Universal Music execs Jane Gowen and Sujata Murthy join Beyond the Boys Club to discuss their roles in the music industry and more. The latest addition to the Consequence Podcast Network, Beyond the Boys Club is hosted by journalist, musician, and radio host Anne Erickson of Audio Ink Radio and the music outfit Upon Wings, spinning off from the interview column of the same name. The series highlights women and non-binary musicians as they offer their perspectives on the industry and discuss their personal experiences. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
March is Women’s History Month, and we really can’t think of a more perfect interview to kick off our March episodes. Being a woman in the music industry doesn’t mean you’re always out front, singing or playing an instrument. Sometimes, you’re leading things behind the scenes.
This month, we’re delighted to present an interview with two inspiring leaders in the music industry: Jane Gowen, EVP of Marketing & A&R, and Sujata Murthy, EVP of Media & Artist Relations, both from Universal Music. As we honor the many influential women during Women’s History Month, it’s moving to hear stories such as these and highlight the many different roles women have in crafting the music culture.
“It’s a very male dominated field,” says Murthy when asked if she’s experienced any obstacles as a woman in the industry. “You see a lot more women at the top in executive positions, but it was definitely not easy. And also being a person of color and a woman, there’s been standard challenges that you hear over and over again, everything from somebody assuming I’m the one getting the coffee or that I’m going to be the note taker or just even saying horrible stuff.”
She continues, “But growing up as an immigrant, parents are always like, ‘Treat things professionally, hold your head up. Be proud and carry on, but … don’t let people push you around.’”
Gowen, meanwhile, doesn’t take her role lightly, remarking, “It’s an enormous responsibility when you sort of stop and think, ‘I’m leading the teams that are putting these [artist] campaigns together,’ and you have an amazing responsibility to the artists, the estates, the managers, and we also have a responsibility to our labels and the way that we work at Universal.”
Listen to the entire Beyond the Boys Club podcast episode via the media player and watch a video clip below. Make sure to like, review, and subscribe to BTBC wherever you get your podcasts to keep up with each new episode, and pick up a “Beyond the Boys Club” T-shirt via the Consequence Shop or by clicking below.