Singer, songwriter, campaigner and Ivors Academy Director Rebecca Ferguson is to be awarded the Keychange Inspiration Award at Liverpool’s Sound City+ 2022.
Ferguson first entered the industry as a contestant on The X Factor, later selling out headline tours and bagging multiple Top 10 albums. More recently, Rebecca has been actively campaigning for a safer environment for artists and songwriters. Her work has led to her collaborating with Creative UK and the DCMS Commitee on visible codes of conduct to eradicate toxic workplaces for those in music.
Discussing her work and the award, Rebecca said: ‘The new role I have taken on was not something I ever imagined for myself, it is something that has been born through my pain and the pain of other creatives who have been in contact with their intolerable stories. I have learnt over the past 18 months that our voices matter and that we should use them whenever we see injustice, even when we are scared, as that is what makes us human – to be able to love and care for others, and to be able to leave a lasting, positive impact on ones community.
‘I am honoured to be receiving this award and thank Creative UK, DCMS, Nadine Dorries, Caroline Dinage and Oliver Dowden for organising change to take place. I dedicate to all the women whose voices have been silenced by NDAs.’
The Inspiration Award and Rebecca Ferguson In Conversation lead an essential programming roster for Keychange at Sound City, with the festival sitting as the lead UK festival partner for the inspirational initiative. Bringing the most comprehensive Keychange conference programming and network event to Sound City+, this includes:
Keychange Presents: Lead By Example
Keychange discuss the importance of women and gender minority role models in the music industry - discussing past experiences and the paths that have created some of the most prominent figures in music today.
SheSaid.So Panel
Hosted by the influential SheSaid.So North, this panel focuses on the barriers and structural challenges being disproportionately faced by women in the music industry and how meaningful change can be implemented to tackle these head on.
Keychange Presents: How Do We Make The Music Industry A Safer Space For All?
Keychange presents a special workshop inviting all members of the music industry to define and develop practices to ensure safe spaces, safe experiences and safe working environments for all
Speaking about Sound City+ and Sound City’s continued partnership with Keychange, Sound City Managing Director Becky Ayres said: ‘Over the past few years, we have been delighted to work closely with Keychange as UK lead festival on not only ensuring Sound City remains a balanced and equal opportunity festival for all - but also tackling those wider music industry barriers that have prevented meaningful change for so long. To have them return to Sound City in 2022 with a diverse and vast programme of panels, discussions and workshops is a true honour - and we hope this sits as but a continuation of our incredible journey together.
'In addition, honouring one of our own in Rebecca Ferguson is sure to be an unmissable moment. Rebecca’s tireless campaigning for change across the music industry is inspirational to everything we do and we look forward to celebrating her work at Sound City+ this year.’
