Preparing for your release: A Guide For Independent Artists with shesaid.so, Powered by DistroKid

shesaid.so and DistroKid partner for a four-part workshop series.

Here at shesaid.so, we love to provide informative resources and equip our members and allies for their careers. So we have teamed up with independent digital music distribution service, DistroKid, to bring members a four-part series to unpack the secrets behind a successful release.

The four sessions take us through the stages of the process from beginning to end, starting with top tips for the pre-release/production stage; moving on to ensuring a smooth distribution process for release; through to making the most of marketing and promo opportunities. Every Tuesday at 10am PDT / 6pm BST, live on our YouTube channel.

Session 1: HOW TO MAXIMISE YOUR PRODUCTION QUALITY

Session 1 kicks off with a focus on maximising your production — from a technical, creative and operational perspective. Hosted by:

• Lysee Webb, Founder of Van Pelt Management (highlights include multiple GRAMMY award winner Shawn Everett working with the likes of Kacey Musgraves, War on Drugs, and most recently Adele, to up and coming talent like Jason Agel landing projects with serpentwithfeet, Prince and John Legend, and Jonathan Low working on Taylor Swift’s Folklore.)

• Ebonie Smith, award-winning Music Producer, Audio Engineer & Singer/Songwriter, plus Founder of Gender Amplified, an organisation that supports women and girls in music production.

This first workshop focuses in on the music production stage of a release and how to make the music sound as great as possible.

Session 2: DISTRIBUTION 101

Session 2 is a DistroKid special, hosted by Marketing Manager Mikaela Allen.

Dedicated to helping artists get access to the tools they need to make a living out of their artistry, Mikaela has worked with brands and organizations such as TIDAL, Madison Square Garden Company, Mercedes-Benz, Twitch and more. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Business/Marketing from the Berklee College of Music as well as a Masters Degree in Global Entertainment and Music Business.

An expert on all things distribution, Mikaela takes us through best practices for preparing your music before, during, and after that all important release day.

Session 3: Make Platforms and Marketing Work For You

Session #3 continues with expert advice on how to define your unique message, marketing your music to the world, and how to do this on DSP’s and other such platforms, led by Ultra Music Records VP of Marketing, Bina Fronda.

Bina landed at famed NYC-based dance music label Ultra Music in 2014 and worked her way up to her current role as Director of Marketing. During her time at Ultra Music, Bina has overseen marketing campaigns for artists such as Steve Aoki, Kygo, Sofi Tukker including their recently Grammy nominated album “Treehouse,” Benny Benassi, Deorro, Axwell, Pitbull, Kaytranada & more. Prior to Ultra, Bina also has experience in the festival industry, namely large scale events including Governor’s Ball, EDC NY, Boston calling and The Meadows.

Session 4: Optimising Your Promotional Tools

In Session #4, DistroKid’s Head of Creator Services, Mike Fink, sits down with singer/songwriters and DistroKid artists, Neoni, to talk about their artist journey, putting together a promo strategy, tools that have helped them along the way, tips for other indie artists, and more.

Mike Fink

Mike heads up DistroKid’s Creator Services team engaging with artists and DSPs. Previously he headed up relationships with indie music rights holders, labels and management at Pandora. Prior to moving to California, he produced over a thousand shows at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and co-founded indie label The Kora Records. He also managed several artists in DC, including Anousheh Khalili who shared a grammy nomination for her work with Deep Dish.

Neoni

we are sisters who argue and write songs One Colorado summer on the corner of Washington & 13th we opened our guitar cases and started playing. Today we write bold music and collaborate with artists from around the globe.

Tune in to find out:

• How the artists got started in music.

• What are the most impactful tools that have helped them along the way (can be on the promotion and or creation side)?

• What tips do they have for other independent artists trying to make a career out of their music?

A huge thanks to our partners at DistroKid for making this series happen and for supporting our work.

If you are an artist wanting to find out more about DistroKid services, check out the DistroKid website here.

And if you would like to get access to these sessions or any future content from shesaid.so, become a member or ally today.

Member Spotlight #37: Mahaneela

For this month’s Member Spotlight, we had the pleasure of catching up with the co-founder of Cozy Global, Mahaneela. As a multidisciplinary artist, her work explores the intersections of the global Black experience with a focus on depicting Black and Brown joy. As a creative director, filmmaker, photographer and so much more, Mahaneela is providing a new perspective on what representation looks like in mainstream media. Apart from her artistry, Mahaneela also works as a creative strategist and consultant with artists’ labels, and brands to take their activations and events to new heights. Get to know Mahaneela and tap into her tips below.

shesaidso: Tell us a little more about yourself, and your career journey to date.

