding times of my career.
Did you ever receive any great or powerful advice from another female in the music industry? This is a hard one to answer. Rather than quoting advice, I want to thank the President of Head Bitch Music, Jessica Vaughn, for always speaking her truth. Women like her inspire me to do the same.
Do you have a piece of advice for girls just starting out that you wish you were told? Wow, so much haha. A few things: 1) Be safe. Watch your drinks. Speaking from personal experience, industry parties and networking events can still attract predatorial behavior. 2) Always trust your instincts. If something feels off, it probably is. And if you think you can do something, you probably can. 3) The world is not set up for working mothers. Especially those who work full-time. Find a community that supports you, even if it's online. I had a very hard time running my business and trying to be the present and engaged mom that I want to be -- daycare is OK. Don't let influencers, family, etc. scare you out of it. You know what's best for your child. Don't compare your journey to others.
Find Marilyn on Instagram here!
"I honestly just want to thank all of the powerful women who stood up for justice at this year's Grammys. Alicia Keys spoke out on the current attacks against DEI and Chappell Roan raised awareness to the need for living wages for musicians. I have a deep appreciation for women in music who use their platform to educate and inspire. We need more of this!" - Marilyn Reles Lozano
Taylor Marie Contarino
Company & Position:
Black Box Music Marketing Agency, Digital Marketer
Time in the Business:
4 Years
Do you have a story about a time you were uplifted in the music industry space by another woman?
Totally! Honestly, everywhere I go in this industry, I meet empowering, inspiring, and kind women who uplift, empower, and teach me. I remember how empowered and nurtured I felt by one of my amazing, previous managers, as a PA on one of my very first production sets when I first began my music industry career at °1824 at Universal Music Group. One of my former managers, Dani, made me feel so welcome and definitely helped support me in a setting that felt really new to me. My former direct manager, Michelle, has always been so inspiring to me and has really helped me believe in myself.
Did you ever receive any great or powerful advice from another female in the music industry? Totally - I have had the most wonderful mentors in the music industry. My mentors have all encouraged me to work hard and stay disciplined - and, to also make sure to take care of myself and my health - both mental and physical - being a badass woman in this industry is amazing and incredible - but if you don't have your health - you won't be able to give 100% to anything, so I've learned that you must take care of yourself, your mental health, and your physical health before anything else. It's all about balance and self-preservation, along with the badassery!
Do you have a piece of advice for girls just starting out that you wish you were told? Absolutely, 100%! I believe that my biggest piece of advice for women looking to break into the industry would be to fight for your dreams and don't let anybody try to talk you out of them. You have a dream? Fight for it. People who can't do something are going to try to tell you that you can't do it either - do it, anyway, in fact, even more so - do it because of that! Do it for you.
Any other stories, tips, or funny anecdotes you would like to share? Totally! I think that the way I got into music was pretty funny and very "serendipity." My music career dreams all started with a hip-hop music blog and a dream. Growing up, I never thought that a job as creative as mine would be plausible for me, or be something that I could even pursue. I assumed that I would have to follow a more "traditional path" and that I would have to succumb to societal pressures and throw my passions to the side, but my tiny music blog ended up putting me on the radar of several college music marketing programs, which then led me to realize that the music industry is a real, legitimate place and that pursuing music could actually be a real possibility for a girl like me from a small town where a career in entertainment never seemed realistic. And look, now, what a dream :)
Find Taylor on Instagram here!
"Yes, so much. My best and biggest advice to other women would be to believe in yourself and have faith in everyone, but definitely, definitely make sure to have faith in yourself. If you don't believe in you, who will? The way you treat yourself is everything - your relationship with yourself sets the tone for every other relationship in your life. <3" - Taylor Marie Contarino
Kasey Talarek
Company & Position:
POETRY DANS LA RUE, Founder
Time in the Business:
6 Years
Do you have a story about a time you were uplifted in the music industry space by another woman?
When I first left my former job of being a teacher, I was intimidated by the music industry and changing careers. I had experience from building a music website, doing artist interviews, reviewing live events, and curating. I applied to a bunch of jobs but wasn't having success. I spoke with a few women who built their own platforms or small businesses in the industry, and they advised me to keep doing what I was doing and build my own thing. A few advised me to start my own company, try managing artists, keep reaching out to artists, wear a few different hats, and see which ones stick. A lot of these women were also working full-time jobs in the music industry or other industries while building their platforms or small businesses. I felt like I wasn't alone or crazy!
