FEATURE:
Queens of the Scene
IMAGE CREDIT: Music Week
Highlighting the Music Week Women in Music Awards 2023
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THERE is an important ceremony approaching…
IN THIS PHOTO: Claire McAuley (EVP, Global Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music) is included in the Roll of Honour at this year’s Music Week Women in Music Awards/PHOTO CREDIT: Jonathan Weiner
that recognises and highlights important and inspiring women in music. In an industry brimming with amazing women, it is encouraging that there is a moment to recognise those across the industry doing incredible and important work. That is not always the case where you look across the industry. I will come to Music Week’s Women in Music Awards. You can follow Music Week on Twitter and Instagram. I am going to come to that in a minute. Why the WIMA are really important. There is particular interest on this year’s Roll of Honour. These are exceptional women across music who are game-changers. Women (including anyone who identifies as a woman) celebrated because of their essential work and progress that has resulted because of them. Look at particular areas like women in studios and they are still hugely underrepresented. When it comes to women behind the scenes too, there is definite work to be done. Look at this report from 2019 to see the issues present and still visible today. In 2021, these figures showed the percentage of women in positions of power across the industry. The industry remains biased across women and female creators. There are small steps being made. One would look at the statistics we get each year and feel that a pipeline issue is to be blame. There definitely should be greater opportunities for an exposure of vital female talent. From inspiring artists and producers through to label bosses and campaigners, much more needs to be done. That is why the Music Week Women in Music Awards is truly essential. It gives tangible evidence of the inspiring and incredible women across music that are making change.
IN THIS PHOTO: Alice Levine/PHOTO CREDIT: Hanna Hillier
The host of this year’s MWWIM Awards is Alice Levine. An award-winning presenter and hugely respected broadcaster and D.J., she has won acclaim across comedy, podcasts, entertainment and documentaries. An incredible and influential figure across music, radio and beyond, Levine returns for the eighth edition. Before coming to the Role of Honour for 2023, here are some details about Women in Music and how the award ceremony came to be. It recognises a wide range of women in various areas:
“We launched “Women in Music” in 2014 and we were overwhelmed by the reaction we received. Our aim was to shine the spotlight on some of the most inspirational and influential execs in the music business – who just happened to be female.
We also wanted to showcase the full range of roles that women were tackling within the business: highlighting how vital they are to the industry overall. The event has gone from strength to strength since its launch, with new categories and new supporters added every year.
Music Week works with our Founding Committee, The Association of Independent Music & UK Music to put the event together, and we have succeeded in building a place for the music industry to gather and celebrate the most important and influential women from all sectors of this vibrant business.
“The Music Week Women In Music Awards, staged in association with The Association of Independent Music and UK Music, returns on Friday, November 10, 2023 at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge, London.
The awards recognise the great careers of women and female-identifying people in the music business. We are proud to be trans and genderqueer inclusive.
Music Week aims to showcase the full range of roles that women and female-identifying people are tackling within the business: highlighting how vital they are to the industry overall.
The categories are broad and acknowledge women through live music, business and broadcasting (you can see last year’s winners here). There are new categories this year. It is an opportunity to show the wealth of female talent that is already in the industry. Encourage growth, acceptance, celebration and parity when it comes to women and ensuring their voices and contributions are recognised - and it helps lead to change and balance:
“Rising Star
Music Champion
Music Creative – Spirit Of The Studio sponsored by Downtown
Campaigner sponsored by Spotify
Live Music Inspiration
NEW: DE&I Initiative of the Year
Businesswoman Of The Year
Entrepreneur Award
International Woman Of The Year
NEW: Special Recognition sponsored by YouTube
Women In Music Roll Of Honour in association with TikTok
Inspirational Artist (no nominations taken) sponsored by Vevo
New Artist Award (no nominations taken) sponsored by PRS for Music and PRS Foundation
Outstanding Contribution (no nominations taken)
Overarching criteria:
The Judging period for this year’s Women In Music Awards is from August 2022 - June 2023
All nominees / businesses must be based in the United Kingdom (except for International Woman of the Year)
We welcome all women and female-identifying people. We are proud to be trans and genderqueer inclusive.
