Live Nation, SiriusXM, Symphonic Distribution, Music Business Association, Universal Music Group, Sony Music Publishing and more have been named standout companies for women in music.
The latest edition of WIM Best Places To Work — the study conducted by nonprofit organization Women in Music in partnership with company reviews platform InHerSight — also credited Ticketmaster, Spotify, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Loeb & Loeb, Nettwerk Music Group, The Mechanical Licensing Collective, The Orchard, A2IM, The Syndicate, The Recording Academy and Bright Antenna Records for excelling in workplace inclusivity and employee satisfaction.
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“We know that statistically, women in workplace leadership enhance financial performance and drive innovation, but they remain underrepresented,” said Women in Music president Nicole Barsalona. “This year, we’re excited to highlight companies that are working to fix a system that too often fails to create a culture where women can thrive. Companies like Live Nation and The Recording Academy had high response rates, demonstrating openness and commitment to transparency and accountability, increasingly rare and commendable these days.”
“This recognition reflects the culture Live Nation Women is committed to helping build every day,” said Live Nation Women president and chief strategy officer Ali Harnell. “One that supports women at every stage of their lives and careers so they can grow, lead, and drive impact across industry.”
Big Picture Media, Music Business Association, Bright Antenna Records, The Orchard and A2IM all came in with perfect scores for equal opportunities for women and men. Meanwhile, Big Picture Media, Bright Antenna Records, Music Business Association, The Orchard and A2IM all had perfect scores in women in leadership. The top companies for salary satisfaction were SiriusXM, Music Business Association and Bright Antenna Records.
“As an independent company built from the ground up, this recognition is especially meaningful,” said Symphonic founder and CEO Jorge Brea. “From day one, our focus has been on people, creating a culture where our team feels supported, valued, and empowered to grow. That foundation has allowed us to build a global company without losing the human touch that got us here.”
Despite the individual company accolades, persistent disparities continue to plague women in the workplace. The survey found that nearly half of women say they would not recommend their workplace, and 45% of women believe company support for women has declined. More than 70% of women plan to start or continue looking for a new job in 2026 due to better-paying opportunities.
“The past year has had a devastating impact on women’s careers. Women have left the workforce in droves, and the areas where they are currently thriving like healthcare and education are often undervalued and underpaid,” said InHerSight co-founder and CEO Ursula Mead. “Meanwhile, many companies choose to remain silent, quietly stepping back from or dismantling initiatives that support women’s advancement — advancement that has historically made our workplaces more innovative, creative, and profitable. That’s why the transparency we’ve seen in this year’s Women in Music® campaign is so encouraging at a time like this.”
The WIM Best Places to Work survey is conducted on an opt-in basis at 185 companies. More than 6,875 recipients replied to the survey that was first conducted in 2025. The survey inquired about management opportunities, flexible work hours, maternity and adoptive leave, employer responsiveness and other factors for women.
Big Picture Media, Bright Antenna Records, Music Business Association, SAG-AFTRA and The Syndicate scored perfectly on the company’s sense of belonging, with Universal Music Group, Live Nation, The Recording Academy, The Orchard, Concord, Spotify, The MLC, Kobalt, Nettwerk and more receiving high marks in the category.
“Being recognized by the 2026 Women in Music Best Places to Work list — in categories such as, Women in Leadership and Sense of Belonging — is a true honor and a testament to the intentional, people-first culture we’ve built at the Recording Academy,” said Recording Academy chief people and culture officer Shonda Grant. “We believe that when our team feels seen, supported, and empowered, they do their best work on behalf of music creators everywhere.”
Women in Music is a 501(c)3 charitable organization, unaffiliated with Billboard, founded in 1985 to educate, empower and advance women in the music industry. WIM hosts year-round educational and career development programming in chapter markets around the world, with equity-focused initiatives that include WIM Safe(r) Spaces, the WIM Workplace Initiative, the WIM Mentorship Program and the WIM Executive Internship Program. To become a charitable partner or to make a donation, go to womeninmusic.org.