Women's Audio Mission

What Women's Audio Mission does

Women's Audio Mission (WAM) is a San Francisco-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2003, dedicated to advancing women and gender-expansive people in music and audio production. WAM operates the only professional recording studio in the world built and run entirely by women and gender-expansive staff, alongside a portfolio of five core programs: WAM Academy (adult professional training including Pro Tools and Dolby Atmos certification), Girls on the Mic (free after-school audio technology training for youth ages 11-18 across 30+ San Francisco school partners), WAMCon (annual recording arts conference series across multiple US cities plus virtual), Local Sirens (BIPOC women/gender-expansive artist recording residency and concert series), and a paid Internship Program placing graduates at companies including Dolby, Pixar, Apple, Sony, Google, and Pandora. The organization trains over 2,500 women, girls, and gender-expansive individuals annually.

WAM's underlying technology and infrastructure centers on professional-grade recording studios equipped with industry-standard audio production tools, with curriculum built around industry-recognized certifications (Pro Tools PT101/PT110, Dolby Atmos). The studio facility serves a dual purpose: a low-cost commercial recording environment for independent and enterprise artists (clients have included Kronos Quartet, Angelique Kidjo, and Academy Award-nominated film soundtracks) and a hands-on training environment for participants.

The business model blends multiple revenue streams typical of a diversified nonprofit: earned revenue from paid Academy courses ($309-$1,107 per participant), Pro Tools/Dolby Atmos certification fees ($103-$566), WAMCon conference registration ($25-$103 per ticket), studio rental fees, engineer placement services, and an annual membership program offering 50% conference discounts. The substantial majority of funding, however, comes from individual donations, foundation grants (NEA, Koret, Intel Foundation, Zellerbach Family Foundation, American Honda Foundation, Cisco, California Arts Council, SF Arts Commission, SF DCYF), and corporate sponsorships (Dolby, Disney, Spotify, Universal Music Group, Capitol Studios, The Recording Academy, iZotope, Shure). WAM serves four primary customer segments: gender-expansive youth (free training), adult women/gender-expansive audio professionals (paid certification and academy), BIPOC women/gender-expansive artists (residency), and internship-program career-launch participants.

Name

Women's Audio Mission

Legal name

Women's Audio Mission

Website

https://womensaudiomission.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Women's Audio Mission (WAM) is a San Francisco 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates the only recording studio in the world built and run entirely by women and gender-expansive staff, training 2,500+ women, girls, and gender-expansive individuals annually in music and audio production through Academy courses, youth programs, conferences, and internships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Audio Production Education and Recording Services

NAICS

Sound Recording Studios (51224), Sound Recording Studios (512240), Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries (512)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)

akta.pro primary industry

Music Production, Recording & Audio Engineering (EDAMANAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Remote Recording & Online Session Services (MPAIAHAL), Audio Production & Podcasting (BPAFAIAE), Immersive/Spatial Audio Production (Dolby Atmos, 5.1/7.1, Binaural) (MPAHAEAJ)

Keywords

• Audio production training
• Recording studio services
• Women in music education
• Pro Tools certification
• Youth music programs

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Studio Recording Services: WAM's recording studio provides low-cost, high-quality recording services for independent artists, generating revenue while supporting the mission. The studio has worked on award-winning projects including GRAMMY-winning albums.
2. Training Programs and Certifications: WAM Academy offers paid courses and certifications including Pro Tools certification and Dolby Atmos training. Programs available in-person (San Francisco and Los Angeles) and online with various pricing tiers.
3. Conference Registration Fees: WAMCon conferences charge registration fees ($25-$103 per ticket) for immersive recording arts conferences featuring workshops, panels, and networking. Has reached 1200+ attendees since 2017.
4. Donations and Fundraising: As a nonprofit, WAM relies heavily on donations and fundraising campaigns. Donation tiers support specific programs: $5000 funds one school for one semester of Girls on the Mic, $2500 sponsors an intern, $1000 supports WAM Academy students.
5. Membership Program: Annual membership provides 50% discount on conference tickets and other member benefits, creating recurring revenue from engaged community members.
6. Hire an Engineer Services: WAM connects clients with women and gender-expansive engineers and producers for recording projects, providing employment opportunities for graduates while generating service fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Women's Audio Mission is a nonprofit that provides hands-on training, certifications, professional recording studio services, conferences, and artist residencies for women and gender-expansive individuals in music and audio production. Core paid offerings include WAM Academy courses (Summer Accelerated Academy, Fall Academy), Avid Pro Tools certification, Dolby Atmos training, WAMCon conference registrations, recording studio time, and annual memberships, complemented by free youth programs and artist residencies.

