Women In The Mix - HIS Education

It’s been a big year for women in music, even if your name isn’t Taylor Swift or Beyoncé. From sold-out Las Vegas residencies (hello, Adele) to taking part in some of the biggest moments in pop culture (Dua Lipa’s “Dance the Night,” from Barbie movie) to completely dominating the conversation (all Olivia Rodrigo), the musicians had the microphone all year and didn’t drop it. And that’s even before the Grammy nominations were announced in November, with women dominating the Album of the Year, Song of the Year and Record of the Year categories.

The Recording Academy, the organization that awards the Grammys, doesn’t just recognize the achievements of women in music in front of crowds of screaming fans; they also work to increase the contribution of women to music behind the scenes, whether as a songwriter, producer or touring musician. And PEOPLE and Sephora are partnering with them to help these women get a voice.

Introducing women in the mix

We celebrate women in music all year long

PEOPLE, the Recording Academy and Sephora are partnering for the Celebrating Women In the Mix event on February 1st, ahead of the Grammy Awards on February 4th. PEOPLE editors Janine Rubenstein and Melody Chiu will be joined by musicians Jordin Sparks and Carly Pearce and mix engineer Marcella Araica, all of whom are passionate about helping female artists gain more visibility in their fields.

Grammy events to watch

Jordin Sparks, Carly Pearce are among the ‘Women in the mix’ people are celebrating at the pre-Grammy event

Carly Pearce Says ‘Every Dream and More’ Came True Ahead of Second Grammys Appearance (Exclusive)

Marcella Araica Makes Space for More Women in Music: ‘You Can’t Do It All Alone’ (Exclusive)

Ahead of the Grammys, PEOPLE spoke with the nominated artists about their nominations, their plans for the night and what it means to them to be recognized for their talent. These impressive candidates had a lot to say about their experiences and what to expect next.

Grammy nominees speak loudly

Coco Jones Says Entertainment Industry ‘Made Better’ Because of ‘Dark-Skinned Black Girls’ (Exclusive)

Bebe Rexha recalls being ‘nervous’ about working with David Guetta as they celebrate second Grammys together (Exclusive)

Kelsea Ballerini Reacts to Her Best Country Album Grammy Nom: ‘I’ve Earned My Freedom as a Songwriter’ (Exclusive)

What makes a song a hit? Long before it’s ready for the public to listen to, it starts with words on a page, a melody stuck in your head, a beat that won’t let up, and the right collaborators to bring it all together. All these stars know a thing or two about putting their thoughts on paper and watching it turn into a hit.

Songwriters we love

Olivia Rodrigo Says It’s ‘Crazy’ To Get 6 Grammy Noms: ‘What An Honor’ (Exclusive)

Diane Warren on Taylor Swift releasing ‘Say Don’t Go’: ‘Thanks for Taking Me Along for the Ride’ (Exclusive)

Dove Cameron says revisiting past traumas to write her album was like ’emotional spring cleaning’ (Exclusive)

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The beauty of supporting women in music

Although these stars all come from different genres — pop, rock, and country — they share a passion for creating music that speaks to the joy, pain, and magic of the human experience. And they bring that honesty and insight into the songs they write and their powerful performances. Read more about what happened behind the scenes of some of your favorite songs.