Sydney Blu and Rebekah launch campaign to increase female representation on record labels

Sydney Blu and Rebekah have launched a new campaign aimed at making record labels increase the amount of female representation on their imprints by 2023.

The #23by23 campaign is open to all record labels in the electronic genre regardless of size and stature to help increases opportunities for female artists.

Read this next: We need to end sexism, misogyny and violence in dance music

So far, Toolroom Records, Club Sweat, Gorgon City’s Realm Records, Soma Records, Desert Hearts, Walker and Royce’s Rules Don’t Apply are supporting the initiative with remix competitions and demo challenges via the Metapop community. This will start December 11/12 and will run throughout 2022.

The electronic artists helming the campaign have also gained support from the likes of Femme House, Ableton Live, Native Instruments, DJ Minx and Baby Weight.

Ableton live will be hosting online production content throughout 2022 open to women, trans and non-binary artists. As well as this on December 10, LP Giobbi’s Femme House Friday’s will be throwing a 23x23 takeover on their Twitch channel.

Read this next: 7 Foundation.FM DJs and collectives on the women and non-binary artists who inspire them

Sydney Blu explains: “I believe in 2021 we need to do better with how we shape, brand, and release music, to support a new generation of female producers and create lasting change and equality.

“I encourage the following question to any A&R rep: Are you making your label a welcome space for women? Do you provide feedback to female submissions?

“Are you proactively seeking female artists who are producing music similar to the sound of your label? This is the basis of the 23by23 campaign”.

Read this next: 20 women who shaped the history of dance music

Rebekah said: “Starting out on many labels as the first women producer nine years ago, its seems that only baby steps have been made in this area to have more female representation.

“It’s also important to note women of colour are not only underrepresented on dance labels but also affected the most by discrimination so this makes it even more imperative for diversity to be a priority.

“I am fully behind this campaign and hoping to understand more deeply the reasons why this is still the case in 2021 and how things can improve."

Read this next: Baby Weight is the Dolly Parton-loving DJ who's here to take tech-house back from the Big Room Bros

Baby Weight said: "I stand by 23x23 because, as a transwoman, this is an action plan which sets the tone; it generates the necessary visibility or diversity to create more opportunities for artists who aren’t cis, het, or male in a way that ca be executed with accountability, grace, and focus. It’s just as much a call to action as it is an entry point for those uninitiated to the conversation.”

If you identify as female, trans or non-binary you are welcome to join the Metapop group powered by Native Instruments here.

Becky Buckle is Mixmag's Digital Intern, follow her on Twitter