Rising Star
Nominees for the Rising Star award will be under 30 years old and have been working fully in the industry (as a whole) for seven years or less (inclusive of full time internships). The Rising Star award serves to highlight emerging female talent in the music business, across all disciplines and functions, except artists, who will be recognised via the New Artist Award.
Nominations should include details regarding:
- Exceptional Achievements: Please provide examples of exceptional achievements as part of this person’s role.
- Consistent Contribution: Please include details of projects the nominee has contributed to, with examples of how their input ensured success.
Nominations should include case studies/examples of the above, and testimonials from her colleagues and/or clients in support of the nomination.
Music Champion
The Music Champion Award shines a light on women working in a public-facing capacity who encourage the use of music as a force for change, inclusion, education or improvement. Nominees will successfully occupy the space between the industry and the consumer, influencing the perception of the music industry by the rest of the world.
In particular, nominations should include details regarding:
- Positive promotion of music: The nominee’s involvement in positively promoting the music industry in the mainstream media via multiple channels and mediums
- Force for change: Evidence of the contribution of the nominee’s efforts to use music as a force for change, inclusion, education or improvement
Nominations should include case studies/examples of the above, and testimonials from colleagues and/or clients in support of the nomination.
Music Creative – Spirit Of The Studio
The Music Creative Award recognises a woman who has made a significant contribution to the making of music behind the scenes, through songwriting, studio production, or studio technology.
This nominee should have demonstrated a commitment to the following ideals throughout their career/the qualifying period from August 2022 - June 2023:
- Exceptional Achievements: Please provide examples of exceptional achievements as part of this person’s role
- Consistent Contribution: Please include details of projects the nominee has contributed to, with examples of how their input ensured success.
- Campaigner: Proven examples of encouraging equality and changes in the culture towards women in the music industry on a global scale.
IN THIS PHOTO: A musician, broadcaster and chair of BPI, YolanDa Brown won the Music Champion award last year
Campaigner
This is a special award for either an individual woman or women co-founders working for, or with, a music related charity or similar organisation, or who has dedicated themselves to pushing for change, inclusion and acceptance within the music industry.
In particular, nominations should include details regarding the nominee’s commitment to:
- Campaign cause/impact: Evidence of a public commitment to raising awareness and impact of their campaign through a variety of platforms.
- Courage, dedication & passion: nominees should embody the values that they are campaigning for in their personal behaviour and brand.
Nominations should include case studies/examples of the above, and testimonials from colleagues and/or clients in support of the nomination.
Live Music Inspiration
The Live Music Inspiration Award recognises a woman who has made a significant contribution to the live music industry in the UK.
Nominations for individuals working across all disciplines and functions within the live/touring sector will be considered, but entries must demonstrate the nominee’s commitment to at least three of the following ideals throughout their career, and with particular reference to the qualifying period from August 2022 - June 2023:
- Exceptional Achievements: Please provide examples of exceptional achievements as part of this person’s role.
- Consistent Contribution: Please include details of projects the nominee has contributed to, with examples of how their input ensured success.
- Role Model: Mentoring, succession planning, pushing boundaries, ability to motivate others, relationship building with colleagues/employees, especially for other women.
DE&I Initiative of the Year
Replacing the Company Award, this category focuses not on an overall business but a specific initiative from a business or organisation that has gone the extra mile to champion diversity and inclusion both internally and externally.
Nominated initiatives must be able to show evidence of demonstrable results to the following:
- Widespread Diversity – evidence of initiatives and policies that actively promote diversity, equality and inclusion of all kinds, including gender parity
- Equal Opportunities – evidence of a commitment to diversity and equality at all levels within the company, from board level through to entry level
- Education & Evangelism – examples of how the initiative is leading the way in highlighting the benefits of diversity in business
Whichever aspect of diversity this nomination focuses on, the initiative must have delivered proven and demonstrable results towards improving diversity, equity and inclusion.
