The Beatport Group Announces Recipients of Third Annual Diversity + Parity Fund

The Beatport Group has announced the recipients of its third annual Diversity + Parity Fund, a $150,000 initiative dedicated to promoting diversity and gender parity in the electronic music industry. This year’s recipients include Black House Radio, Rhythm Section International, Refuge Worldwide, ESEA Music, FEMME HOUSE, Girls Make Beats, Sisters in Sound, Bridges for Music, foundation.fm and Young Urban Arts Foundation. From empowering young women and gender-expansive artists to amplifying Black, ESEA, and LGBTQ+ creatives, the recipients reflect the fund’s mission to build a more diverse and equitable global music ecosystem. 

This year’s recipients represent a diverse range of initiatives, such as music education programs for underserved communities, youth outreach programs and a conference spotlighting women and non-binary artists. Beyond financial support, the Diversity + Parity Fund fosters long-term partnerships, leveraging Beatport’s connections and resources to amplify the impact of each organization. 

In its first and second years, the fund has awarded a total of $250,000 to initiatives driving sustainable change. Previous recipients include Future Female Sounds, Lady of the House, and #FORTHEMUSIC in its first year, followed by Change The Beat, Last Night A DJ Saved My Life, ONE OFF TRAKS, Other Village People, Saffron, and We Are Moving The Needle in its second. Those awarded the fund this year were selected from over 150 global applicants.

Black House Radio ​is a homecoming for Black DJs and Black sound, paying homage to the past, present, and future of house music. Their platform is deeply rooted in the spirit of house music, bridging generations and acting as a guiding light for Black DJs and their sound.

To celebrate Black Music Month, Black House Radio will produce a series of events, including DJ sets, an annual Juneteenth celebration, and other music-based activations. The June celebration aims to honor the cultural legacy of Black house DJs and highlight their influence on contemporary music. Knowledge sharing with DJs and creatives is central to BHR’s mission of fostering a sense of belonging and preserving the legacy of house music.

Rhythm Section International is the record label, radio show, studio spaces, club night and concert series, owned and curated by Bradley Zero and made up of an ever-expanding collective of artists, musicians, DJs and A&Rs. They are based in Peckham, London, and have a devoted worldwide following. Since 2011 they have hosted well over 150 events in London and across the UK, including early-career sets from acts like Charlotte Dos Santos, Yussef Kamaal, Pender Street Steppers, Jayda G, The Brother Moves On and so many more.

Continuing their Future Proof Program, they will support 6 emerging electronic music artists from underrepresented backgrounds, developing them into future industry leaders through masterclasses, industry workshops, equipment, and mentoring. Led by a Black artist, one of Mixmag’s Top 20 DJs, the program takes an intersectional approach to help diverse, socially-conscious artists build a more inclusive industry.

Refuge Worldwide is a Berlin-based community radio station founded with the mission of amplifying diverse voices and creating educational and cultural opportunities. Originally launched in 2015 as a fundraising platform, Refuge Worldwide was officially established as a radio station in 2021, broadcasting 24/7 from its studio in the Neukölln district. The station collaborates with local and global grassroots organizations, social projects, and creative communities to foster a culture of inclusivity, empowerment, and awareness through music, art, and community-focused programming.

Refuge's project aims to create a unique compilation album that brings together seasoned and emerging artists in collaborative partnerships, a creative, mentorship-driven environment. Set for a Winter 2025 release, this initiative provides hands-on production experience, professional mentorship, and access to studio resources, while amplifying underrepresented voices.

ESEA Music is a non-profit collective of 500+ UK-based East & Southeast Asian (ESEA) musicians/artists & industry professionals from a diverse range of musical backgrounds inc. pop, RnB, hip-hop, electronic/dance, alt/indie, classical, jazz & more. ESEA artists are severely underrepresented in the music industry & face compounded issues of tokenism, invisibilisation & lack of resources. 