Did you ever receive any great or powerful advice from another female in the music industry? Some of the best advice I've received is to just keep going and shoot your shot. If there's someone you want to work with or interview, reach out to them. If there's someone you want to collaborate with, set up a meeting. Don't wait around when it comes to reaching out to people who could take your career to the next level. If I never sent my first DMs/emails to artists or industry professionals, I'd never be where I am today. Also, I've been told to embrace my inner fangirl and be as excited about music as I want to be. I think the stereotype of a "fangirl" has dwindled a little bit because we can see the women who are paving the industry of today.
Do you have a piece of advice for girls just starting out that you wish you were told? Go where the girls are! If you feel like you aren't finding your people or network, connect with other women in the music industry simply by reaching out. LinkedIn and Instagram go a long way. There are so many insanely talented female small business owners, creators, executives, and mentors in this industry. Another thing is to keep going... try new things, learn new skills, and gain experience in any way possible. Sometimes that means doing things on the side or out of pure passion because you love it.
Find Kasey on Instagram here!
"One of my favorite quotes from Taylor Swift is when she talks about being excited about something you love and embracing it. "I don't think you should ever have to apologize for your excitement. The worst kind of person is someone who makes someone feel dumb or stupid for being excited about something." - Kasey Talarek
Danielle Ghandour
Company & Position:
Music Will, Senior Manager of Artist & Industry Relations
Time in the Business:
16 Years
Do you have a story about a time you were uplifted in the music industry space by another woman? Yes absolutely. I have been so fortunate to have worked with many women in the industry who helped empower me to where I am today. In my early days, I worked at Kobalt Music and we were looking to build a recordings division and one day I noticed there was a new woman working in one of the offices. Somehow I felt this drive to introduce myself and ask her to lunch which she accepted! Later having had the opportunity to speak with her, she remembered me and recommended me for a new role which I acquired all because I randomly asked her to lunch that day! Take the chance! You never know what could happen.
Did you ever receive any great or powerful advice from another female in the music industry? Yes, the most powerful advice I've received from another female in the industry is that "When it's YOUR time, it's YOUR time. It doesn't matter about anyone else's"
Do you have a piece of advice for girls just starting out that you wish you were told? My advice is there is a space for everyone at the table and always speak up for yourself. You can't expect anyone else too. You got this!
Find Danielle on Instagram here!
"Yes, this industry is hard enough and we really do need to empower each other as women. We need to help each other rise up and truly believe there is a place for everyone at the table. I wouldn't be where I am today if it weren't for empowering women who took a chance on me to be able to learn and prove that this industry is where I want to thrive and where I want to be. "Women supporting Women" is a phrase we actually need to uphold because it's still very much a battle we're all still fighting." - Danielle Ghandour
Erica D'Aurora
Company & Position:
Gioia Communications, Owner
Time in the Business:
10 Years
Do you have a piece of advice for girls just starting out that you wish you were told? As women, our intuition is one of the most powerful tools we have, and as a woman in music, it’s especially important to always, always listen to your gut. If something feels off it probably is. If you get a weird vibe from someone, don’t feel pressure to work with them. And make friends with others in the industry who aren’t men and that you trust. You can talk about your shared experiences with them and run things by them, especially when confusing or questionable situations come up (because they will) and you find yourself in need of advice. Sometimes only another woman will get it, so building that support system will be valuable.
Any other stories, tips, or funny anecdotes you would like to share? When you’re doing business with men, you might find yourself in situations where they don’t take you seriously, don’t listen to you, or just refuse to acknowledge you in a room, and this is when it’s crucial to remember who you are and why you’re there. Remember that you have something to offer that no one else does, and remember that as a woman, when you’re working with men, you bring certain qualities and a unique perspective that they wouldn’t have otherwise.
Find Erica on Instagram here!
