WHAT IS CACTUS CITY?
Cactus City Studio was the UK's first 'safe space' recording studio founded by music manager, entrepreneur and performer Vanessa Threadgold in response to consistent reports of abuse from her roster of female artists. The priority for a safety-first studio was high — as more and more women demanded better, we realised one studio wasn’t enough, we needed to expand…
The music business is rife with dangerously low pay, voluntary work and manipulation.
So together with Salli Flaherty (Salli LSx), the pair expanded Cactus City into a fully-fledged organisation alongside a growing team of like-minded creatives and equality advocates.
Changing the Culture
We are committed to making positive change in the industry, by providing safe spaces, opportunities and support to women and gender minorities at any stage of their music career.
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Creating Safe
Spaces &
Equality
For Women
& Gender
Minorities
In Music
WOMEN IN MUSIC
CHANGING THE TUNE
Cactus City exists to change the industry for the better. We are tired of being told we are "lucky to be here". ​
​
"You’re lucky to be here" - but what is left unsaid?
​
"You’re lucky to be here".. so you should tolerate the abuse, work for free, and stay silent.
​
Change the record. We will no longer be exploited. We are here to be paid equally for the jobs we do. We are here to stay and we hope you will join us.
cactus city
CHARTER OF
GOOD PRACTICE
Making Recording Studios & Music Spaces Safer
WOMEN IN MUSIC NUMBERS
48%
of musicians have been sexually harassed at work*
85%
did not report it*
*Musicians Union 2019
Only 2%
of producers in the UK are female. Those within the minority often feel unsafe at work*.
​
*2% Rising
21.6%
artists across 900 songs are female. The ratio of men to women in the music industry 3.6: 1*
12.6%
of songwriters are female compared to 89% male*
9 out
of 1291
producing credits went to women of colour.*
Less
than 1%
of popular songs have only female writers.*
40%
of women under 40 have been sexually harassed at a live music event.**
JOIN THE CHARTER
JOIN THE CHANGE
Recording studios are an area of the music industry that are a notorious breeding ground for abuse. To tackle this area in particular we believe that all studios in the UK should adhere to a code of conduct. This is why studios can now sign up to the Cactus City Charter of Good Practice. A list of simple pledges studios and their staff can make to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all.
FOLLOW US
Follow our socials for behind the scenes snippets, first looks AND episode updates!
A podcast validating the experience of women in music
A brand new podcast helping raise awareness and educating others on the positive actions we can take, to change the music industry for the better. Every episode we have a different guest who we talk to about their job roles, what qualities are essential to do those roles and the trials and tribulations of their careers.
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By setting these standards, the studio becomes a safer space for creative freedom for all to enjoy without fear of harassment.
JOIN OUR NETWORK
Sign up for news, events and exclusives (we promise we don’t spam you).
Donate
to cactus city
WE NEED YOU!
Cactus City is completely independent so that we can make the positive changes we need, free of influence. This means we rely on funding such as regular donations to continue the work we do.