The music industry is evolving, and Spotify is playing a crucial role in making it more equitable. Through editorial playlists, content experiences, industry partnerships, and programs, the streaming giant is ensuring that women artists have more opportunities, visibility, and financial success.
Women Artists Are Thriving on Spotify
Spotify’s efforts are paying off, and the numbers prove it:
Canada is leading the way. Alongside South Korea, Sweden, and Argentina, Canada ranks among the top global markets for women artists generating top earnings.
Global success is within reach. Over 40% of Canadian artists generating more than $1M on Spotify in 2024 were women or part of mixed-gender bands.
A growing industry shift. Women made up 18% of all artists earning at least $1M globally on Spotify in 2024—up from just 14% in 2017.
More streams, more impact. Women artists accounted for 44% of the top 100 most-streamed artists on Spotify’s global editorial playlists in 2024.
Rising stars are making waves. Of artists who debuted in 2020 or later and made over $1M on Spotify in 2024, 27% were women.
Spotify’s EQUAL program has been a game-changer in amplifying women’s voices:
Over 20,800 women artists have been added to EQUAL playlists.
More than 1,200 EQUAL ambassadors have been supported since the program’s launch.
In 2024 alone, 30 million artist discoveries were made through EQUAL playlists.
EQUAL artists received over 86,000 editorial playlist adds this year.
Canadian Women in Music Speak Out
Elizabeth Phipps, Artist and Label Partnerships Lead at Spotify Canada, underscores the importance of year-round support for women artists:
“Celebrating contributions of women musicians in Canada is something that we do at Spotify year-round—not just on International Women’s Day. We’ve supported more than 400 women artists through our global EQUAL program alone, and we’re continuing to champion the diverse voices of artists and creators from coast-to-coast. And as the CRTC continues its regulation of streaming, we hope they recognize the tools that help emerging and homegrown women musicians in Canada to build truly global audiences.”
Tate McRae, one of Canada’s most successful artists on Spotify, recalls her breakthrough moment:
“I remember the first time I hit a million monthly listeners on Spotify: it was the biggest deal of my life. I remember looking at my dad like, ‘This is it. This is the life.”
