LONDON —  Abbey Road Studios is opening its doors to women, hoping to inspire future generations of female artists, producers and engineers with a week-long festival of workshops. The famed London recording studios launched its “Equalise” program on International Women’s Day 2020. This year’s edition is online, due to the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic, with participants offered classes on technical know-how, interactions with other music makers and guidance from industry leaders virtually. “Five percent of music producers and engineers are women, which is abominably low,” Abbey Road Studios’ managing director, Isabel Garvey, told Reuters in the venue’s Studio Three, where Pink Floyds’ The Dark Side of the Moon and Amy Winehouse’s final tracks were recorded. “This program that we’re running is shining a light on all of those characters behind the scenes and helping young women understand the opportunities.” The program, which opened on Mar. 1 and runs through International Women’s Day on Mar. 8, features live masterclasses with leading female music industry figures and panel discussions with rising talent. Ms. Garvey, 45, has been at the helm of the world’s oldest recording studio since 2014. Following what she describes as a “deep, dark history in finance,” she carved herself a career in music, rising to senior roles at major music labels. The “Equalise” program also features one-to-one mentoring sessions. —  Reuters

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