In celebration of International Women’s Day (IWD), we interviewed Jenn D’Eugenio, the founder of Women in Vinyl, an incredible nonprofit dedicated to empowering women and underrepresented groups in the vinyl industry.
IWD has been around for over a hundred years, shining a light on both the progress made and the challenges that remain for women’s advancement. Since 1911, it has been a global call to celebrate women’s achievements, raise awareness of discrimination, and take action toward gender equality.
Women in Vinyl embodies these values by creating intentional pathways for women to build careers in the vinyl industry—not just arrive there by chance. With over 25 years of passion for records, Jenn brings together her background in textile design, career advising, and vinyl manufacturing to support women in finding their place in this space.
Lauren: The music industry has long been male dominated, as evidenced by women comprising less than a third of top-selling artists and only 14% of songwriters. What were some of the biggest challenges you saw for women in the vinyl industry before Women in Vinyl existed? How have those challenges evolved?
Jenn: Before I started Women in Vinyl, I saw firsthand how underrepresented women were in the vinyl industry - in particular when I started working in it! When I started working at Furnace Record Pressing I saw so many women at labels, cutting lacquers and in VP positions who I’d never known of or heard about before - yet they were an integral part in getting our records made. Because of this, many talented humans ended up finding their way here by accident, simply because they didn’t see themselves reflected in the industry or know how to get started. There is also a systematic gap in STEM or STEAM education for women, and to innovate we must diversify. Since founding WiV, we’ve worked to change that by amplifying the voices of women in the industry, creating and sharing resources, forming scholarship opportunities, and cultivating a space where people can find mentorship and support. We’ve made great strides in increasing visibility and access, but there’s still much more work to do to ensure inclusivity and diversity at all levels of the industry.
Lauren: Your background is so diverse—from textile design for Fortune 500 fashion companies to career advising at a top art college. What was the turning point that led you to combine those experiences with your love for vinyl and build a career in manufacturing records?
Jenn: Well, I’d been buying records since I was in high school, even when CDs and cassettes were the main format. I’d dig through bins at Salvation Army finding all kinds of treasures. However, I didn’t play an instrument and no counselor ever said “you should look into working at a record label” and so I never knew there was a place for me in music. I have been artistic all my life, from ballet to photography and decided to go to art school where I ended up majoring in Textile Design. Upon graduation I worked designing children’s clothes for Target, Oshkosh, etc. until I got burnt out on drawing bunnies - which landed me back at the college I went to as a career adviser. Being a career adviser was such a fulfilling experience, one of the best jobs I ever had, and that experience in higher education was a driving force in the nonprofit education aspect of Women in Vinyl. The turning point came when my husband and I moved back home to Northern Virginia, and I had the opportunity to work at Furnace Record Pressing, which was creating a pressing plant. That was when everything clicked—I realized I could merge my skills in design, problem-solving, and mentorship with my passion for music and records. Manufacturing vinyl became a way to bring all those worlds together from educating people on the process, helping them create a physical manifestation of their art, and advising them on the best way to move forward for their release. The perfect job I never knew existed.
Lauren: Women in Vinyl does such an amazing job of highlighting role models in the industry. Who are the people that inspire you and keep you motivated when things get tough?
Jenn: Thank you! I’m constantly inspired by the hardworking women in the industry whose stories we tell. Seeing them succeed, innovate, and push forward in an industry that hasn’t always made space for them keeps me motivated. The Women in Vinyl community itself is a huge source of inspiration. Every time someone shares their journey or a success story—whether it’s landing a job at a pressing plant, opening a record store, or launching a label—it reminds me why I started this in the first place.
Lauren: Is there a particular story of someone WiV has helped that really highlights the impact of your work?
Jenn: There are so many stories that stand out, but what’s most rewarding is hearing from people who say that Women in Vinyl gave them the confidence and resources to pursue careers in the industry. Whether it’s through mentorship, networking, or just seeing a role model they can relate to, I love knowing that we’re helping open doors for the next generation. One full circle moment was through our one of a kind, hands on, intern program. The program was created by Women in Vinyl and put to action at Gold Rush Vinyl, a women owned pressing plant where I am the VP. We had an intern recipient Oliva, who came from a mastering background at a local community college. She did so well in the internship that she became a full time employee and a press op I rely on today. Seeing that through line and with women along each step of the way is such a perfect example of what we aim to do.
Lauren: Looking ahead, what changes would you love to see for women in the vinyl industry, and how is WiV working to make those changes happen?
Jenn: Educate, Demystify, Diversify is our slogan so to speak. Diversity in all aspects of the vinyl industry, from engineers to electroplating and manufacturing - and seeing women rise into those leadership positions. Greater inclusivity isn’t just the right thing to do—it also drives innovation and growth. I’d also really stress allyship. We need allies in the industry, and support of organisations like ours to break down the barriers to entry so many have felt. Lastly, education, there is so much misinformation out there. WiV is working to make these changes happen by providing resources, scholarships, and an inclusive open community. We’re actively connecting women and marginalized groups with job opportunities, mentorship, and the visibility they need to thrive. We are getting into classrooms, working to create educational programs and tools like the book ‘Women in Vinyl: The Art of Making Vinyl’.
Lauren: Since we're an interactive record club and community, our vinyl fam would love to know—what are the top three most treasured records in your collection?
Jenn: It’s tough to choose just three, and this is a payback question for sure knowing the final question we ask guests on the podcast, haha! The first and easiest one is Black Sabbath’s Master of Reality — I have over 50 different variants of it (see @mistressofreality where I’ve been researching and cataloging them all)! Beyond that, today I’d probably choose one of the Smashing Pumpkins Archival releases, like Live at the Viper Room 1.15.98 which I helped bring into the world on vinyl. Smashing Pumpkins are one of my other favorite bands and helping bring this unleashed material to a physical format was a career highlight. And for the third, I think maybe I’d choose Led Zeppelin Houses of the Holy - that was after all the first record I bought and the one that started it all.
Check out Jenn's recently released book, Women in Vinyl: The Art of Making Vinyl, for a comprehensive guide to the world of vinyl with a focus on empowerment, diversity, and inclusion. From the manufacturing process and record pressing, to the roles of record labels, distribution, DJs, and more, the book is a first-of-its-kind guide to the vinyl industry and the women who are blazing trails within it.
To support Jenn and her work, see links below to purchase the new book, follow socials or read more about the kickass work of Women In Vinyl on their website.
Women In Vinyl Website: https://womeninvinyl.com/
Follow Women In Vinyl on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womeninvinyl/
Follow Jenn on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennn_erator/
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