ESEA Music will launch its Sesame Mentorship Scheme (SMS) and host three accompanying workshops. SMS pairs experienced mentors with early-stage ESEA musicians, fostering safe spaces to share experiences, build careers, and promote personal development in the music industry. The workshops, open to ESEA Music's 400+ members, offer training in production, songwriting, royalties, PR, and marketing, addressing barriers rooted in underrepresentation and harmful stereotypes.

FEMME HOUSE creates opportunities for women, gender-expansive, BIPOC, and LGBTQIA+ creatives in the technical and behind-the-scenes areas of music. They are developing future producers, mixers, engineers, DJs, artists, and executives through education programs and scholarships.

FEMME HOUSE plans to expand its impact by diversifying facilitators, building new programming to attract marginalized creators, and bridging them to career-advancing opportunities. With the funds, they will host two diversity-focused events, launch an artist fellowship program and produce free FEMME HOUSE Sessions, featuring workshops on dance music history, production techniques, and music business led by diverse educators.

Girls Make Beats (GMB) is a groundbreaking 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2012 by recording artist, producer, and audio engineer Tiffany Miranda that aims to empower young girls by bridging the gender gap in music production, DJing, and audio engineering.

GMB’s program supports young girls by offering them music production, DJing, and audio engineering education through workshops, mentorship, and hands-on training. Focused on increasing women’s representation in music tech, GMB provides scholarships, internships, and career opportunities, prioritizing girls of color and low-income backgrounds.

Sisters in Sound (SiS) started as a grassroots collective formed by eclectic women DJs and producers in the U.S., Mexico and Europe. Their mission is to champion women and other underrepresented DJs and producers, providing the tools and support for them to flourish, engage with local communities and connect with their sisters around the world.

SiS will host their Soundscape Microfest, a two-day conference in Brooklyn focused on advancing diversity and inclusivity in music. The event, specially designed for women, non-binary artists, and underrepresented groups, will feature panels, workshops, and networking with industry leaders, artists, and advocates, covering topics from DJing and music production to mental health and resilience.

Bridges For Music (BFM) is a nonprofit organization providing holistic educational programs to young creatives from underserved communities in Cape Town, South Africa. Their programs focus on the creative arts (particularly music), digital literacy, mental health through mindfulness, creative entrepreneurship, and broad-based career skills to empower, enliven, and equip young people to develop personally and professionally to find sustainable income.

BFM will launch a scholarship program to empower Black women and LGBTQ+ individuals in South Africa’s music industry. Through its Talent Development Program (TDP) and Industry Access Program (IAP), the initiative aims to break barriers in a male-dominated field by providing two scholarships that cover training, materials, and studio access.

Founded in 2018, foundation.fm is a London-based radio station, record label, and creative agency focused on empowering women, queer, and non-binary individuals in the music industry. Built on the ethos of inclusivity and representation, foundation.fm creates safer, more inclusive spaces for diverse voices to thrive. By supporting these communities through a wide range of projects and platforms—from radio programming to industry events—they celebrate their identities and foster creativity through music, fashion, and culture.

foundation.fm will be launching its DJ School Tour which will empower women, queer, and non-binary DJs in London, Bristol, and Manchester with hands-on workshops, mentorship, and networking opportunities. Participants will receive mentorship on navigating the music industry, covering topics like branding, bookings, and career strategy.

Young Urban Art Foundation's day-to-day involves connecting disadvantaged young people aged 11-19 with empowering opportunities to learn, grow, be heard, seen and celebrated through music production, rap, spoken word, lyric/songwriting, DJing and podcasting. 

YUAF's project aims to engage disadvantaged young people in Hackney by providing access to electronic music opportunities in genres like House, Techno, Drum & Bass, and Garage. Delivered through YUAF’s Outreach Media Bus—a mobile studio with production suites, a vocal booth, and masterclass space—the 8-week Electronic Music Project equips young people with creative skills, boosts confidence, and introduces pathways into the music industry. 

Follow along to find out more about each of the recipients' initiatives and the communities they support.