Women in the Music Industry We Look Up To
The music industry is currently undergoing a profound transformation, driven not only by the icons at center stage, but by a sophisticated class of female media professionals, producers, and visionaries who are redefining the business. It’s important to recognize that while there’s always more change to be made, these women are moving the needle when it comes to photography, media, and the ins and outs of the creative world. To understand the future of entertainment, you have to look to these women and many, many more whose leadership and capabilities are shaping the modern landscape of music — but also what it means to be an artist.
Caity Krone, @caitytakesphotos
Jackie Fortis, Music Reviews Editor
The music industry is not an easy space to enter into. In this big and busy of a field, finding a way to plant one’s feet on the ground and stand out while doing it is extremely impressive. Caity Krone is a Los Angeles-based artist who fuels her passion for songwriting through music photography. Her vision captures warmth, rawness, and beauty while spotlighting the environment a space creates. Whether it’s an intimate setting fronting fans, a portrait session for an artist’s branding, or a loud, explosive, and visually dramatic performance, she finds ways to highlight all of its spirit. It’s so respectable to have watched Krone work her way into the industry using her range of skills to do what she truly loves at the end of the day: live and breathe music.
Lindsey Dadourian, Pleaser Magazine, @lindseyalexisphotos
Mckenzie Blasi, Senior Writer
As the founder and editor-in-chief of Pleaser Magazine, Lindsey Dadourian — often associated with the magazine’s creative leadership — has become a vital figure for women in the music industry by intentionally carving out a space for female and non-binary voices. She is part of a new generation of writers who help transform the traditional music journalism landscape by moving away from overly critical, male-dominated perspectives and instead fostering a "by fans, for fans" community that prioritizes empathy and connection. Through Pleaser, Dadourian highlights not only the artists on stage, but also the women working behind the scenes as tour managers, photographers, and publicists, making these career paths feel accessible and visible.
This extends to Dadourian’s own concert photography, where her lens captures the raw, intimate energy of live performances through a perspective of genuine admiration rather than detached observation. By documenting the synergy between the stage and the crowd, she provides a visual heartbeat to the stories Pleaser tells. Ultimately, her work serves as an example for how women can build their own independent media ecosystems that celebrate authenticity and mutual support over gatekeeping.
Brittany Spanos, BRIT POP
Brooke Shapiro, Music Extras Co-Editor
Like the spirited melodies of songs that fall under the Britpop genre, Brittany Spanos’ almost eponymous endeavor offers a rejuvenating outlet for musical conversation. BRIT POP is the former Rolling Stone journalist’s four-month-old Substack dedicated to discussing pop music and celebrity culture. After writing over a dozen cover stories for the magazine featuring artists like Billie Eilish and Lorde, Spanos was laid off in December 2025. Just three days later, I cried while reading her first BRIT POP post, “you’re on your own, kid,” in which she described the clashing feelings that came with losing the job she strove for since the age of 12. And while the most wistful musings often result in beautiful writing, the most engaging media are those that are fun — just like pop music.
Spanos’ twice-weekly newsletters that have come since then read like voice messages sent to a friend; they offer the unfiltered commentary many readers yearn for but that most traditional publications don’t make space for. If you’re like me and need to consume content about content via niche Substack posts, BRIT POP is the perfect corner of the internet for you.
Georgia Jaffe, Indie Hourzz
Harmony Robinson, Contributor
This is a formal PSA to make art with your friends. For Georgia Jaffe, what started as an unassuming idea in a dorm at Emerson College quickly turned into a fully functioning digital platform seven years later. Founded by Jaffe in 2019, Indie Hourzz serves as a one-stop shop for all things indie rock. Specializing in live sessions, interviews, and events, Indie Hourzz is your go-to source for all things music media. When asked about building the Indie Hourzz team, Georgia highlighted the importance of working with people you trust.
“These are people I’ve been creating all kinds of art with since college, and as time went on, our team continued to grow,” Jaffe said.
As part of the Indie Hourzz mindset, Jaffe encourages us to take advantage of the creative stimuli surrounding our youth.
Colette Postaer, Knotted Lace
Syd Copeland, Interviews Co-Editor
What does it look like when you are a true lover of music? Colette Postaer, the founder and editor-in-chief of Chicago’s Knotted Lace magazine, sets an incredible example. Having launched almost a year ago in April 2025, Knotted Lace has devoted itself to being a “love letter to Chicago’s underground” and has highlighted over 100+ artists and musicians so far. The magazine is made possible by a team of local women and queer graphic designers, social media managers, and creative directors managed by Postaer. In her artist interviews, Postaer takes hours researching and curating thoughtful questions to create a comfortable atmosphere for conversation. Her essays are incredibly thorough, warm, and compelling — not only giving promotion to the musicians' projects, but painting a full picture of the human behind the craft.
Margeaux Labat, @marg.mp3
Athena Galatis, Contributor
Margeaux Labat, known as marg.mp3 on social media platforms, is a music curator and content creator based in New York City. Having amassed almost 300,000 followers across Instagram and TikTok, she has built a devoted community of music lovers — myself included — who trust her deeply informed, and often esoteric, taste. Labat is a keen artist interviewer, with short-form content featuring growing and established musicians alike, such as Daniel Lopatin (on his Marty Supreme score), Wednesday, Dev Hynes, Jane Remover, Nourished by Time, and an endless list of more indie favorites.
When she’s not interviewing artists, you can find her doing her residency with NTS Radio, jamming on The Lot Radio, or even DJing a Miu Miu event. Labat has a deep reverence for musical craft and a profound understanding of artistry that often feels lost in the age of streaming-driven and algorithmic recommendations. She is truly the kind of music curator who never fails to remind you that there will always be music you haven’t discovered yet, but are bound to fall in love with.
Ashley Gellman, @saladjockey
Ria Mirchandani, Contributor
The world through Ashley Gellman’s lens is a mosaic of the most heartfelt human emotions. The framing of her photographs, especially backstage, reveals an intimacy with her subjects and allows the audience to connect with their favorite artists in a brand new way. Through touring with Jamie xx, boygenius, Jonas Brothers, and Lucy Dacus, she has accrued “many hats,” as it reads in her Instagram bio. Along with her photography, she is a tour manager, production coordinator, and merchandise assistant. To see a woman of color in these positions is rare, and to see one who not only fulfills but excels at her job is a gift in itself. Scenes that Gellman paints through her photos, whether it's a bouquet of roses or an electric guitar hurling through the air, encapsulate what living is all about.
Lisarose Ryan, 4who
Harmony Robinson, Contributor
Fangirls are the backbone of the music industry, and no one proves that better than Lisarose Ryan. A New York native, Ryan began her career in the music industry in college. Facing times of uncertainty due to COVID, Ryan was able to fully pursue her creative passions as a full-time student. After fluctuating between different roles, she founded her company, 4who, with a focus on digital strategy and audience development. 4who continues to grow its roster, including artists like Beauty School Dropout and Empress Of, while still focusing on maintaining fan communities. Ryan advocates for authenticity and encourages young women in the industry to take up space in any and all rooms.