Women in Music 2026: Amazon Music Backs Rising Female Artists and Celebrates Women Creators

Amazon Music and Fever Network brought together leading women artists for a Women In Music 2026 roundtable, creating a platform to speak openly about gender gaps in Indian music. The conversation, moderated by Rotalks, focused on live performance bias, playback dynamics and creative control, while also spotlighting personal journeys shaped by persistence and bold choices.

The session coincided with International Women’s Day on 9th March 2026 and featured Lisa Mishra, Raja Kumari, Rashmeet Kaur, Madhubanti Bagchi and Kausar Munir. The artists used the space to dissect long-standing inequalities, question festival line-ups, examine decision-making power in studios, and address how social expectations still influence careers, even as digital platforms broaden reach.

Women In Music 2026 roundtable highlights on Amazon Music

Across the discussion, the speakers agreed that male performers still receive more offers for large concerts and stage slots. They noted that women are less likely to be booked as headliners at major festivals, despite streaming success and loyal fan bases. This imbalance, they said, shapes everything from earnings to how audiences perceive artistic leadership.

The talk also mapped how women navigate both the music business and everyday social judgments. Each artist shared experiences of rebuilding careers after setbacks, rethinking image expectations, and learning to negotiate contracts. Personal narratives underlined how resilience, strategic choices and support systems help them keep creating in an environment that remains uneven.

Women In Music 2026 artists share industry challenges and wins

Playback singing came under special focus as the group examined how film music is changing. Madhubanti Bagchi explained why selection processes can still be rigorous, stating that "playback has quality control because musicians choose musicians." The comment captured how trusted creative circles often determine who gets key songs, rather than public visibility alone.

Anecdotes gave the roundtable a direct, lived-in texture. Raja Kumari described lending vocals to Jawan, starring Shah Rukh Khan, outlining how such moments bring global reach but also immense pressure. Lisa Mishra spoke about winning a Filmfare award and considering whether acting should play a larger role alongside music in future projects.

Independent music emerged as another strong thread when Rashmeet Kaur discussed choosing self-prioritisation over constant playback chasing. Rashmeet Kaur talked about investing time and energy into personal releases, rather than waiting for film offers. Kausar Munir added that, as a woman lyricist, access to projects often remains selective and hard-earned, with trust built gradually across years.

A brief overview of the key contributors is set out below.

Name	Primary Role	Notable Reference in Women In Music 2026
Lisa Mishra	Singer, actor	Filmfare win and interest in acting
Raja Kumari	Rapper, singer	Voice for Jawan starring Shah Rukh Khan
Rashmeet Kaur	Singer-songwriter	Focus on independent music over playback
Madhubanti Bagchi	Playback singer	Work on Dhurandhar and Ramba Ho
Kausar Munir	Lyricist	Experiences as a woman lyricist in films

Women In Music 2026 spotlight on Dhurandhar and Ramba Ho with Amazon Music

Later, the discussion shifted to Dhurandhar, where Madhubanti Bagchi described the creative environment behind the film’s music. Madhubanti Bagchi highlighted the importance of clear direction from composer Shashwat and director Aditya Dhar, pointing out how united leadership can shape a soundtrack’s emotional link to the story and avoid scattered, purely promotional songs.

Madhubanti Bagchi said, "You can see passion, and Shashwat is very passionate about his work. Aditya Dhar's leadership means a lot. In a film environment, a captain's role matters a lot. That's the reason why a lot of films fail, a lot of albums fail, because there is no one single direction. It's not just about one promotional song, it should be the sole connection to the story we are trying to tell and navigate along the way. The fact that leadership really worked on this one."

Speaking about the reimagined version of classic track Ramba Ho, Madhubanti Bagchi recalled the pressure and thrill surrounding the recording. Madhubanti Bagchi described a tight schedule before the album launch, the unusual placement of the song during a gunfight scene, and the creative challenge of matching a beloved original while still delivering something fresh for Dhurandhar.

Madhubanti Bagchi said, "When Ramba Ho was made, I remember, I remember we were recording one day before the music album launch and Shashwat told me that this is a very crucial song and it comes at a very bizarre point in the film where you wouldn't expect a Ramba Ho, and then when they showed me the visuals, it comes at a gun fight sequence and it was so cool. The music starts from the older version and transcends into the newer version and it was so cool. Initially, I was very hesitant to sing Ramba Ho, because it's such a legendary song, because I was extremely scared of underperforming. The standards were so high because it's a Usha Didi song and it's somewhere at the top, and then I saw the premise and I was like do I really have to do this, and that day also Aditya was like sing it like it should be in a gun fight sequence."

The evening closed on a lighter but pointed note when each artist revealed one thing they were tired of hearing or facing. The mix of humour and frankness underlined the honesty of Women In Music 2026, which was further amplified through a dedicated Amazon Music playlist and a recorded roundtable.