Today we’d like to introduce you to Melinda Colaizzi
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My story began with a deep love for music from a very young age. The moment I picked up a guitar and started writing songs, I knew my calling was music. It has been my guiding light ever since and has shaped every major decision in my life.
I received a scholarship to attend Berklee College of Music in Boston, where I studied vocal performance and music business. After years of navigating the music industry as both a performer fronting rock bands and on the business side working in the industry, I recognized that women’s voices were often underrepresented, particularly in the rock world.
This was a big part of what led me to create Women Who Rock, a platform dedicated to celebrating and empowering women in music while raising awareness about women’s health – both of these fields still face great underrepresentation for women. The initiative has a very special way of connecting through the universal language of music and quickly became a global movement that not only highlighted women’s contributions to music, but also supported women’s health research.
Along the way, I’ve had the honor of working with incredible female artists like Melissa Etheridge, Jordin Sparks, Sheila E. and Orianthi, among many others, and the Women Who Rock benefit concert has grown into an annual event that brings people together for a cause that’s personal and close to my heart.
In addition to my work at Women Who Rock, I lead Melinda and The Night Sky, a blues/rock band that brings my passion for music and live performance to the stage.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely has not been a smooth road—anything worth building rarely is! Turning my vision for Women Who Rock into a movement came with its challenges.
One of the biggest challenges I still face is proving to people just how uneven the playing field really is for women, both in music and in health. Women’s health research still only receives 13 cents on the dollar, leaving critical gaps in funding and innovation. At the same time, the music industry remains male-dominated—84.2% of the most senior executives at major and independent music companies are men. These statistics aren’t just numbers; they’re a reflection of the uphill battle that women face every day.
When I started Women Who Rock, I knew we had to create a bigger platform for these issues, but getting others to recognize their importance isn’t always easy. Securing sponsorships, media attention, and artist buy-in took time, persistence, and a whole lot of creative problem-solving. I’ve had to push past skepticism, knock down doors, and prove that women’s stories and voices are not only valuable but necessary.
I never let the word no stop me—I just find another way forward. I’ve seen firsthand the impact we can make when we refuse to be sidelined. The fight isn’t over, but every step forward brings us closer to real change, and that’s what keeps me going.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Women Who Rock® is a trailblazing, female-founded brand dedicated to supporting women in music, empowerment, and advocating for women’s health. We partner with for-profit and non-profit organizations, and through our dynamic range of initiatives, including pop-up events, global campaigns, and flagship benefit concerts featuring some of the brightest stars in music with a 100% female-fronted line-up, we strive to amplify the voices of women.
We’re working to eliminate the women’s health gap by partnering with Magee-Womens Research Institute 501(c)(3) the world’s largest research institute dedicated to women’s health.
Our signature apparel and accessory line serves as a symbol of empowerment and solidarity, while supporting our mission. Join our movement to support women in music, promote women’s empowerment, and Rock the Future of Women’s Health®.
We are Female Founded, Female Fronted and Female Produced.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
I’d invite you to follow Women Who Rock by visiting our website at womenwhorock.info or on social media @officialwomenwhorock as we have a lot of exciting announcements and events coming up. We are heading to New York City to partner with Audacy on their Leading Ladies concert on April 3rd at the Kings Theater starring Gwen Stefani, Lainey Wilson, Alessia Cara, Kassi Ashton, and Haven Madison.
There has never been a more critical time to raise awareness and funds for women’s health research. Right now, federal budget cuts are directly impacting women’s health research funding. These cuts go deeper than research funding—this is about lives and finding the cures of tomorrow. The reality is stark: Without proper funding, we will lose years, if not decades, of progress in scientific research that could save and improve countless lives. We cannot allow politics and budget cuts to dictate the future of public health, especially when solutions are within reach.
Together, we can demand change and ensure that women’s health is no longer an afterthought.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://womenwhorock.info/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialwomenwhorock/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/officialwomenwhorock
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@officialwomenwhorock
Image Credits
Photo credit WWR
