An increase of women songwriters and composers in the UK

A total of 1,971 women were registered as professional songwriters and composers in 2020 in the UK, a 12.3% year-on-year increase compared to 2019, and a near twofold increase (79.6%) compared to 2018, when 1,097 women registered, Music Week reports. New figures released today (8 March), International Women’s Day 2021, show over half (58%) of women joining PRS for Music in 2020 were under the age of 30. However, gender balance within the professional songwriter and composer community remains heavily skewed towards men - male composers and songwriters make up 81.7% of PRS for Music’s membership, which is significantly higher than the music industry as a whole. The proportion of women working in the music industry had reached a record high of 49.6% in its latest Diversity Report for 2020. Also, the top 10 highest-earning female songwriters and composers generated 70% less income than their male counterparts in 2020.