Kat Harlton
Photo: Provided via artist / MPC
Music Publishers Canada (MPC) recently announced the six talented producer-songwriters selected for its 2026 Women in the Studio National Accelerator, which supports the professional growth of music producers from across Canada.
Celebrating its eighth year in 2026, MPC’s Women In The Studio National Accelerator is designed to provide each cohort of producer-songwriters with skills development and networking opportunities that may otherwise be inaccessible to them.
The program focuses on topics including technical and songwriting skills, branding, and financial literacy. Participants are provided with opportunities for creative collaborations as well as networking with music industry professionals and mentors. Each producer, as a condition of acceptance, also agrees to explore volunteer opportunities in their own community.
The Accelerator runs from June to October and the sessions and workshops take place virtually and in person. The in-person residency program will take place in Toronto in July 2026.
I had the opportunity to chat with Sally Shar, a Women In The Studio 2026 participant about why this program is important, what she looks forward to learning, and the biggest challenge she’s faced in the industry thus far.
Kat: Can you talk about what it means for you to be selected as part of the 2026 Women In The Studio Cohort?
Sally: Knowing that the esteemed people behind this program selected me to be part of it fills me with deep gratitude and honour. I also feel a real sense of responsibility to show up as the best version of myself and be a supportive teammate to the other participants.
It’s honestly bittersweet that a program like this even has to exist because it reflects how underrepresented women and non-binary creators are in music production. At the same time, I’m grateful it exists. It feels essential. The fact that there are dedicated people actively contributing their time, energy, and resources into creating space where there hasn’t historically been enough already feels substantial, regardless of whether I had been selected or not. I feel reassured that the powerhouses running this program are doing it with real intention and care. It feels both uplifting and necessary, and I hope it continues to grow and support more people for years to come. I also hope that what I learn through the program will help me contribute back to that ecosystem in a meaningful way.
Kat: What do you hope to take away from it?
Sally: Organic interactions with my cohorts and mentors will probably be where I find the most enrichment. At least that’s my favourite way to absorb a program like this. I hope to be fully present at every session and try to be observant of everyone and everything so that I can receive and contribute as much as possible throughout this exciting journey. As a lifestyle, I try not to put too many expectations on anything. Besides, the dream team putting this together has already been incredibly thoughtful and organized in preparing us for what’s ahead, and I trust the process. Still, I’ve learned that some of the most meaningful growth comes from things you never could have planned for. Wherever this journey ends up leading, I’m certain I’ll leave with new skills, new relationships, and a different perspective than the one I arrived with.
Kat: What do you find is the most challenging part of being a female producer/artist?
Sally: I think one of the biggest challenges was that, for a long time, it wasn’t clear to me what being a producer actually was or could entail. Whether intentional or not, the studio side of the music industry can feel like a deeply gatekept space. Women are often expected to be exceptionally prepared, exceptionally skilled, and exceptionally experienced just to be viewed as equally capable. That pressure isn’t theoretical. It’s very real. I’d love to say it was only an internal battle, but the truth is, I’ve witnessed firsthand the undermining of women in creative spaces. I’ve heard the minimizing comments about women as producers, writers, instrumentalists, engineers, you name it. For a long time, experiencing those attitudes fueled my own silence and self-doubt. Looking back, I celebrate that I was a producer all along. I was also carrying an enormous amount of additional responsibility and pressure, constantly trying to prove myself beyond what should have been necessary. Today, I feel much more empowered. The challenge hasn’t disappeared, but I hope to make it a little easier for the next person by continuing to show up, take up space, and exist visibly in these rooms. Sometimes representation isn’t just about being seen. It’s about helping someone else imagine themselves there, too.
Kat: What has been a career highlight for you so far? What have you learned along the way?
Sally: Let’s address the big, beautiful elephant in the room so it can be free to roam. MONOWHALES will always be one of the most incredible chapters of my life. The experiences, the connections, and the art we created together had a huge impact on who I am today. I wouldn’t be who I am without it, and I genuinely love who I’ve become because of it.
In this current chapter, I get to sit more in a supportive role rather than in the spotlight, and my heart still feels full in a different way. Every time I’m in a room with an artist who lets themselves be vulnerable, and we find the song that holds their truth, I light up like a lighthouse. Helping to pull feelings and stories that exist inside someone’s mind or body and turning them into something tangible in our world… a song they can hear and recognize as themselves? Oof, nothing feels better. That, to me, is the definition of magic.
I carry everything I learned in my last chapter into this one. It keeps me grounded, and I check in with it often so my experiences can continue to guide my intuition with what I’m meant to be building next.
Kat: What’s next?
Sally: Most immediately, I’m really excited that David Archuleta is releasing a new song we wrote together while I was in LA, “Better Than U.” It might already be out by the time you’re reading this, so go have a listen. While you’re at it, we also have another banger we released together a few years ago called “I’m Yours.” I adore David. Every time we end up in a room together, it feels like one of those suspended-in-time moments where everything slows down, and the music, laughter, and real talk just flow. He’s genuinely inspiring to be around, and I admire everything he’s doing. He’s a gem, I tell you, and a really genuine friend.
What’s next for me as a producer?… making music with voices that need to be heard. Holding space for people to feel safe enough to say the thing they didn’t think they could say, and turning that into something real they can keep.
As for my own artistry, I’ve been chipping away at it since my departure from MONOWHALES. There’s a lot I’ve been sitting with and slowly watering in the background. I’m not rushing it. I’m letting it come alive on its own. If you know my work, you know I don’t really do things halfway. When it’s ready, it’ll be full throttle.
Connect With Sally
WEBSITE: http://www.sallyshaar.com
INSTAGRAM:https://www.instagram.com/sally_shaar
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/SallyShaar
TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@sallyshaar
X: https://twitter.com/SallyShaar
To learn more about the Women In The Studio program visit: https://www.musicpublishing.ca/women-in-the-studio