Alicia Keys says the music industry still runs like a “good old boy network,” and she’s calling out exactly who gets shut out.
In a recent interview with Variety, the Grammy-winning artist zeroed in on one of the industry’s biggest blind spots: women behind the scenes. Not just singers, but producers and engineers—the ones actually building the sound. According to Keys, they’re still being locked out.
“All the incredible women working as engineers and producers are not given an open door,” she said, pointing to the reality that women make up just a tiny percentage of the field.
To combat the practice, Keys has been moving with intention—creating space where there isn’t any. It’s also why her advice to newcomers isn’t about chasing fame—it’s about keeping your rights. “Think about how to become the owners of your own creations,” she said.
Her music, meanwhile, has been carrying that same energy for years—even if it didn’t start that way. Keys admitted that a lot of her so-called “empowerment” records came from the opposite place. “Most of them were written because I wasn’t feeling that strong… I had to give myself a pep talk to keep going,” she explained.
She also didn’t hold back on the business side. Keys warned that the industry is full of people ready to take a cut—but not necessarily help artists build longevity. “You deal with all these executives and lawyers who love to take their percentages and overcharge you,” she said. “But they never say, ‘How can we ensure you’re here to stay?’”
Outside the studio, Keys’ personal life is moving on a completely different wavelength. She and Swizz Beatz just hit 15 years of marriage, celebrating what they both describe as a relationship built on communication and zero blowups. Swizz even said their kids have never seen them argue—a rare flex in any industry.
