Music has the unparalleled power to unite, inspire and drive change. At The O2, the world’s busiest music venue, we witness this transformative energy almost every night. But beyond the bright lights and sold-out crowds, the journey toward gender equality across the live sector is ongoing, marked by both significant strides and persistent challenges. In 2025, despite the progress that has been made, women—especially those from marginalised backgrounds—continue to face systemic barriers that slow progression towards true gender equality.
International Women’s Day (IWD) provides a calendar moment to take pause, reflect on progress and celebrate female achievement; however, it is imperative that we concurrently recognise the barriers that remain. Under this year’s theme of “Accelerate Action” we must recognise that it’s time to push forward with greater speed. We’ve seen groundbreaking achievements from women artists, producers, tour managers, and executives, yet structural challenges persist. In 2023, less than a third of festival headliners were women, and female representation in technical and leadership roles remains disproportionately low. At this current rate of progress, equality is still decades away.
We’ve seen groundbreaking achievements from women artists, producers, tour managers, and executives, yet structural challenges persist
At The O2, we’re committed to true and meaningful change—championing women on and off the stage, supporting female-led initiatives through our Employee Network Groups (ENGs), and ensuring our teams reflect the diversity of the audiences we welcome. We strive to remove barriers, challenge outdated norms, and create more opportunities for women at every level of the live music industry.
I’m incredibly proud that our venue management team is made up of a diverse, strong, and talented group of women, with all bar one of our team identifying as female. The team deliver over 200 events every year, and these past two weeks have seen exceptional execution on a global scale. From the F1 75 Live event, a spectacular season launch and a first in the sport’s history, to the delivery of The BRIT Awards, the UK’s biggest night in music. Next weekend, the team will manage Europe’s biggest country music festival, Country to Country, another site takeover with over 70 artists performing.
Looking at The O2 diary for the year, programmed by Emma Bownes, SVP of Venue Programming at AEG Europe, we see strong female presence throughout the year. 2025 is set to be big – the year of girl pop – with Sabrina Carpenter, Sugababes, Tate McRae, Kylie, Billie Eilish and Katy Perry taking to the stage. That said, all too often the spotlight focuses solely on performers, and it’s crucial to remember that the success of any event or performance requires diversity behind the scenes. In many critical roles across the music industry – especially in technical areas such as sound engineering, lighting, and stage management – women remain vastly underrepresented, making up only 15% of live sound engineers and 12% of studio/mastering engineers for example.
By accelerating our actions toward gender equality, we enrich the cultural tapestry that music brings to the world
What’s more, women of colour, disabled women, LGBTQIA+ women, and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds face additional barriers that prevent progression and largely go unaddressed. For example, women of colour remain significantly underrepresented in leadership and backstage roles with a 2023 study finding just 6% of senior industry roles were held by Black women, highlighting systemic exclusion.
Disparities and inequities also span sexuality, with LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people frequently facing discrimination and a lack of visibility within the industry, with many reporting feeling unsafe or unwelcome in live music spaces. There are also issues of career longevity to address, with female artist participation in the industry disproportionately declining with age, dropping from 47% to just 26% for those over the age of 54, highlighting challenges in sustaining long-term careers. The live music industry thrives on diversity, creativity, and innovation. By accelerating our actions toward gender equality, we not only uphold these values but also enrich the cultural tapestry that music brings to the world.
We must actively involve men and non-binary individuals in the conversation around equality
IWD serves as an important reminder that there is work to be done to create a more inclusive space for all, and one of the most significant ways to encourage change is through representation. When women see other women leading in the industry – whether as bookers, technicians, promoters, or managers – it sends a powerful message. We know that diverse perspectives lead to better decisions and a richer culture and experience for our employees and fans. Allyship is also incredibly important. It’s not enough for women to support other women – we must also actively involve men and non-binary individuals in the conversation around equality. By collaborating and ensuring that all voices are amplified, we can build support that encourages everyone to feel seen and heard. At AEG our ENGs bring team members from across the company together to connect and support efforts in making change and ensuring everyone is represented.
The momentum is there. From sold-out stadiums led by powerhouse performers to game-changing executives reshaping the business, women are driving the future of live music. But real change requires action. As leaders, we must open more doors, amplify more voices, and make equality more than a conversation—it must be a reality. We must accelerate action, now.