Product overview

Women's Audio Mission (WAM) is a nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of programs and services designed to advance women and gender-expansive people in music and audio production. The core offering includes WAM Academy for adult education and professional certification, Girls on the Mic (GOTM) for youth outreach, WAMCon conferences for industry networking, Local Sirens for artist performance and recording residencies, and a WAM Internship Program for career placement. WAM also operates a professional recording studio built and run entirely by women and gender-expansive staff, providing both training environment and recording services. These programs collectively serve over 2,500 women, girls, and gender-expansive individuals annually through hands-on training, work experience, career counseling, and job placement services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• WAMCon: Annual recording arts conference series for women and gender-expansive individuals, featuring workshops, panels, and networking with industry professionals.
• Girls on the Mic (GOTM)
• WAM Academy
• Local Sirens
• WAM Internship Program

Products and services

• WAM Academy Adult education program offering accelerated courses in audio production for women and gender-expansive individuals seeking careers in the audio industry. Includes Summer Accelerated Academy, Fall Academy, and certification tracks, delivered in-person in San Francisco and Los Angeles and online. Pricing ranges from $309 to $1,107.25 depending on location and tier.
• Girls on the Mic Free after-school training and mentoring program for girls and gender-expansive youth ages 11-18 in Oakland and San Francisco public schools. Covers music production, coding, synthesizers, songwriting, podcast production, DJ and sampling, and sound for film. Operates across 30+ San Francisco school partners and serves 2,000+ students.
• WAMCon Recording Conference Annual interactive recording conference for women and gender-expansive individuals featuring workshops, panels, and networking with industry leaders from Dolby, Disney, Spotify, Universal Music Group, Capitol Studios, and the Recording Academy. Covers recording techniques, mixing, mastering, vocal production, and music business. Tickets range from $25 to $103, with member and student discounts. Has reached 1,200+ attendees since 2017.
• Local Sirens Artist Residency and Concert Series Free quarterly live music performance series featuring Bay Area women and gender-expansive musicians, combined with an Artist Recording Residency program for local BIPOC artists. Residencies provide free recording services, mentoring, artist stipends, and 1-2 weeks of studio time culminating in live performances. Has presented 75+ artists and reached 7,500+ concert attendees.
• WAM Internship Program Industry-recognized internship program offering hands-on studio training, professional development, and job placement for women and gender-expansive individuals ready to take the next step in audio careers. Hosts 30 young adults per year. Interns have gone on to work at Dolby, Pixar, Apple, Sony, Google, and Pandora.
• WAM Recording Studio Services World-class recording studio services in San Francisco and Los Angeles provided at low-cost, high-quality rates for independent artists and professional clients. Built and run entirely by women and gender-expansive staff, it is the only such professional recording studio in the world. Has hosted GRAMMY-winning projects (Kronos Quartet, Angelique Kidjo) and an Academy Award-nominated soundtrack (Dirty Wars). Includes a Hire an Engineer service connecting clients with women and gender-expansive engineers and producers.
• Avid Pro Tools Certification Avid-certified Pro Tools training programs (PT101 and PT110) delivered in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and online. Provides industry-recognized certification for audio professionals. Pricing ranges from $103 (LA Fall 2026) to $566.50 (SF/online sessions).

