The number of women working as audio engineers and music producers is falling, not rising. Ashea is joined by British-Ghanaian producer, rapper and author Nana Ayebi-Kwakye to discuss why the gap is widening, where the signs of hope are, and the thinking behind her children's book Delasi On A Mission, written to show young girls that the studio is a place they belong.
Women In Audio: Why The Numbers Are Falling, With Nana Ayebi-Kwakye
The proportion of women working as professional audio engineers and music producers has been moving in the wrong direction for years. The data is uncomfortable, the reasons are tangled, and the industry's response has been inconsistent at best. In this conversation, Ashea sits down with producer, rapper and author Nana Ayebi-Kwakye to talk honestly about what's happening, what's working, and why representation in children's books might matter more than another panel discussion at a trade show.
In this episode:
Why the percentage of women working in professional audio production is declining rather than growing, and what the available data actually shows
The signs of hope: the initiatives, mentorship structures and visible role models that are starting to shift the picture for the next generation
The principle Nana keeps coming back to: if you can't see it, you can't be it, and what that means in practical terms for studios, schools and parents
The story behind Delasi On A Mission, the children's book Nana wrote to put a young girl behind the desk rather than in front of the mic
The barriers that show up before anyone gets near a studio: perception, language, who appears in the photos, who teaches the classes
What working professionals can actually do, beyond awareness, to change the numbers in their own corner of the industry
About Nana Ayebi-Kwakye:
Nana Ayebi-Kwakye is a British-Ghanaian music producer, rapper and author. Her debut children's book, Delasi On A Mission, tells the story of a young girl discovering music production and learning to navigate the obstacles that come with it, aimed at readers aged six and up. She is also involved in initiatives including The Leading Vibe and her own Sounds You Make project, both focused on widening access to music production for young people.
New Zealand