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Women are driving the future of live music but change is needed
On International Women's Day, The O2's Sam Oldham discusses how to accelerate action on gender equality
07 Mar 2025
Music has the unparalleled power to unite, inspire and drive change. At The O2, the world’s busiest music venue, we witness this transformative energy almost every night. But beyond the bright lights and sold-out crowds, the journey toward gender equality across the live sector is ongoing, marked by both significant strides and persistent challenges. In 2025, despite the progress that has been made, women—especially those from marginalised backgrounds—continue to face systemic barriers that slow progression towards true gender equality.
International Women’s Day (IWD) provides a calendar moment to take pause, reflect on progress and celebrate female achievement; however, it is imperative that we concurrently recognise the barriers that remain. Under this year’s theme of “Accelerate Action” we must recognise that it’s time to push forward with greater speed. We’ve seen groundbreaking achievements from women artists, producers, tour managers, and executives, yet structural challenges persist. In 2023, less than a third of festival headliners were women, and female representation in technical and leadership roles remains disproportionately low. At this current rate of progress, equality is still decades away.
At The O2, we’re committed to true and meaningful change—championing women on and off the stage, supporting female-led initiatives through our Employee Network Groups (ENGs), and ensuring our teams reflect the diversity of the audiences we welcome. We strive to remove barriers, challenge outdated norms, and create more opportunities for women at every level of the live music industry.
I’m incredibly proud that our venue management team is made up of a diverse, strong, and talented group of women, with all bar one of our team identifying as female. The team deliver over 200 events every year, and these past two weeks have seen exceptional execution on a global scale. From the F1 75 Live event, a spectacular season launch and a first in the sport’s history, to the delivery of The BRIT Awards, the UK’s biggest night in music. Next weekend, the team will manage Europe’s biggest country music festival, Country to Country, another site takeover with over 70 artists performing.
Looking at The O2 diary for the year, programmed by Emma Bownes, SVP of Venue Programming at AEG Europe, we see strong female presence throughout the year. 2025 is set to be big – the year of girl pop – with Sabrina Carpenter, Sugababes, Tate McRae, Kylie, Billie Eilish and Katy Perry taking to the stage. That said, all too often the spotlight focuses solely on performers, and it’s crucial to remember that the success of any event or performance requires diversity behind the scenes. In many critical roles across the music industry – especially in technical areas such as sound engineering, lighting, and stage management – women remain vastly underrepresented, making up only 15% of live sound engineers and 12% of studio/mastering engineers for example.
What’s more, women of colour, disabled women, LGBTQIA+ women, and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds face additional barriers that prevent progression and largely go unaddressed. For example, women of colour remain significantly underrepresented in leadership and backstage roles with a 2023 study finding just 6% of senior industry roles were held by Black women, highlighting systemic exclusion.
Disparities and inequities also span sexuality, with LGBTQIA+ women and non-binary people frequently facing discrimination and a lack of visibility within the industry, with many reporting feeling unsafe or unwelcome in live music spaces. There are also issues of career longevity to address, with female artist participation in the industry disproportionately declining with age, dropping from 47% to just 26% for those over the age of 54, highlighting challenges in sustaining long-term careers. The live music industry thrives on diversity, creativity, and innovation. By accelerating our actions toward gender equality, we not only uphold these values but also enrich the cultural tapestry that music brings to the world.
IWD serves as an important reminder that there is work to be done to create a more inclusive space for all, and one of the most significant ways to encourage change is through representation. When women see other women leading in the industry – whether as bookers, technicians, promoters, or managers – it sends a powerful message. We know that diverse perspectives lead to better decisions and a richer culture and experience for our employees and fans. Allyship is also incredibly important. It’s not enough for women to support other women – we must also actively involve men and non-binary individuals in the conversation around equality. By collaborating and ensuring that all voices are amplified, we can build support that encourages everyone to feel seen and heard. At AEG our ENGs bring team members from across the company together to connect and support efforts in making change and ensuring everyone is represented.
The momentum is there. From sold-out stadiums led by powerhouse performers to game-changing executives reshaping the business, women are driving the future of live music. But real change requires action. As leaders, we must open more doors, amplify more voices, and make equality more than a conversation—it must be a reality. We must accelerate action, now.
Get more stories like this in your inbox by signing up for IQ Index, IQ’s free email digest of essential live music industry news.
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