Today we’d like to introduce you to Jenn D’Eugenio.
Hi Jenn, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’m the Founder and President of Women in Vinyl. We are a nonprofit organization working to empower women, female-identifying, non-binary, LGBTQ+, BIPOC and otherwise marginalized humans working in the vinyl industry to create, preserve and improve the art of music on vinyl.
I work at a women-owned record pressing plant here in Austin as well, Gold Rush Vinyl, as the Sales and Marketing Manager, and have been a vinyl enthusiast for over 20 years. I am dedicated to the art and creation of vinyl.
My background prior to the music industry spans that of designing textiles for Fortune 500 fashion companies with a degree in textile design to career advising for one of the top art colleges in the country; however, my passion for vinyl has led me to a career helping to manufacture the physical product for bands, and both major to independent record labels. When I saw an opportunity to work in the field and take my love of vinyl from collecting to the next level, I jumped on it. It has been the best career decision I’ve made. I didn’t know these types of opportunities existed with vinyl and it is important to change that.
In 2018 there was a meme going around social media of a 1950s couple, the man holding a record and the woman knitting. The man’s speech bubble talks about the intricate details of the special version of the record he’s holding, to which his wife’s response is that she could care less. This was being relentlessly shared by people saying they could relate in their relationships. It became overwhelmingly frustrating to me because I was like the man in the photo, and I enjoyed sharing those kinds of conversations with my partner. It felt like such an ancient way of sharing the collector sentiment around vinyl.
The same year I started working at a different record pressing plant in sales. Working in this field was the dream job I never knew I wanted. It was a perfect way to combine my passions for design, music and for helping people. As I met people in this industry, I realized that there were actually a lot of women in leadership positions, women who were opening and running pressing plants, cutting lacquers, and at various other stages throughout the process of making vinyl, all the way to the owners of record stores selling the product.
As I was seeing these hard-working women, I kept thinking of that meme and how women were systematically looked at as not having the same passion for vinyl. Who was empowering these women? Where were their voices in all of this? A month later, I started a website, blog, and Instagram account called ‘Women in Vinyl”. I used these resources to interview women on their experiences, what they were doing for the industry and how they got to where they are. It gave them a voice, a community and is creating role models for girls who like me, had no idea this was the dream job they never knew about. The support from those within the vinyl industry and beyond has been amazing and clearly something that was needed.
Today, Women in Vinyl still showcases those working in the industry by sharing their stories with the world. In 2020 we began creating a board of directors encompassing a strong group of people in various roles within the music and vinyl industry. We’ve expanded beyond a blog to create a diverse online community, with a podcast, job board, educational resources, and webstore; where we continue to innovate, educate, demystify and diversify the future of the vinyl industry. Last year we became a nonprofit 501(c)3. Moving forward, we will allocate funding to support girls, women, and otherwise marginalized people to start their journey and have an open and accepting pathway into this industry. We plan to fulfill that goal through scholarship funds, mentorships, job boards, business development, workshops and more; to create, preserve and improve the art of music on vinyl.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The nature of an organization promoting a marginalized group, Women, in any male-dominated industry requires resilience from the start. Out of the gate, you are making some people uncomfortable because of their own potential bias or lack of understanding of the invisible privilege they have. It creates a divide in the workforce.
That is not to say that we don’t have a ton of male supporters who are fantastic allies; we’re thankful for them. On the flip-side, I’ve received hate messages and a slew of comments like “what about men in vinyl”, “those are your boyfriend’s records”, “you don’t deserve to listen to that album”, “I’m surprised you knew that “… the list goes on. To me, people that think like that are also part of our education process and what we are trying to accomplish; so while it’s sometimes hurtful, I remember that this is part of why we exist and there is more work to do. Use the haters to fuel your fire.
On the actual business side, I am a creative, and setting up a nonprofit was not an easy task for me!
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Vinyl, vinyl, vinyl! Like I mentioned, I work in vinyl record manufacturing at Gold Rush Vinyl here in Austin. I also am the founder and president of Women in Vinyl. We work to educate, demystify and diversify the vinyl community by breaking down barriers and making vinyl more accessible. From fundraising to podcasts, resources and empowering women we’re creating a safe space a community.
I am proud of the community we’ve built and how authentic we’ve stayed to ourselves and vinyl specifically. I think that is also what sets us apart. Authenticity and passion for what I do and the board we’ve built is too, which is reflected in everything Women in Vinyl does.
It is very important to me, and all of us, how we message things, who we partner with, or how we market ourselves to make sure that we’re remaining authentic to our brand and our mission. If it doesn’t feel right, and it doesn’t hit education or empowerment, it’s ok to say no – which has been a hard lesson – saying no. As the business has been growing and you want to get the word out, you can sometimes feel pressure to say yes to everything and give your time for free. The business wouldn’t be where it is now if I hadn’t been head down plugging away, sharing women’s stories and trying to get this message out there; that message through our mission has to come first still!
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
So many people – too many to name – within vinyl manufacturing and in the vinyl community. Everyone who follows, shares and is a part of our little corner of the internet and world – we couldn’t do this without them. My amazing friends and board members Amanda McCabe, Robyn Raymond, Jett Galindo and Ray Blevins for their time, ideas and unwavering support. My family for all the things, I run by them and try out on them first. And women-run organizations like Karrie Keyes – SoundGirls, Carrie Colliton – Record Store Day and Caren Kelleher – Gold Rush to name a few, who have offered opportunities, business suggestions and support along the way.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://womeninvinyl.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/womeninvinyl/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/womeninvinyl/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/womeninvinyl
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-ziCznu8Ei4-pnJy9tImvA
- Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-women-in-vinyl-podcast/id1559469148
Image Credits
Emma Howells – http://www.emmahowells.com/ – for the one of me standing by the press all others are by me