Nominations should include case studies/examples of the above, and testimonials from employees and/or clients in support of the nomination.
PHOTO CREDIT: Music Week
Businesswoman Of The Year
The Businesswoman Of The Year category is open to senior women working in the music industry in a commercial capacity. This is defined as someone who regularly brokers and concludes partnerships and deals involving the exchange of money for goods or services. They should have enjoyed considerable commercial success through the qualifying period from August 2022 - June 2023.
They should have direct budget control of at least £500,000.
This woman should have demonstrated a commitment to the following ideals throughout the qualifying period from August 2022 - June 2023;
- Entrepreneurship: Founder/leader of a business, driving force behind success through pioneering approach, business acumen, dynamism, innovation, audacity, tenacity
- Financial Success: Sustained profitable business growth and healthy balance sheet with a minimum turnover of £3M in the most recent completed financial year.
Nominations should include case studies/examples of this woman’s commercial success, and testimonials from her colleagues and/or clients in support of the nomination.
Entrepreneur Award
The Entrepreneur Award recognises a woman or women co-founders who have been the driving force in founding and/or building a business, displaying considerable innovation and success. Nominations for individuals/co-founders working in any sector of the music industry and at any stage of their career will be considered, but entries must demonstrate the following throughout their entrepreneurial career, and with particular reference to the qualifying period from August 2022 - June 2023.
- Entrepreneurship: Founder/leader of a business, driving force behind success through pioneering approach, business acumen, dynamism, innovation, audacity, tenacity
- Success: Identifying or developing a new market or generating considerable new value in existing markets through innovation, and evidence of substantial impact on that market.
- Vision: Evidence of understanding and capitalising on opportunities, taking risks, overcoming challenges
Nominations should include case studies/examples of this woman / women’s entrepreneurship and success, and testimonials from colleagues and/or clients in support of the nomination.
IN THIS PHOTO: Hazel Savage (VP, Music Intelligence, SoundCloud, Musiio by SoundCloud) received the Entrepreneur Award at last year’s Music Week Women in Music event
International Woman Of The Year
The International Woman Of The Year Award recognises a woman* who has made a global contribution to the music industry over the course of the qualifying period from August 2022 - June 2023.
This woman must be able to demonstrate a commitment to at least three of the following ideals throughout their career/the qualifying period:
- Entrepreneurship: Founder/leader of a business*, driving force behind success through pioneering approach, business acumen, dynamism, innovation, audacity, tenacity
- Financial Success: Sustained profitable business growth and healthy balance sheet with a minimum turnover of £500,000
- Corporate Social Responsibility: Genuine commitment to responsible and sustainable business practices such as environmental policies, employee benefits, workforce diversity, and community schemes/relationships
*Nominees/businesses must be based outside the United Kingdom
NEW: Special Recognition Award
The industry has many unsung heroes, and we want to celebrate those whose roles may not always take centre stage in the industry or necessarily be covered by the other categories at our ceremony.
New for 2023, then, is the Special Recognition Award, which has been conceived to honour an individual who has excelled in their chosen field – spanning any job in any sector of the industry – over a long period of time and who has made a critical and palpable difference to their company.
Women In Music Roll Of Honour
The Women In Music Roll Of Honour was established in 2014, and now has over 100 members. Every year more women are inducted into the Roll Of Honour in recognition of their work for the music industry. Nominees for any of the above awards are automatically also considered for the Roll of Honour, however nominations can also be made solely for the Roll of Honour.
