PRS for Music has released a list of the 100 most influential female songwriters and composers of the year ahead of International Women’s Day 2020.
The organisation also signalled that the profile of women in the music business is changing for the better. According to PRS for Music membership data, nearly 2,000 women registered as professional songwriters and composers in the UK in 2019, up 60% year-on-year. Of those that registered, almost two thirds (63%) of those who registered were under the age of 30.
Claire Jarvis, director of membership, PRS for Music, said: “While it’s encouraging to see an increase in female songwriters and composers joining PRS for Music, this number is still dwarfed by 5,580 male songwriters joining in the same year, which means there is still work to do.
“As the music industry works together towards a more equal gender balance across every aspect of its landscape, we will continue to work with our members, peers and sister organisations to encourage and support songwriters and composers from every background.”
However, it’s not all good news: the top 10 female songwriters and composers generated 67% less income than their top 10 male counterparts showing that inequality still prevails.
The society, which represents over 145,500 songwriters, composers and music publishers, is promoting the chart ahead of International Women’s Day, 8 March 2020.
Adele has remained the most popular female songwriter for the past five years, while The Spice Girls’ Spice World 2019 Tour grossed over GBP60m selling out stadiums UK-wide.
PRS 100 Women Changing Music list
NB: Names appear in alphabetical order and show most influential songwriters of 2019.
Adele
Alannah Currie (Thompson Twins)
Alison Mosshart (The Kills, The Dead Weather)
Aluna Francis (AlunaGeorge)Amanda Ghost
Amy Macdonald
Amy Wadge
Amy Winehouse
Angie Gold
Anne Dudley
Anne Nikitin
Anne-Marie
Annie Lennox (Eurythmics)
Arlissa
Becky Hill
Birdy
Björk
Carly Paradis
Cathy Dennis
Charli XCX
Chrissie Hynde
Corinne Bailey Rae
Debbie Wiseman
Des’ree
Dido
Dua Lipa
Duffy
Dyo
Elena Tonra (Daughter)
Elizabeth Fraser (Cocteau Twins)
Ella Eyre
Ella Henderson
Ellie Goulding
Ellie Rowsell (Wolf Alice)
Emeli Sandé
Emma Bunton (Spice Girls)
Enya
Evelyn Glennie
Florence Welch (Florence + The Machine)
Frances
Freya Ridings
Gabrielle
Gala
Galia Megan Durant
Geri Halliwell (Spice Girls)
Gillian Gilbert (New Order)
Grace Chatto (Clean Bandit)
Hannah Reid (London Grammar)
Helen Jane Long
Imogen Heap
Ina
Isabella Summers (Florence + The Machine)
Isobel Waller-Bridge
Jade Bird
Jess Glynne
Jessie J
Jessie Ware
Jin Jin
Joan Armatrading
Jorja Smith
Josephine Vander Gucht (Oh Wonder)
Kamille
Karen Poole
Kate Bush
KT Tunstall
Lauren Mayberry (CHVRCHES)
Lily Allen
Linda McCartney
Lisa Stansfield
Louise Dowd
Lucy Taylor
M.I.A.
Mabel
MARINA (Marina and the Diamonds)
Mel B (Spice Girls)
Melanie C (Spice Girls)
Miranda Cooper
Miriam Nervo
Nainita Desai
NAO
Olivia Nervo
PJ Harvey
Rachel Portman
Raye
Rita Ora
Róisín Murphy (Moloko)
Romy Madley Croft (The xx)
Ruth Barrett
Sade
Sarah Blanchard
Sarah Class
Shania Twain
Sharleen Spiteri (Texas)
Shaznay Lewis (All Saints)
Stefflon Don
Tanita Tikaram
Tracey Thorn (Everything But The Girl)
Victoria Beckham (Spice Girls)
Wendy Elizabeth Pigott
Zeriiya Zekkariyas (formerly Linda Womack)