Why You Need to Attend Our Women in Music Mixer This July 2025 | Vendor Spotlight

From Taylor Swift to Sabrina Carpenter, some of the biggest names in music are women who are killing it on the charts, but there’s still a long way to go when it comes to closing the gender gap in the music industry. According to the latest USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative released in Jan. of 2025, men still hold the vast majority share of creative careers in music making up a whopping 86.2% of songwriters, 96.5% of producers and outnumber female artists 3.2:1. These dismal findings are the reality for Billboard chart topping artists with widespread appeal and financial backing from labels, let alone small, unknown artists.

That is why Women Who Rock is on a mission to champion the next generation of women in music by providing opportunities and resources that contribute to their growth. If you are a female music maker in Pittsburgh, you won’t want to miss your next chance to get involved at Women Who Rock’s Women in Music Mixer networking event.

In addition to ourselves, Women Who Rock has partnered with five incredible vendors attending the mixer who want to help you level up your music game! We asked all of them how women in music would benefit from coming to the event and this is what they wanted you to know.

Soundgirls

Soundgirls is a professional organization for women in audio who want to find a community of likeminded individuals and resources to grow their careers including scholarships, mentorships, job placement, business development, and educational workshops. With 6,000 members and chapters worldwide, this is the place for the women interested in a career as an audio engineer or producer.

“Uplifting women in music means something special to SoundGirls Pittsburgh. We hold monthly meetings, and work closely with our community to provide volunteering opportunities, informational sessions, and a safe place to hold discussions about anything relating to audio. Since women make up only about 5% of the professional workforce in audio and music production, we strive to encourage and support more women to enter the field through our efforts. If you've ever had questions about running sound for a live event, writing a technical rider, or producing your own music, please stop by our booth to learn the basics. We will have a live sound workshop set up for you to come interact with courtesy of Tech 25. Come network with audio professionals, dive into the technical side of music production, and level-up your career by learning!” —Laura C. Moeller, Soundgirls Pittsburgh Chapter Head

Drusky Entertainment

Drusky Entertainment is the tri-state area’s premiere concert promoter for up-and-coming artists producing over 500 concerts annually across PA, OH, and WV. If you’re an artist with performance chops ready to get in front of a bigger crowd, Drusky wants to help develop your career.

“Women have had a profound impact in the world of music and continue to shape and pave the future. We have always been a proponent for trying to help provide the stages to be launching pads for tomorrow's next big artist. Whether it was Brandi Carlisle in 2012, or working with Gabby Barrett on local stages as local support in the 2010s, it's important to lift these voices and continue to support these journeys wherever we can. We encourage artists to come talk to us about the industry and talk to us about how you can get involved with our myriad of shows that we have coming up in the Pittsburgh region! We are always trying to advocate to add local artists to shows with national support and we would love to talk to you about these opportunities!” —Adam Valen, Director of Marketing, Drusky Entertainment

Elation Creative

Elation Creative is your one-stop shop for all your social media needs with services including content strategy, in-house content creation and content management. With past clients like the high-profile companies Olipop, Altar’d State, and Canon amongst others, Elation is for the artist ready to consolidate their online brand and boost their social credit score.

“At Elation, we treat musicians like the brands they are by crafting scroll-stopping content that builds a fandom and gets people to care about their music. For artists, our strategy leans heavily into authentic storytelling, performance teasers, and fan engagement tactics that convert views into streams and followers into ticket buyers. We will be at our booth offering free digital brand consultancy to any artist that needs support with their digital strategy. Stop by and show us your social media account for tailored insights on how to improve your content, grow your online presence, and start treating your social media like a brand!” —Georgia Fowkes, CEO, Elation Creative

Pittsburgh Guitars

Located in the heart of South Side, look no further than Pittsburgh Guitars for quality instruments, quick repairs and years of expertise from wonderful staff. If you’re a seasoned pro guitarist or new player looking to get their first instrument, Pittsburgh Guitars has got you covered.

“For us, uplifting women in music means fostering an environment where every woman feels empowered and enthusiastic to pursue their musical passions. It's about creating a space that's not just welcoming, but genuinely encouraging.Musicians can level up their careers at our booth by tapping into 46 years of Pittsburgh Guitars' experience supporting the local music scene! We're not just selling guitars; we're sharing an infectious passion for all things music. Come chat about gear, instrument questions or talk about lessons to refine your skills. We're here to help you hit all the right notes in your musical journey!” —John Bechtold, Owner, Pittsburgh Guitars

Sing, Sing, Sing!

If you’re looking to hone your performance skills, look no further than Sing, Sing, Sing! With locations in Wexford, Bakerstown and a new upcoming studio in the South Hills, Sing, Sing, Sing! provides lessons in voice, piano, guitar, drums and so much more for all ages!

“To me, uplifting women in music means creating spaces where they can discover the power of their own voice - and be celebrated for it. We strongly believe everyone CAN and SHOULD sing so they can feel this power! While we welcome people of all ages, we’re especially passionate about empowering the next generation of young female artists and leaders, helping them build the kind of confidence that lasts far beyond the stage. Our culture is infused in joy, creativity, and the belief that a single moment of feeling seen, heard, and celebrated in the spotlight can create far-reaching positive impacts. Whether it’s a five-year-old bravely singing a solo, a mom returning to music after years away, or a woman picking up a mic for the very first time, it can be transformative. Stop by to learn how Sing Sing Sing! supports young artists through music education, performance opportunities, mentorship, teaching roles, and creative collaboration. Whether you're looking to grow your career or give back to the next generation, I would love to connect!” —Jacki Smathers, Co-Founder/CEO, Sing, Sing, Sing!

Women Who Rock

Women Who Rock is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing opportunities for women in music and women’s health through benefit concerts that help to fund Magee Women’s Research Institute. If you’re looking for a night out with the girls you can feel good about or want to learn how to get involved with one of our various events, we’d love to talk with you!

“This event is a way for musicians and other women in the music industry to meet each other and form relationships, which can organically turn into creative prospects for both. Whether that be song ideas, collaborations, gaining connections that will give them the tools to be able to book their own shows, navigate their social media presence, gain knowledge of audio tools, instrument repairs or management, there’s so much value there.” —Bailee Gazdag, Partner Activation & Pop-Up Event Manager, Women Who Rock

 “As a woman in the music industry who grew up in Pittsburgh, I know firsthand how powerful it is to have a strong, supportive community. Hosting our Women in Music Mixer here in our hometown is about creating space for connection, opportunity, and mentorship — because when women lift each other up, the entire industry rises.” —Melinda Colaizzi, Founder, Women Who Rock™

Whether you know you could be tomorrow’s next star or just want to get your feet wet again after years away from the stage, the Women in Music Mixer event is the perfect place to start. Please register to join us on Thursday, July 24th from 6-8pm at Hazel Grove Brewing for this free, special opportunity to grow your career. We can’t wait to see you there!