Women's Audio Mission

Women�s Audio Mission (WAM) is dedicated to the advancement of women and girls in music production and the recording arts, a field in which women are chronically invisible and represent fewer than 5% of the sector. Founded in San Francisco in 2003, WAM provides free and low-cost recording-arts training to more than 250 girls and women each year in the world�s only professional recording studio run entirely by women. The organization lost its lease on its facility and recently purchased a new studio. WAM is now engaged in a $2 million capital campaign over two years. With the grant, WAM will surpass 60% of its fundraising goals to establish its first permanent home.

178. Women�s Audio Mission is dedicated to the advancement of women and girls in music production and the recording arts, a field in which women are critically underrepresented (less than 5 percent). Founded in San Francisco in 2003, Women�s Audio Mission provides free and low-cost recording-arts training to more than 650 girls and women each year in the world�s only professional recording studio run entirely by women. The organization has recorded acclaimed artists like the Kronos Quartet and author Salman Rushdie, but focuses on recording residencies for underserved traditional artists from diverse cultures in the Bay Area. In addition, Women�s Audio Mission developed and maintains an online recording-arts training library and curriculum that serves more than 6,500 students in 127 countries. With Hewlett Foundation funding, the organization plans to expand its classroom offerings, invest in further board development, and pursue a capital campaign to acquire a larger physical space for its work.

Women�s Audio Mission provides training and career development in music technology, media production, and recording arts to mostly low-income women and girls in San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose. Nationally, the audio production workforce is less than 5% female. Women�s Audio Mission seeks to reverse this gender imbalance. Annually, 1,500 girls, who are mostly of color, receive free music production training and mentorship. Adults can access instruction, mentorship, job placement assistance, and industry conferences.