A scholarship aimed at supporting women, transgender and non-binary people to become music producers and sound engineers has been announced in honour of pioneering trans music producer, SOPHIE.
The SOPHIE Scholarship Fund has launched as a collaboration between non-profit organisation We Are Moving The Needle, which works to increase equity and inclusion in the music recording industry, and MSMSMSM FOREVER, a platform celebrating SOPHIE’s legacy.
Announcing the scholarship, a post on the MSMSMSM FOREVER Instagram account reads: “Alongside @wearemovingtheneedle, we are proud to announce this scholarship fund in Sophie’s name. Sophie was passionate about the future of music, and, just like she did, we can’t wait to see many more women, trans and non-binary creators change the game.”
One-time scholarship awards of between $5,000 and $10,000 will be available to apply for via We Are Moving The Needle’s Scholarship and Grants Program.
The funding is open to women, trans and non-binary music creators who are or will be enrolled in degrees in music production, audio engineering, sound technology, and other related fields in the 2025 to 2026 academic year.
The scholarship aims to help close the gender gap in the music industry, and provide “meaningful support” to those wishing to enter the sector.
Such support includes help towards tuition and fees and course-related expenses.
Applicants must be US-based citizens, and applications are being accepted until 27 April.
Music producer and DJ SOPHIE, also known as Sophie Xeon, tragically died aged 34 in January 2021 after falling off a roof in Athens, Greece, while trying to see the full moon.
Throughout her career, SOPHIE was known for her boundary-pushing approach to electronic music production, becoming an early pioneer of the exaggerated pop genre often referred to as hyperpop.
She worked with some of the music industry’s biggest stars, including Madonna, Lady Gaga and Rihanna, and was an early support and collaborator of German trans pop star, Kim Petras.
Arguably, SOPHIE’s most renowned collaboration was with Charli XCX, with the pair working on Charli’s 2016 EP, Vroom Vroom.
The EP – which leant further into experimental pop, and away from the mainstream pop on Charli XCX’s sophomore record Sucker – saw Charli’s career take off in a new direction. It ultimately led to her most critically-acclaimed work, including 2024’s year-defining Brat.
On Brat, Charli XCX paid tribute to her collaborator and friend SOPHIE on the song “So I”, which references SOPHIE’S 2017 song “It’s Okay to Cry”.
“It’s Okay to Cry” was taken from SOPHIE’s 2018 debut record Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-Insides, which went on to be nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Dance/Electronic Album category.
In a sweet, full circle moment, the most recent recipient of the Best Dance/Electronic Album Grammy Award is Charli XCX’s Brat.
Since her death, SOPHIE’s legacy has remained imprinted on pop music, while musicians including Caroline Polachek and St Vincent have paid tribute to her on their songs.
Sophie, a posthumous album by the British music creator, was released last September featuring collaborations with Petras, Hannah Diamond, Liz, and Jozzy.
In November, Transa, an album promoting trans and non-binary awareness which featured Sam Smith, Sade, and Hunter Schafer, was released. The album first began to take shape following SOPHIE’s passing.
More information about the SOPHIE Scholarship Fund is available here.
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