„There are just no women!“ is a still widespread go-to excuse in the music industry. As a result, men seem to continuously dominate the spaces on and behind the concert stage.
However, Helvetiarockt, the Swiss coordination centre and networking platform for women, intersex, non-binary, trans and agender (FINTA*) people in contemporary music, has been working since 2009 on debunking that claim and making FINTA* people in the local music business more visible.
This year, their networking platform, musicdirectory.ch, celebrates its fifth anniversary. According to a Helvetiarockt press release, the 4-language platform has established itself as an essential meeting point and networking space for music professionals across all functions and areas of the music industry.
Last year, the platform underwent technical modernisation to enhance the user experience. At the same time, they also organised regular networking events in all language regions, offering physical meeting spaces for exchange and networking.
In celebration of the anniversary, Helvetiarockt has now announced a new social media campaign, a live podcast, and an anniversary event:
- Mid-July: Launch of our campaign on Instagram, in which music creators such as Alexia Thomas, Dr Minx, Anita Moresi and others share their experiences with musicdirectory.ch.
- 17.07.2025: Live podcast & exchange at Gurten Festival from 16:15 to 17:15 on the new Collab Stage. Under the title „How FINTA* people connect through musicdirectory.ch“, Kate Birch (aka Laura Schuler, producing & songwriting, Indie Pop, Electronica), Loussona Ground (composer of experimental and electronic music) and Rebecca Solari (Fulmine, Crème solaire), whose projects are represented on the platform, will discuss their experiences and successes in a live podcast hosted by Natalia Anderson. Following the discussion, there will be space for exchange, Q&A and networking. The event will be recorded and posted on Helvetiarockt’s YouTube channel.
- 04.10.2025: Anniversary Event – 5 years of Music Directory musicdirectory.ch celebrates its 5th anniversary at Fri-Son in Fribourg. With a strong line-up of artists registered on the platform: La Nefera, Fjälla, Manic Pixxies, Eggs & Tiaras, Chacho, Subaqua, and Wildreis. Guests from the music business —from artists and bookers to organisers and supporters—are invited to network, exchange ideas and stand up together for more inclusion in the music industry. The public event is open to all genders and, in addition to the concert programme, offers space for encounters, exchange, and registration on the platform.
