Interview with Arianna Bartolozzi Bellantuono, founder of Mediterranean Girls In Music and business professional

Today we have the pleasure of interviewing Arianna Bartolozzi Bellantuono, founder of Mediterranean Girls In Music (MGIM) and business professional. We wanted to give you a glimpse into the world of MGIM by talking about our approach, our team, our project and the music industry, which we know interests many in our community, and there’s no better way to do this than with an interview with our main founder. Arianna is a young Italian professional specialized in business and management with a focus on the creative industries (especially the music industry), but her experience and passions also cover other fields. Besides MGIM, she currently works in business intelligence at an international company, which allows her to apply her strategic, analytical and creative skills in another sector as well. In this interview, we talk about her journey, the idea behind MGIM, the vision that guides it and the current music industry, all accompanied by some valuable advice. Enjoy the read!

Can you tell us a bit about your background and the path that led you to create Mediterranean Girls in Music?

Yes, of course. Mediterranean Girls In Music is a project born just over a year ago from an idea of mine and, when I had the chance to make it a reality, Dunya Fadili (who, by the way, is you, the one interviewing me, haha) seemed like the most suitable person to start it with, so I involved her immediately: she represents an important part of this project. This mutual respect represents both us and the way we collaborate. MGIM was born from the desire to preserve and promote the musical culture of Mediterranean countries and women’s work. Today we coordinate an international team of girls with different experiences but the same enthusiasm for music.

As for me, my background combines business, management, international copyright law, and the cultural and creative sector, particularly the music business. I am Italian but earned my bachelor’s, master’s, and postgraduate degree in the UK. I have experience in music companies but also in other fields. Besides Mediterranean Girls in Music, I work for an American company in business intelligence, where I also bring together my strategic, analytical, and creative skills. It’s a very stimulating job that I’m proud of.

What was the inspiration behind Mediterranean Girls in Music?

Certainly, the idea was born from a real "need." Not because we think music should be judged by a person’s gender, far from it: music is talent, creativity, work, passion. But it is also true that, like many other fields, the music industry is still very male-dominated. This is not an opinion, it’s a fact, confirmed by various studies and research on the subject. We wanted to create a space that would be both informative and educational: a magazine but also a broader project. We write articles, reviews, and interviews, but we also share content useful to those wanting to enter the music industry or those already working in it who want to be part of a community, all in Italian, English, and Spanish. These two aspects are balanced between our website, which has longer content, and our Instagram profile, which offers more immediate content.

We’re not interested in numbers or superficial metrics that often dominate social media. Mediterranean Girls in Music is not an Instagram page; it’s a website with in-depth and carefully curated content. Our goal is quality, not quantity. We prefer to offer concrete facts, analysis, and real support to those who want to learn about or work in the music industry, alongside lighter content that still fits our editorial line. We care about facts and substance.

Moreover, we are the only platform focusing on Mediterranean music: often, international music, especially Anglophone, gets more attention (even though studies show growing interest in music in other languages). As I said before, we believe it is essential to preserve and promote the musical culture of Mediterranean countries.

How does your multidisciplinary education help you see the creative and music sector from a broader perspective?

I think studying general modules like general business and management, in addition to specializing in creative industries and the music industry, has given me a more complete and aware perspective and also opened many more doors professionally. I have many interests beyond music, and thanks to my background I can work in all the sectors that inspire me.

I understand how a project works economically, strategically, and culturally, which helps me not only manage it but also enhance and communicate it. I’m also very interested in the analytical side; I like analyzing data, doing research, studying. These may sound a bit "nerdy," but for me, they are fundamental tools. At the same time, I need to be creative; I like inventing, designing, experimenting. I believe that today cross-sector contamination is a value-add.

In what way do business and the music industry overlap, in your opinion?

People often think of music as a creative and artistic world, but it’s also a real economic industry, structured and complex. Just like a hospital has many different roles like doctors, nurses, technicians, security and so on, there’s a similar variety in the music business. Saying "I work in music" only indicates the place, but you need to understand what role you want to play. And each role requires specific skills. Working in the music industry can mean dealing with business, corporate management, communication, strategy, legal matters, artist management and many other areas even in healthcare, like music therapy. Unless you have a more "hands-on" role, like singer, producer, or musician, which are obviously closely tied to music itself.

Is there a MGIM project you are particularly proud of?

There are many, really. Every time we work on something new, we do it primarily because we enjoy it. We don’t do anything just for the sake of it. But if I had to choose one of the best moments of this project, I would definitely say Sanremo. Being there, experiencing it from the inside, conducting interviews... it was fun but also educational.

Another achievement I’m particularly proud of is Spotify for Artists adding "Mediterranean" as a cultural category when artists upload their music. We have always highlighted and celebrated Mediterranean music and its rich cultural impact, and seeing it recognized by such a well-known platform is a huge step forward. Mediterranean culture is one of the oldest in the world, and it’s great to see major digital players finally embracing regional sounds. As the only international platform specializing in Mediterranean music, we like to think we contributed to this important addition.

And it's so cool to receive messages from someone thanking us for advice or because we talked about their music. The same happens with other blogs, music projects, press offices, or labels with which we established partnerships or collaborations.

What advice would you give to those who want to work in the music industry?

I always recommend starting from what I told you before: figure out what job interests you the most and build your path around that. Study, study, study. There is competition, it’s true, but the difference between those with a fleeting interest and those who are truly prepared and passionate is immediately noticeable.

My second piece of advice is don’t look for shortcuts. I know sometimes it seems like just opening a social media profile and posting a couple of things is enough, but that’s not how you build a solid career. Working in this sector requires patience, determination, and a lot more professionalism than people often think. And also a lot of respect for others’ work.

And don’t be arrogant. This industry is full of people who act like they’re better than others, but that only shows their shallowness. This isn’t true just for music but for all jobs and people. Those who are truly confident don’t brag or envy, they’re willing to help you and offer that extra advice with a smile. Luckily, not everyone is unpleasant!

If you could recommend one song to readers today, what would it be?

What a difficult question! There are many, but for this occasion I choose We Can't Stop by Miley Cyrus because it perfectly captures a belief I’ve always held: live freely and ignore the judgment of others: you are powerful!

You can follow Mediterranean Girls In Music here and listen to the song Arianna Bartolozzi Bellantuono suggested here: