Why WAMM Fest Matters: Amplifying Women’s Voices in Music

Categories: Performance

At Peak Music Studios, we believe music changes lives. It empowers, inspires, and gives people of all ages the confidence to share their voice with the world. That’s why we’re proud to co-produce the first-ever WAMM Fest (Women Are Making Music), happening Sunday, September 14th at The Hangar in Troy, New York.  This all-day celebration features women-led music across genres—from rootsy Americana to riotous punk and soulful blues, alongside a marketplace of women-owned businesses. It’s a space where creativity, equity, and community come together.

The Numbers: Why Representation Still Matters

While it may seem like women dominate the pop charts thanks to global icons like Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, and Pink, the reality is more complicated.

Performers: In 2024, women made up just 37.7% of artists on the Billboard Hot 100 Year-End Chart. In 2012, that number was only 22.7% (annenberg.usc.edu). Progress is happening, but we’ve got a ways to go.
Songwriters & Producers: Women wrote only 18.9% of songs in 2024. The gap is even wider behind the console: women held just 3–5% of production and engineering credits (annenberg.usc.edu; The Guardian; Pitchfork).
• Industry Leadership: Women occupy 13–21% of executive roles in major labels, with women of color holding fewer than 7% (WifiTalents; Gitnux).
Festivals: Only 11% of headliners at major festivals are women (WifiTalents).

Even as some women soar to global superstardom, most remain underrepresented on stage, in studios, and in leadership.

Why WAMM Fest Is Different

That’s what makes WAMM Fest so powerful. This isn’t just about music, it’s about mentorship, visibility, and showing the next generation that women belong in every corner of the industry.

At Peak Music Studios, this mission is personal. About 75% of our youth students are girls, and many of them are hungry for role models who look like them. When young musicians see women commanding stages, writing their own songs, and leading their own bands, they begin to believe that they can do it, too.

It’s not only about women inspiring women. WAMM Fest is for everyone. Men, families, and allies are an essential part of building a music scene where equity and creativity thrive. When women are lifted up, the whole community benefits.

The Artists Speak

The lineup is packed with powerhouse performers, each bringing their unique voice and perspective:

Shannon Tehya & The Troupe: “On that stage, we’re not just making music—we’re shaping the future.”
Amy-Lin Slezak: “I hope families bring their daughters, because they need to see that you don’t have to look or sound a certain way to matter in music.”
Brenda Fisher (Kitty Rodeo): “Women are so often dismissed without audition due to unconscious prejudice. This event makes us visible.”
Maria Palmara (GLORIA DUO): “Audiences often expect to see women flanked by men to legitimize them. WAMM shatters that expectation and shows another way to be.”