Change the Beat is a nonprofit organization founded by acclaimed DJ and producer Sydney

Blu, dedicated to empowering women and underrepresented voices in electronic music.

Through mentorship, education, remix competitions, and global events, Change the Beat

creates meaningful opportunities for emerging artists to develop their careers and access the

music industry.

Originally launched as #23by23 with the support of Native Instruments and Beatport, the

initiative was created to address gender imbalance in dance music, where less than 5% of

artists signed to electronic music labels identify as women or gender-expansive. Since its

launch, Change the Beat has facilitated more than 100 artist signings with record labels around

the world and has grown into a global community supporting the next generation of talent.

Since rebranding as Change the Beat, the organization has collaborated with leading labels

including Drumcode, mau5trap, Armada, HE.SHE.THEY., Anjunadeep, Insomniac, Dirtybird,

Nervous Records, Deadbeats, Universal Music, Toolroom Records, and more. The initiative has

also worked alongside artists such as Nicole Moudaber, Maya Jane Coles, DJ Minx, Eli & Fur,

Crystal Waters, Ultra Naté, Azzecca, Nala, VNSSA, and deadmau5.

Core programs include high-impact remix contests hosted through Beatport's LabelRadar

platform, free and low-cost workshops in cities around the world, an acclaimed Masterclass

series featuring industry leaders, and artist development and mentorship programs. These

initiatives provide hands-on education in music production, branding, marketing, and career

development while fostering a global community through an active Discord network, live events,

and artist showcases.

Since 2021, Change the Beat has hosted more than 30 events across cities including Ibiza,

Miami, Toronto, New York, Montreal, Amsterdam, and San Francisco, blending world-class

performances with educational programming. In 2024, the organization received the Beatport

Parity Prize and was nominated for Organization of the Year by Women in Music Canada.

Today, with more than 1,200 community members and over 100 artists signed to record labels

through its programs, Change the Beat continues to break down industry barriers and help

shape a more inclusive future for electronic music.