The Roll Of Honour aims to highlight the breadth, depth and variety of individuals who are ‘game changers’ in the music industry, with one common theme; they are either female, or their activities consistently benefit women, or focus on female empowerment/gender disparity
IN THIS PHOTO: Last year’s winner of the New Artist Award, Nova Twins
Inspirational Artist
(no nominations taken)
sponsored by Vevo
The Inspirational Artist award is for an artist who has had a stellar career over a long period of time. The winner of this category will have, or have had, a record deal, and will be a recognisable public face through both their music and their commitment to equality and female empowerment in music.
Nominations will not be taken for this category; the winner of the award will be selected by Music Week, AIM, WIN and UK Music.
New Artist Award
(no nominations taken)
The New Artist award is for an up-and-coming artist who is using their initial success to draw attention to female empowerment and equality. The winner of this award does not have to have a record deal.
Nominations will not be taken for this category; the winner of the award will be selected by Music Week, AIM, WIN and UK Music.
Outstanding Contribution
(no nominations taken)
The Outstanding Contribution category aims to recognise a woman who has been working in the music industry for 10+ years, with considerable success and profile. The recipient will have demonstrably pushed the boundaries within their chosen field, and will have contributed positively to driving change and equality in music throughout their career in the music industry.
Nominations will not be taken for this category; the winner of the award will be selected by Music Week, AIM and UK Music in consultation with the expert judging panel”.
The Roll of Honour lists the women who will be added to the over one hundred. Those who are part of a prestigious group. Taking its names from across music, we can see the seventeen women who will join other inspiring figures. 2022’s Roll of Honour recognised queens like broadcaster, D.J. and new music champion, Mary Anne Hobbs:
ROLL OF HONOUR
Music Week's Women In Music Roll Of Honour was established in 2014 and now has over 100 members. It aims to highlight the breadth, depth and variety of individuals who are ‘game changers’ in the music industry, with one common theme; they are either women or female-identifying, or their activities consistently benefit women, or focus on female empowerment/gender disparity.
Music Week Women In Music Roll Of Honour
Music Week’s Women In Music Roll Of Honour aims to highlight the breadth, depth and variety of individuals who are game-changers in the music industry, with their activities consistently benefiting women and non-binary people, or focusing on empowerment/gender disparity.
This year’s event will see the continuation of our Women In Music Roll Of Honour, which was established in 2014 and now has over 100 members.
2022 ROLL OF HONOUR
Stephanie Achigbu, marketing director, AWAL
Deborah Annetts, chief executive, ISM
Charisse Beaumont, chief executive, Black Lives in Music
Vicky Dowdall, founder & CEO, VDM Music
Shani Gonzales, EVP, managing director, UK & head of international A&R, Warner Chappell
Claire Haffenden, director of artist relations and events, Universal Music
Mary Anne Hobbs, broadcaster, DJ, curator, Mentor, writer
Eve Horne, founder, campaigner, songwriter, producer, creative mentor & advisor,
PeakMusicUK & We Are The Unheard
Jennifer Ivory, senior vice president, Warner Records UK
Yasmin Lajoie, A&R executive, manager and activist (posthumously awarded)
Meenal Odedra, founder, The Music Assistant
Christine Osazuwa, chief strategy officer, Shoobs; UK director, Shesaid.so; founder, Measure of Music
Ellie Prohan, DJ, presenter, radio host
Sarah Slater, vice president, music & festivals, Ticketmaster”.
I wanted to highlight the annual Music Week Women in Music Awards. It is a time of year (10th November this year) where there is a dedicated evening for women throughout music who are making change and hold that influence. Some might say an award ceremony that only recognises women is exclusionary and sexist. Consider the industry as a whole and the fact that is it sexist and is slow to recognise women. How many other occasions are there to spotlight talent that would otherwise be ignored?! I started by dropping some article links that show imbalance across the music industry. With the likes of MWWIM in the world, it is actually motivation and impetus for recognition. Not only of the female talent out there. Also, the incentive to be more inclusive and change aspects that keep leading to imbalance and a lack of parity. It is obvious that there are so many game-changing women in the industry. Thinking about them all together under one roof at the Park Plaza, London is…
REALLY inspiring and amazing.