Quantifiable outcome

• Trains 2,500+ women, girls, and gender-expansive people annually in music and audio production
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Dolby LaboratoriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDolby supports WAMCon conferences and WAM programs as a major sponsor. The partnership provides visibility for Dolby's audio technology while supporting WAM's mission to advance women in audio production. Dolby has supported programs including sound engineering workshops and career panels at WAMCon events.
• DisneycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDisney supports WAMCon conferences and has participated as a sponsor and presenter. Disney representatives including Berenice Robinson (VP, Post-Production, Walt Disney Animation Studios) and David Fluhr (Re-Recording Mixer) have spoken at WAM events.
• SpotifycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSpotify supports WAMCon conferences as a sponsor, contributing to WAM's efforts to advance women in audio production. The partnership helps connect WAM with emerging audio professionals.
• Universal Music GroupcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerUMG supports WAMCon conferences and programs. Jennifer Baltimore (Senior VP of Business and Legal Affairs) has presented at WAM events, providing industry insights and career guidance.
• Capitol StudioscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCapitol Studios hosted WAM at Capitol event in 2018 and continues as a WAMCon venue sponsor. Michelle Jubelirer (COO of Capitol Records) and Paula Salvatore (VP/Studio Manager) have participated as presenters at WAM events.
• iZotopecoreTechnology or IntegrationiZotope hosted WAMCon Boston 2017 and has been a consistent sponsor of WAMCon conferences. The partnership provides audio technology resources and industry connections for WAM participants.
• The Recording AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Recording Academy (GRAMMY Awards) supports WAMCon conferences. Maureen Droney (VP of the Producers & Engineers Wing) and Ruby Marchand (Vice Chair) have participated as presenters, connecting WAM participants with the broader music industry.
• Belmont UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWAMCon Nashville 2026 is held in partnership with Belmont University at Ocean Way Recording Studios. This partnership provides educational credibility and industry connections for Nashville-based programming.
• YouTubeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerYouTube Space LA hosted WAMCon Los Angeles 2019 Sound for Picture conference. YouTube provides venue and promotional support for WAM events.
• ShureminorGTM or Marketing PartnerShure supports WAMCon conferences through sponsorship, providing microphone technology demonstrations and career information sessions at WAM events.
• sE ElectronicsminorGTM or Marketing PartnersE Electronics supports WAMCon conferences with equipment demonstrations and sponsorship, providing hands-on experience with audio equipment for participants.
• Universal AudiominorGTM or Marketing PartnerUniversal Audio supports WAMCon events with studio tours and equipment demonstrations, providing insight into professional recording technology.
• SweetwaterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSweetwater supports WAMCon conferences with career information and promotional materials, connecting WAM participants with potential employers and equipment resources.
• Outside LandsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOutside Lands festival supports WAM by providing shadowing opportunities for interns at the San Francisco music festival, offering real-world live sound experience.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Sweetwater: Major US music instrument and pro audio retailer offering gear financing, education, and recording studio resources. Comparable ecosystem participant and WAMCon sponsor that connects WAM participants to equipment and career resources.
• iZotope: Audio technology company making Pro Tools-adjacent mixing/mastering tools (Ozone, RX). Comparable ecosystem participant — partner of WAM, hosts WAMCon Boston — and a potential adjacent training/services competitor.
• Dolby Laboratories: Major audio technology company and core WAM sponsor whose Dolby Atmos certification training WAM Academy delivers. Comparable as an audio industry infrastructure provider and ecosystem enabler rather than direct competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Full Sail University: For-profit audio, film, and media school with industry-standard recording facilities and Pro Tools/Dolby Atmos training. Overlaps with WAM Academy's certification and career-placement offerings at much larger commercial scale.
• Berklee College of Music: Major accredited music institution offering audio production, Pro Tools training, and music engineering degrees. Comparable to WAM Academy and Pro Tools certification offerings, but at significantly larger scale and broader demographic focus.
• The Recording Academy (GRAMMYs): Music industry organization running MusiCares, GRAMMY U, and Producers & Engineers Wing programs. Overlaps with WAM's industry access and mentorship offerings, and is also an active WAM partner/sponsor.
• SAE Institute: Global for-profit audio engineering and music production school offering Pro Tools and Dolby Atmos certifications. Directly competes with WAM's paid training programs but serves a much broader student base without mission-driven demographics.
• Audio Engineering Society (AES): Professional society for audio engineers with extensive training programs, conventions, and student sections. Comparable to WAMCon conferences in industry networking, though broader in scope and not mission-driven toward women.

Direct peers

• SoundGirls.org: Nonprofit organization supporting women in audio production and sound engineering. Highly comparable to WAM in mission (advancing women in audio), target audience, and program structure, though more focused on community/resources than physical studio training.
• She Is The Music: Nonprofit coalition advancing representation of women in the music industry, particularly as songwriters, producers, and engineers. Directly comparable to WAM's mission and target demographic, with overlapping partnership ecosystems.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/womensaudiomission
• Xx.com/womensaudio
• Facebookfacebook.com/womensaudiomission

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Women's Audio Mission