Women's History Month 2025: From 17-Year-Old Student to Mamas in Music: The Power of Representation
- Tiff Randol
- Mar 7
- 4 min read
Guest editorial by Tiff Randol, Composer/Artist/Producer/Singer, and Founder of Mamas in Music
I’ve often wondered how much my experience in the music industry was shaped by the representation I didn’t see. How much did the historical lack of female composers, producers, and engineers influence the direction I took? And how different might my trajectory have been if I had seen more women thriving in those roles from the start?
We all draw inspiration from those who came before us. We look at the people who have carved out a path and think, That could be me. But what happens when those role models are missing from the narrative?
At 17, I moved to New York to study music, with an undying belief that music was the only thing I could do in this world. Like so many young women with big dreams, I listened to the voices of experienced industry professionals guiding me toward “where I would find the most likely success.” And so, like many of my female peers, I followed the most visible path: singers, songwriters, performers.
But if I could go back and talk to my younger self (and have words with NYU about their curriculum, which excluded too many female composers—some of whom, like Fanny Mendelssohn, had their works credited to male relatives), I would challenge them to showcase examples of female producers and composers. I would ask them to highlight the women who quietly, but powerfully, shaped music history. And I would push for more conversations about why women need more encouragement, opportunities, and recognition in this field.
In a sea of male peers and historical references to iconic male producers and composers, women still represent only a fraction of this industry. The numbers speak for themselves. Yes, history has shifted—more women are stepping into these roles, and their work is finally being recognized—but composing, producing, and music creation remain overwhelmingly male-dominated. The statistics on working composers in media, published songwriters, and music producers tell a clear story—one that has shaped not just my career, but the careers of so many others.
The challenges women have faced throughout history—and still face today—are undeniable: lack of representation, pay gaps, limited access to opportunities, ageism, and sexual misconduct. And if we want to talk about systemic gaps, there’s an even deeper issue that affects women in music: motherhood, where these challenges only multiply.
I experienced this firsthand in 2018 when I had my child. Suddenly, I saw the barriers even more clearly. I saw how women were quietly pushed out, how opportunities dried up, how the industry wasn’t built to support caregivers. I needed change. I needed community. When I realized no dedicated space existed for mothers in music, I launched Mamas In Music. Together with my co-founder Mary Leay, we created a global nonprofit dedicated to supporting and advocating for mothers in the music industry, bringing together women around the world to advocate for change and create tangible solutions.
I’m grateful for every company and organization working to amplify women’s voices and create opportunities. I feel fortunate to stand alongside so many others committed to change because these numbers need to move.
We need more women with publishing deals. More women scoring films. More women producing music. We need equal pay. We need childcare credits so mothers aren’t forced to choose between their careers and their families.
History is being written right now. We are either driving progress or allowing an industry that has long overlooked women to remain unchanged. Each of us working toward equity plays a role in shifting these numbers—ensuring that more women don’t just navigate this industry, but thrive within it.
For centuries, women’s contributions to composing and production have been undervalued, underfunded, and under-recognized—not because of a lack of talent, but because space wasn’t made for them. Even in 2025, the numbers remain disproportionately low. That must change.
So the real question is: How do we make sure the next generation doesn’t have to wonder if they belong in these spaces?
The answer starts with visibility. With showing women thriving as composers, producers, and engineers—not as an exception, but as a norm. With shifting industry culture so women don’t just see themselves in front of the microphone, but also behind the console, behind the orchestra, and composing the scores that bring those stories to life.
This isn’t about rewriting history. It’s about ensuring we don’t repeat it.
Representation matters because it shapes what we believe is possible. If I had seen more women doing this work at 17, I would have known, I can do this, too.
So let’s make sure the next generation doesn’t have to question it.
About Tiff Randol
Tiff Randol is a multifaceted composer, songwriter, and producer, as well as the founder of the global nonprofit Mamas in Music, which advocates for mothers in the music industry. Her work spans experimental ambient and neo-classical music to indie pop, Americana, and cinematic soundtracks. Described by The Huffington Post as “If Alice took Ziggy Stardust’s hand and followed him down the rabbit hole,” Tiff’s artistry blends grounded storytelling with an ever-evolving sonic exploration.
She began her career getting a peek behind the curtain while interning at The Power Station and Philip Glass' Looking Glass Studios in NYC, while songwriting and producing bands across a variety of genres. Her songwriting and compositions have been featured in numerous major projects, most notably the end title song for Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters, as well as in hit shows including Work in Progress, The Fosters, Arrow, Masters of Sex, Ray Donovan, and more.
She has been featured in American Songwriter, worked with incredible artists like Moby and Fred Armisen, performed her own work at The Hammer Museum, and showcased immersive compositions in multiple Fulldome theaters under her artist project IAMEVE.
Alongside her diverse career, Tiff is an advocate for underrepresented voices in music—whether through her nonprofit Mamas in Music, which supports mothers in the industry, or by openly sharing her late-in-life discovery of being AuDHD. Her work often explores themes of perception, transformation, and emotional depth, using sound as a means to connect, heal, and challenge perspectives. Whether crafting evocative scores, indie pop earworms, or immersive ambient soundscapes, she continues to push creative boundaries, with a growing focus on scoring.
Celebrate Women's History Month 2025!
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