“My name is Mahaneela. I am an artist. I’ve been a photographer for almost 10 years now, and a director for 5. My work is centered around Black and Brown joy, documenting the African and South Asian diaspora through music videos, photography, creative direction, music management, DJing and so much more. I’d say my career to date is driven by my community. I’ve been privileged to grow with my peers as we collectively create a new canon of imagery and art that celebrates our joy, and our beauty. For a long time, this work has been necessary but underrepresented and appreciated, but now, I think there’s been a shift — and it’s beautiful to see so many Black and Brown artists flourishing.”

shesaidso: In a Creative Lives in Progress Pep talk, you talk about leaving a philosophy course to pursue the career that you love, what advice would you give to someone who wants to take the risk and pivot to a new career?

“I would say to anyone looking to go down a new path career-wise, if you are able, to take your time with your decisions. It might feel like you just want to quit right now, but thinking long-term about your goals and finding a new opportunity that allows you to get by financially as well as learn transferable skills you can bring to your own projects down the line is key. We can’t all drop out of uni / quit our jobs and immediately thrive. It’s taken me 10 years from when I made the decision to leave until now, when I feel like I’ve only recently started to reap the rewards of all that work. I spent years working full-time in different jobs that allowed me to pick up the skill set needed that I could apply to my own business and projects. I am so grateful for those experiences, even if the job wasn’t my end goal, because it helped me to get here.” [Mahaneela’s Pep talk here]

shesaidso: You have worked on so many cool projects, working with clients such as MAC, FKA Twigs, Adidas, and many more what has been your favorite project to date?

“Ooooh I would say my favorite project to date would be the show I created with Nike, “Come Thru”. It was just such a different experience not only directing a show format but also it being of my own creation. I had so much fun on that project and built so many authentic relationships with the women who made it with me. It was a beautiful sisterhood.”

shesaidso: Cozy Global started as a magazine and is now a full-service creative studio, can you tell us about that journey and some of the biggest lessons you have learned along the way?

“Yes! It’s so crazy to think back in 2014 we were a magazine and now we’re here. It really just evolved as me and Sadé (my business partner) did. Initially, we expanded from the magazine to events, because Sade worked in events. We both were managing artists too, then we started putting on live shows and then would DJ at our parties in London, New York, LA… We always wanted it to feel international. We both were working at labels, and started to get involved in production and directing videos, so it followed naturally for us to use “COZY” when we worked together as it was our thing. There have been so many lessons along the way. I think we’ve learned how to advocate for ourselves the most. And found our own way of how we do business, we’ve learned a lot about what not to do (there are definitely some horror stories) so I think we really try to be mindful of that and the artists we work with because we are artists too.”

shesaidso: As a multi-hyphenate artist, how do you make time to explore your creativity outside of work?

“Through conversations with friends, I feel super inspired. I think we explore our creativity together as we are constantly sharing ideas and art with each other.”

shesaidso: One piece of advice that has impacted you?

“Work smart.”

shesaidso: What songs are in heavy rotation for you right now?

“At the moment I can’t stop playing:

Tamera — Wickedest

Juls ft. Kadiata, Sam Wise & Knucks — Wicked

Sainté — Champagne Shots

Ragz Originale — Brush U

shesaidso: Lastly, how can people reach you if they want to connect?

Instagram! My DMs are open :) Find me @MAHANEELA.JPG

Meet the women behind Recording Artists and Music Professionals With Disabilities (RAMPD)

RAMPD (Recording Artists and Music Professionals with Disabilities) is a fast-growing coalition dedicated to making disability inclusion and access a reality in the mainstream music industry. It was founded in May of 2021 by award-winning recording artist and advocate Lachi after a public talk with the Recording Academy revealed a serious lack of visibility, access, and representation for disabled music creators and industry professionals. Covered in Billboard, Hollywood Reporter and the New York Times, RAMPD is a new force advancing disability culture to mainstream discussion, focusing on the competitiveness and unique voice disabled creators bring.

According to the CDC, over 36 million women in America have a disability, and YAI reports that a third of the LGBTQ+ community have some form of disability too. Run primarily by a diverse female-identifying leadership, RAMPD advocates for artists and professionals of all intersections.

Co-founded by violinist Gaelynn Lea, and other top talent, RAMPD is making its mark as the go-to place for mainstream discussion on inclusion for creative professionals who identify as disabled, deaf, neurodivergent, or having a rare disease or chronic illness.

shesaid.so was lucky enough to speak to some of the brilliant women behind the organization…

. . .

shesaid.so: So how did RAMPD first come about?

