At Spotify’s first EQUAL Day in India, popular Hindustani vocalist Kaushiki Chakraborty, reflecting on how women performers continue to navigate a male-dominated music industry, recalled an incident during a video shoot where she was asked to wear something more glamorous to garner views. “I refused,” she said, adding that despite coming from a musical lineage, carving a space for herself has not been easy. “The lineage is usually passed on from a father to a son. Why don’t we talk about a ‘mothership’ in the industry?” she asked.“There are so many talented women who don’t always receive the visibility or opportunities they deserve, especially in an industry where being seen and heard can be challenging,” said Shillong-based musician Meba Ofilia. “Representation matters, particularly in an industry where many voices remain underrepresented,” added Nagaland-based musician Temsu Clover.

Kaushiki Chakraborty, Meghana Bhogle and Anushka Nain at the panel discussion on safety of women in the music industry with moderator Akhila Shankar

| Photo Credit:

Special Arrangement

Safety and inclusion in the workplace, career growth, mentorship, and work-life balance — these are among the key challenges Indian women in music face today. These themes shaped the conversations at EQUAL Day. India was among nine global cities to host the event in 2026, including Buenos Aires, Tokyo, Paris, Johannesburg, Berlin, and New York.Launched in 2021, EQUAL was created to address the challenges women in music often face — fewer opportunities, limited visibility and unequal access. “EQUAL is our global programme dedicated to diversity in music. It was designed to promote equity for women in the industry year-round,” said Amarjit Batra, managing director, India, and GM, SAMEA, Spotify.“In the five years since it began, EQUAL has supported over 1,400 women ambassadors worldwide — from global superstars to emerging artistes — across more than 40 markets, including India. Further, EQUAL artists have collectively seen more than 50 billion editorial streams on Spotify,” added Bel Aztiria, Lead, Global Music Programs, Spotify. To mark its five-year milestone, Spotify has also introduced Spotify EQUAL: The Podcast, a new artiste-led video series that extends EQUAL’s mission into deeper storytelling and cultural conversations.