15 years of Helvetiarockt

Since 2009, the Helvetiarockt association, which is active throughout Switzerland, has been campaigning for more women, inter, non-binary, trans and agender people in the Swiss music business. Although it feels like there is now more diversity on local club and festival stages than back then, Helvetiarockt is still a long way from reaching its goal. While it is estimated that around 50 % girls are active in music schools, there is hardly any gender equality at all levels in the professional sector, as a preliminary study on gender relations in the Swiss cultural sector by Pro Helvetia and the Center for Gender Studies at the University of Basel revealed in 2019. Although the study is based on the read gender and a two-gender system, Helvetiarockt also explicitly supports inter, non-binary, trans and agender people. Nevertheless, there can be no question of a balanced proportion of women and men. In the rock, pop and jazz sector, women account for 11 % of stage presence, in music production the figure is just 2 % and at Swiss music academies only 12 % of teaching staff are women.

Looking back

Helvetiarockt has been counteracting these shortcomings for 15 years now. With 12 permanent employees in the areas of Helvetiarockt Music Lab, Helvetiarockt On Tour, fundraising, communication and administration, and with a total of around 800 full-time equivalents, over 40 coaches and events in 17 cantons, the association is turning the various screws of this obviously misogynistic system. 

Starting with workshops for up-and-coming musicians, such as the first band workshops in 2012, offers on recording techniques and songwriting were later added. At the same time, Helvetiarockt has made a strong commitment to the industry network in order to address the wishes and needs of professional musicians. 

In the here and now

"Although it's just a workshop, the few days during the songwriting camp have a huge impact on young people's lives," says Muriel Rhyner. The musician and regional manager of Helvetiarockt, who lives in Ticino, talks about empowerment and strengthening self-confidence. "You can feel that something is happening to people on different levels," says Rhyner. Anyone opening music software for the first time can quickly be overwhelmed by the technical possibilities, as musician and regional manager Jasmin Albash from Basel knows. "Taking the time to try it out without pressure in a safe space and getting tips from a professional producer is worth its weight in gold," says Albash: "No matter what age group the participants are in - there are no stupid questions. We want to make sure that everyone has the confidence to approach the coaches with their concerns." 

The "Recording Step By Step" studio workshops in particular, which are aimed at women, intersex, non-binary, trans and agender people interested in sound engineering and studio recording, have met with great interest. Over the course of six months, participants can learn the basics of sound and studio technology in a professional studio and finally record and mix a song. 

Looking ahead

"The fact that these offers are always booked up so quickly shows us that there is a lack of low-threshold offers," says Rhyner. The workshops for professionals, such as "Pay Your Way", which focuses on financing, or the "Cut Trough The Noise" workshop on communication, booking and promotion in the music world, are also usually booked out quickly. "Actually, all workshops aimed at all age groups are overbooked," says Albash. Promoting young people is therefore not enough: age-independent promotion of women, inter, non-binary, trans and agender people is needed. Helvetiarockt is unable to meet this need comprehensively and sufficiently, which is why the association will need to be able to use synergies for national, comprehensive coverage in the area of joint support in the future.

Helvetiarockt On Tour :

For over a year, Helvetiarockt On Tour has been addressing the issue of sexualized violence in clubs and at festivals. Workshops and exchange formats will be held in German- and French-speaking Switzerland until the end of 2025. All information at www.diversityroadmap.org

More information about Helvetiarockt: www.helvetiarockt.ch