Womxn+ in Music event offers advice to womxn+ launching careers in the music industry

Supported by PRS for Music, PRS Foundation and Youth Music, Leeds-based social enterprise, Come Play With Me, is set to host Womxn+ in Music, a free afternoon of discussion and celebration of womxn+ and gender minorities in the local music scene at Hyde Park Book Club, Leeds, Saturday 25 January 2020.

Taking place over the course of the afternoon, the event will feature three panels alongside an electronic music workshop with music producer, songwriter, and performer Liina “LNA” Turtonen and opportunities to meet the experts for some invaluable one-to-one advice.

An Early Careers Advice panel will be chaired by Shell Zenner, Amazing Radio/XS Radio Presenter and BBC Introducing West Yorkshire Producer; and features Maya Radcliffe, Editorial Manager for PRS for Music’s M Magazine; Grace Kelly, lead singer and rhythm guitarist of VENUS; Liina Turtonen, music producer, musician and YouTuber; and Lily Fontaine, frontwoman for Leeds band Frank and writer for Northern Life Magazine.

The Imposter Syndrome panel will be chaired by Kath Davies, Strategic Lead for Cultural Development at Kirklees Council MUSiK - Music in Kirklees; and features Estella Adeyeri, bassist and vocalist for Big Joanie, Witching Waves and Charmpit; Emily Pilbeam, presenter for BBC Music Introducing in West Yorkshire and assistant at BBC Music Introducing Humberside; and Miranda Arieh, singer/songwriter and mental health campaigner.

Two women/gender minority artists will be given the opportunity to receive a Come Play With Me supported 7” single release, chosen by a Come Play With Me selection panel of experts. The panel will be chaired by Emily Marlow, Co-Founder and Director, Girl Gang Leeds; and features DJ Nik Nak (Nicole Raymond), sound artist, composer, producer, sound engineer, DJ, turntablist and presenter of BBC Radio Leeds Monday Night Mixtape; and Cath Hurley, Most Deffo Artist Manager, LIPA lecturer and Liverpool City Region Music board member.

The event will be followed immediately after by a separately ticketed 14+ concert at the same venue, headlined by Big Joanie, in conjunction with Independent Venue Week. 

I'm honoured to have been asked to speak as part of Womxn+ in Music, alongside such a stellar line-up. Many womxn+ face roadblocks whilst trying to navigate their careers in nearly every profession, but this is particularly true of the music industry - behind the scenes and centre stage. If we really want to bridge the gap, it's crucial that we look out for one another and encourage each other’s contributions, whatever they may be. Events like this are a fantastic opportunity to strengthen your connections.

About PRS for Music

Here for music since 1914, PRS for Music is a world-leading music collective management organisation representing the rights of more than 175,000 talented songwriters, composers and music publishers. Redefining the global standard for music royalties, PRS for Music ensures songwriters and composers are paid whenever their musical compositions and songs are streamed, downloaded, broadcast, performed and played in public. 

For 110 years it has grown and protected the rights of the music creator community, paying out royalties with more accuracy, transparency and speed. In 2023, PRS for Music paid out £943.6m in royalties and collected a record £1.08 billion in revenues. prsformusic.com

About PRS Foundation

Since 2000 PRS Foundation has given more than £44 million to over 8,500 new music initiatives. 9 out of 12 Mercury Prize 2022 nominees had received PRS Foundation support (including the winner Little Simz) and the charity has supported BRITS, RPS, AIM and Ivors Award-winners.

PRS Foundation supports outstanding talent from all backgrounds, covering the whole of the UK and all genres, with grantee success stories including Little Simz, Wolf Alice, Dave, Sam Fender, Years & Years, AJ Tracey, Anna Meredith, Yola, Glass Animals, Ezra Collective, Jade Bird, Ghetts, Shiva Feshareki, Sarathy Korwar, Floating Points, Nadine Shah, The Fanatix, Imogen Heap, IDLES, Kae Tempest, Kojey Radical and Emily Burns.

Widely respected as an inclusive, collaborative and proactive funding body, PRS Foundation supports an exceptional range of new music activity through direct grants to music creators and through support for pioneering organisations, including venues, festivals, promoters and other talent development organisations. PRS Foundation founded the Women Make Music fund, co-founded global gender equality initiative, Keychange and most recently launched the POWER UP initiative to tackle anti-Black racism in music. www.prsfoundation.com