Girls I Rate announces winners of 2022 GETHEARD Future Hitmaker Competition

Leeds Americana artist Ramona Rose and London rappers Abigail Asante and Kween Deekayy have been selected from over 600 applicants as winners of the 2022 GETHEARD Future Hitmaker Competition.  The three artists were awarded Future Hitmaker funding of £3,000, £2,000 and £1,000 respectively.

Created in collaboration with Carla-Marie Williams, the Future Hitmaker Award is powered by PRS Foundation’s Hitmaker Fund and supported by Spotify. The prize also includes PIRATE.COM studio time to hone their craft, apparel from ellesse and audio equipment from audio-technica. The final three songwriters were  selected by a panel made up of influential A&Rs: Shauni Caballero, Senior A&R Manager at Sony Music Publishing, Jodeci Chin, Music & Talent Manager at Vevo, Lloyd Murray, A&R Manager at Warner Records and Jacqueline Pelham-Leigh, Relationship Manager – Black Music at PRS for Music.

The competition culminated in a live event held on Saturday 3 December, hosted by KISS DJ Ellie Prohan. Over 130 young women from across the UK attended the event to listen to feedback and network with industry executives.

Girls I Rate founder and GRAMMY-award winning songwriter Carla Marie Williams says, ‘My team and I were really impressed with the quality of this year’s submissions, over 600 young women sent in their music for us to listen to! Congratulations to all those shortlisted – you are all future hitmakers in my eyes.’

Jacqueline Pelham-Leigh, Relationship Manager – Black Music, PRS for Music, says, ‘The final ten shortlisted submissions were all really impressive, it was difficult to narrow it down to the final three. Congratulations to Ramona Rose, Abigail Asante and Kween Deekayy on being selected as this year’s Future Hitmakers, we are excited to see and hear what you create.’