Female* Producer Prize: »Break the Loop« (DE)

Only 2% of the Top 100 singles in Germany in 2023 were produced by FLINTA* producers. That number speaks volumes – and highlights just how deeply music production and sound are still shaped by male perspectives.
»Female* Producer Prize: Break the Loop« brings together three voices who are actively reshaping that landscape – and have been doing so for years: as producers, self-producing artists, and industry professionals.
This panel focuses on structural challenges, personal journeys, and historical developments within the music industry – with the aim of creating space for visibility, encouragement, and lasting change.
Melbeatz, Sera Kalo, and Finja Nierth join moderator sherryaeri to share their perspectives: What obstacles have they had to overcome? What changed once recognition and awards came into play? Why are spaces like this so essential today? And: What progress has been made since the 1990s – and where are we only just getting started?
The Female Producer Prize* will be awarded for the fourth time in 2025. It was launched to highlight structural inequality in music production – and to support, promote, and spotlight outstanding FLINTA* producers and songwriters. The prize is an initiative by Music Women* Germany, in cooperation with partners like Sony Music and – for the first time this year – Initiative Musik.

Melbeatz is considered one of the first – and still one of the few – visible female producers in German hip-hop. She produced Kool Savas’ debut album and has helped shape the genre with her signature melody-driven style since the late 1990s – long before diversity became part of the rap conversation. Her 2004 album »Rapper’s Delight« marked a departure from the provincial tendencies of German rap at the time: featuring international guests like Ol’ Dirty Bastard, Kanye West, and Prodigy (of Mobb Deep), it offered global references that went beyond name-dropping – they were acts of sonic politics. Melbeatz opened doors that remain closed to many – not through volume, but through sonic precision and artistic intent.

Finja Nierth is Director of Creative & Repertoire at Sony Music Publishing, where she has co-led the company’s creative direction alongside Carlo Wittek since 2020. She works with artists such as Topic, Ela., and Kauta. Previously, she was Creative A&R Manager at Jive Germany, gaining extensive experience in artist development and publishing. Finja is actively committed to supporting emerging talent and is regarded as a leading figure in the German music industry.

Sera Kalo, winner of the Female Producer Prize 2024, is a versatile, self-producing jazz artist. With roots in the US and a creative base in Berlin, she fuses jazz, soul, and electronic elements into a sound uniquely her own. In 2025, she was awarded the German Jazz Prize in the Vocal category. Her work is defined by artistic independence, emotional depth, and musical curiosity. As an independent producer, she forges her own path – standing as a compelling example of a new generation of musicians taking creative and structural control of their careers.

Sherin Striewe, aka sherryaeri, sees music and parties as deeply political spaces. A board member of Music Women* Germany, sherryaeri works to create platforms for artists and genres that haven’t yet received the attention they deserve – often blending these sounds together with Arabic musical influences. Calling themselves genrefluid, sherryaeri takes listeners on a journey through styles like rap edits, Jersey Club, Baile Funk, and Electro Chaabi. Sherin‘s sets create a sense of belonging and celebrate complex, lived realities. Sherryaeri has performed internationally – at Splash Festival in Germany, Yu Yu in Mexico City, and iconic events like Boiler Room. One thing is certain: sherryaeri’s sets are made to get your booty shaking – a joyful release from the pressure of capitalist, patriarchal, and white-dominated systems.