Stemming from the lack of diversity in Hollywood, USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism released its annual report on inclusion in popular music in January 2018, and the results revealed that there was a strong need for more women in the music industry. Dr. Stacy L. Smith, Marc Choueiti & Dr. Katherine Pieper, part of the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, the leading global think tank studying issues of inclusion across entertainment mediums, explored the issue of not having inclusion within the recording studio and found that out of 651 producers, 98% were male and 2% female.
Music producer, songwriter, and entrepreneur, TRAKGIRL transforms what it means to be an emerging woman producer within the industry. She’s passionate about encouraging women to gain access to more expansive roles within the heavily male-dominated production and business aspects of the music industry.
As a new and upcoming producer to watch, Shakari Boles, who goes by “TRAKGIRL,” already has major artists within her portfolio. Her skills span across multiple genres, allowing her to work with Jhene Aiko, Omarion, Luke James, and Mansions on the Moons to name a few. Born into a musical family and as a DMV resident, Boles received a lot of her musical inspiration from Missy and Timberland.
According to Forbes, Boles is currently expanding her brand to promote self-awareness and women empowerment in the music industry as well technology through music production. She’s been featured in the Los Angeles Times, Complex, BET and Nylon as a musical force to be reckoned with.
Through speaking engagements and producer clinics, Shakari Boles is passionate about delving into music technology and public speaking to serve as a mentor to other women entering the industry. Currently, she has 9 public appearances and speaking engagements with various brands and notable institutions such as TIDAL, BET, Georgetown University and Spotify under her belt. Additionally, as an entrepreneur, Boles has taken her unique brand into the fashion world with her latest venture, PAY US TODAY which promotes fair pay for creatives and producers, as well as shining a light on fair business practices.
In January, Shakari Boles created the 7% Series to uplift women in music. With a make-up of less than 7% of women who are producers and engineers, representation is scarce. She created the series with the goal of creating a unified inclusive platform to craft solutions while building and strengthening the community. The 7% Series launched on 2 May, 2018 in Los Angeles in partnership with Stem, a distribution platform that pays creatives for their work.
Read more on Forbes.com.