"The music industry is super competitive and cutthroat, and as a woman, you’re going to face a number of challenges that men won’t. Therefore, no matter the area of the industry you work in, it’s really important to stand your ground and to never let anyone push you around or force you to compromise your integrity." - Erica D'Aurora
Ashely Hill
Company & Position:
Lakehouse Recording Studios, Recording Studio Manager & Shore Points Records, Label Manager
Time in the Business:
5 Years
Do you have a story about a time you were uplifted in the music industry space by another woman? My most recent story involves a wonderful human, Donna Kloepfer who runs Battery Studios (Sony Music). Donna has been a woman pioneering her way through the recording industry for over 20 years now. As a woman running a recording studio in a male dominant field surrounded by males, it can be tricky to see what the “light at the end of the tunnel” looks like. I recently spoke with Donna as a mentor and she helped revitalize my commitment to this industry and reminded me of the opportunity I have to continue to pave the way for myself and other women who want to be in this industry.
Did you ever receive any great or powerful advice from another female in the music industry? Be the first one to do it. It doesn’t matter if the idea isn’t approved by the general consensus. If you believe in it, take the steps towards making it happen.
Do you have a piece of advice for girls just starting out that you wish you were told? There will always be a natural bias. No matter how far along we have come with gender equality, you will always encounter the natural bias that a man in the industry has. Don’t be alarmed by it, steamroll over it and show YOURSELF what you’re made of.
Any other stories, tips, or funny anecdotes you would like to share? My favorite part about women in music (and the arts in general) is when we find each other in a room full of strangers. It’s like we all just know and are drawn towards each other. Weirdos and creatives are synonymous
Follow Shore Points and Lakehouse Recording!
"The work is never over. We will always be fighting for a front-row seat. Build each other up. Share each other’s posts, go to each other's shows. There’s no reason to not support each other." - Ashely Hill
Diane DiMemmo
Company & Position:
APV Entertainment and Asbury Park Vibes, Owner
Time in the Business:
8 Years
Do you have a story about a time you were uplifted in the music industry space by another woman? Instead of mentioning only one, I have to give a shoutout to the dozens of women I've worked with during the past 8 years. Whenever I've reached out to a female colleague with questions, for advice, or to collaborate, every single one - without exception - has been supportive. These powerhouses went out of their way to assist me no matter how busy they were. The professional landscape today among women is truly uplifting and progressive.
Do you have a piece of advice for girls just starting out that you wish you were told? Absolutely. Often when women are talking with a group of men, there's a tendency for your contributions to that conversation to not be heard. In the past, I've actually shared ideas that weren't acknowledged yet later in the exchange someone would restate the exact same idea with it being embraced. It can be very frustrating. I tend to follow that up with, "As I was saying earlier ..." and reiterate differently. I don't just retreat and fade into the background.
Any other words of wisdom, quotes, or stories you would like to share? "Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else." - Judy Garland
Follow Asbury Park Vibes on Instagram here!
"Yes! Stop doubting yourself! It's so simple, yet we all do it! We are equally intelligent, hardworking, passionate, and creative in the work that we do." - Diane DiMemmo
Melissa Peterson
Company & Position:
Freelance Marketing Consultant, Telegraph Hill Radio Co-Host, & Divvy Music Founder
Time in the Business:
10 Years
Any other words of wisdom, quotes, or stories you would like to share? Everything we do today in music and business as the 'norm' was once a new idea. Don’t be afraid to break traditions, challenge expectations, and carve your own path. If you have a new idea—say it, own it, and try it. Even if it doesn’t go exactly as planned, that’s not failure; it’s progress. The only real obstacle is often our own fear of what others might think. But here’s the truth—most people admire innovators. Give yourself permission to be bold, take up space, and advocate for yourself. You don’t need anyone’s approval to create something new—just the courage to start.
Any other stories, tips, or funny anecdotes you would like to share? Many years ago, my ex—who was a musician—had a terrible accident. The entire music community in our area rallied together and raised an incredible amount of money to support us. Many of them I had never met, and some didn’t even know him personally, yet they showed up without hesitation. They didn’t just perform—they single-handedly organized a massive, all-day music event to raise funds. While my ex eventually recovered, our relationship didn’t. What weighed on me most wasn’t the breakup—it was the feeling that he hadn’t properly thanked the musicians who had stepped up for us. I confided this to a close friend and musician and his response was simple: 'You want to thank them? Go to their shows. Buy their merch.' So I did just that, at every chance I could. And that small act of gratitude led me to the life I have today—surrounded by artists, working in the industry, and advocating for the creatives who make it all possible.
Follow Divvy Music here!
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