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Here are 12 women who are inspiring female talent in the audio industry!

CineBuster Online | Updated

Women have been an integral part of the audio world – through radio, music, and podcasts – and the perspective they bring to this art form is unique. A recent report by Spotify and YouGov highlights that there is a lack of support for women who aspire to join the audio industry, from family, friends, and the society. It further highlights that preference for male voices is higher for topics related to business, games, finance, true crime, and thrillers, whereas for cooking, language, story & drama related content, female voices were preferred which shows the evident bias in the context of content and gender. 1 in 4 female creators surveyed said they had faced gender-based challenges.

Last year, Spotify launched AmplifiHer to put the spotlight on women in audio and to bring a few of these issues to the forefront. This year, the initiative is back to continue the conversation around this creator community in audio, and provide a platform for them to inspire more talent to join music and podcasts. Here’s what you need to know about the women who will share their stories of growth and learning through the year.

Akanksha Thapliyal Bhatt

Connecting brands and individuals with audio content, Akanksha is the founder of Audio Vaani. She took on podcasting in 2019 and has multiple shows of her own, including Ink Podcast, The Yoga Dialogue, Man-o-manjan, and Woh Kya Tha. She also designed the concepts and scripts of a few Spotify Original shows.
Ananthi Iyappan

A well-known RJ, Ananthi started The Book Show, south India’s biggest book review YouTube channel, where she presents a colourful platter of book reviews and her perspective towards a sustainable lifestyle. Her exclusive podcast with Spotify, The Book Show and Rough Note, is her second tryst with audio, where she talks about her favourite reads.
Asees Kaur

Asees needs no introduction. She is the third-most streamed female artist on Spotify in India, and can ace a soulful track as beautifully as an energetic dance number. Asees has worked with renowned labels, and her journey in the audio industry has been truly impressive. She was also an advocate for AmplifiHer last year.
Deepika Arun

An engineer by degree, a ten-pointer by academic merits, a hard-core strategist by skills, and a child educator at heart, Deepika dons multiple roles in her life. Being a huge Potterhead, Harry Potter audiobooks inspired her to venture into audiobooks in Tamil, to take local literature to the listeners with impeccable pronunciation and just the right modulation.
Hanita Bambari

If soulful music and conversation is your jam, meet Hanita. With her melodious voice and versatile singing, Hanita has put India on the global map. In a short time, her work has garnered 25M+ streams across platforms and she has been a Spotify RADAR artist. She also recently represented India at SXSW.
Jonita Gandhi

A multilingual and multi-genre specialist, Jonita can hum her tune in 12 different languages. An acclaimed and versatile Indo-Canadian vocalist, she has amassed audiences worldwide with her live-solo acts with versatile singing, whether classical, pop, or sufi. She’s also been an EQUAL artist on Spotify.
Leeza Mangaldas

Seeking to push boundaries around the conversation of sex, especially for women, Leeza is India’s foremost sex-positive content creator who started her shows on social media with the intention to normalize conversations around sexuality, sexual health, and the body. She also has Spotify Exclusive podcast – The Sex Podcast with Leeza Mangaldas – that provides scientifically accurate, judgement-free answers to commonly asked sex questions in a bite-sized audio format.
Mali

What is better than a person who can speak well, and has a powerful voice too? Presenting Mali (born Maalavika Manoj), a TedX speaker, a solo artist, and a magical singer. Having worked with some of the biggest names in the Indian music business. She has also featured on the BBC World News, in the BBC documentary ‘Rhythms of India’.
Nikhita Gandhi

With an effortless transition between traditional Indian singing and western pop styles, Nikita is an Indian singer, composer, and songwriter, known for being the voice behind popular Bollywood chart-toppers. For those who want to learn more about music and the women in music, Nikhita brings a wide and vibrant perspective to the table. She was also an advocate for AmplifiHer last year.
Nirmika Singh

Women in poetry are rare, even rare are women in business and poetry. Bringing a fantastic combination of the two in India’s music and entertainment space is Nirmika. Through poetry, lyrics, and her work at Rolling Stone India, she is a strong advocate for women in audio, and also represented the AmplifiHer initiative last year.
Renuka Panwar

Creating a tremendous impact on the Haryanvi music industry, 19-year-old Renuka has won the listeners’ hearts with her back-to-back hit songs. With immensely successful titles such as ‘52 Gaj Ka Daman’, she’s taking her voice not just beyond Haryana in India, but to the world. Renuka was also a part of Spotify’s EQUAL program.
Saindhavi

Saindhavi has carved a niche for being an artist who offers music from a mix of genres including classical chants, film songs, to even Hindustani. Her ability to deliver heart-warming songs and classical scores showcases her special bond with music and has helped her bag several opportunities to work with great composers. With over 3000 songs to her credit over the years, her fanbase is growing strong day and day.

Keerti Kadam.