ICMP Tutors support the F-List for Music’s Culture of Belonging

ICMP Tutors Dr Catherine Anne Davies, Anjali Perin and Isobel Anderson were among the music industry academics to host studio sessions as part of the F-List for Music's Culture of Belonging initiative. 

The F-List for Music was born out of Founder Vick Bain's 2019 report, Counting the Music Industry. 

That research and Vick's subsequent, ongoing, PhD looking at women's careers in music has revealed how women working in the studio often have creative control removed as more often than not, other musicians, studio staff and producers, usually men, take over. 

Commenting, Vick said: "My initiative the Culture of Belonging aimed to give power back to women and gender diverse creatives."

"The titles comes from the 2018 USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative study, which revealed how only two percent of producers on the Billboard Hot 100 were women. They urged all studios to create a culture of belonging which is where the inspiration came from."

It was amazing to work with Dr Catherine Anne Davies, Dr Isobel Anderson, Anjali Perin and Eve Horne on the programme. While I project managed, they created the actual content and delivery for the weekends so it was a great collaboration."

"Getting women into the studio for a full weekend was so important in offering them a real experience, enabling them to get their hands on the gear and allowing them to feel comfortable and confident in the studio and the positive feedback was phenomenal."

Commenting on her work with the initiative, Catherine said: "Isobel and I worked for months to develop a programme that would allow participants not only to explore in a safe space some of their previous negative experiences in studio spaces but then to positively reclaim that space through a series of practical hands-on experiences with working with the mixing desk, exploring mic shoot-outs and demystifying some of the vocabulary and jargon that has typically been claimed as a traditional male space."

As the workshops evolved over time, I went on to co-lead subsequent weekends with both Eve and Anjali as we saw how transformed participants were by this positive and confidence building space that empowered them as creatives and masters of their own musical visions."

Continuing, Catherine said: "Workshops like these plug a gap that traditional educational routes cannot in offering a female-only space. They are also vital for those who may have chosen not to or felt excluded from pursuing formal training in music production but still find it to be a fundamental skillset that is involved in their career as a songwriter or artist."

"Sadly, we still find that this field is dominated by men. Spaces like these are crucial for initiating change and shifting the dial on the fact that still only five percent of producers are female identifying."

Catherine has recently announced details of a new label deal and will be performing a special gig at EartH in Hackney, London on Saturday 26th April 2025. 

Visit thef-listmusic.uk for more information.

Image credit - F-List for Music website/Help Musicians UK