Lachi: “Hi, I’m Lachi, She/Her Black Girl Cornrows, and I identify as legally blind. In my photo I’m wearing a pink dress and holding a pink Glam Cane. As an EDM recording artist, I’ve worked with some of the biggest names in the industry, traveled the world for my art, and have had the pleasure to collaborate with the White House, GRAMMY’s, Kennedy Center, and perform on Netflix to advance disability culture and arristry.

“I founded RAMPD — along with co-founder Gaelynn Lea, and other amazing founding members — because, while I could find some support as a female artist and as a black artist, there was no such voice, platform and community for musicians with disabilities on a competitive level. With few role-models for young disabled artists to look up to, the cultural stigmas fueling the oppression and discrimination of disabled people will never break. It’s time for that to change. And it is music that has always mastered the needle at shaping culture.

“I’d like to pass the mic to my sisters to chime in. Thank you shesaid.so for highlighting the women here at RAMPD.”

Image: Lachi

shesaid.so: Can you tell us a few current initiatives or ways in which RAMPD amplifies disability culture and advocates for accessibility and inclusion in the music industry?

Andrea Jennings: “My name is Andrea Jennings, Secretary and Founding Member of RAMPD. I have an M.Mus in Music and Music Business and Entertainment Industries. I am a disability advocate and equity in entertainment strategist and founder of Shifting Creative Paradigms.

“I am so proud to be a part of the RAMPD family and coalition, purely focused on impacting real change and equitable opportunities in the music industry for music professionals who identify as having a disability. RAMPD amplifies disability culture in that we are changing the paradigm of how people with disabilities are viewed and portrayed in mainstream discussion, giving creative professionals a respectful platform to celebrate their unique voice and perspectives. At RAMPD, we elevate disability culture as a diverse collective and as individuals by empowering ourselves to use our authentic voices, music and artistry to affect change.”

Image: Andrea Jennings

shesaid.so: What are some ways that an artist or individual in the music industry can make steps in their own work to be more inclusive of artists or music professionals with disabilities?

Gaelynn Lea: “My name is Gaelynn Lea and I’m a violinist, songwriter and public speaker from Duluth, MN. I am also the Co-Founder and Vice President of RAMPD. Most recently, I was hired to compose and record the score for the Broadway production of Macbeth, directed by Sam Gold and starring Daniel Craig and Ruth Negga — this production opens in April 2022 at Longacre Theatre.

“Both disabled artists and allies can embrace accessibility in their own careers! For example, you can choose to only play at wheelchair-accessible venues, to make captions and/or ASL available at events whenever possible, and to embrace accessibility in social media by adding captioning and adding image descriptions to all your public posts. Even if you don’t require access yourself, these steps help to normalize accessibility in the music industry.

“The second way you can move the needle is to elevate Disability Culture in your own sphere of influence! Maybe that means doing shows with disabled artists or learning more about the music and activism coming out of the disability community. Or perhaps that means covering disabled artists in your music reporting or including them on your next playlist. Basically the goal is to make sure that disability is represented at every level in your work, from your employees to the artists you represent, all the way up to your Board Members! Increasing disability representation and visibility In the music industry is a key way that we will shape our culture to be more inclusive of disability as a form of diversity. We can all be part.”

Image: Gaelynn Lea

shesaid.so: Would you say you have seen positive progress in the industry since the beginnings of RAMPD and why/how?

Lisa Sniderman aka. Aoede: “I’m Lisa Sniderman, also known as Aoede, an award-winning San Francisco-based artist, playwright, author, filmmaker, disabled artist advocate, and have been battling a rare progressive muscle weakness disease for nearly 14 years while obsessively creating to heal. I use my arts and music to elevate and empower those with chronic illnesses. I’m a RAMPD founding professional member, and I serve on the Partnerships subcommittee. My recent release The Grieving Project, sets the stages of grief to music

“Yes, I’ve experienced first hand, tremendous positive progress in disability culture, inclusion and accessibility since RAMPD formed. Even before officially launching in January, RAMPD had already made big strides. The 2021 the inaugural New York WAVY Awards partnered with RAMPD to make their Music award show as inclusive and accessible as possible, for example, fully incorporating self-descriptions, servomg as a model for other award shows.

“RAMPD has been featured in Billboard, and Variety, New York Times, raising awareness for artists with disabilities and providing industry recognition and clout. As someone living with chronic illness, I’m encouraged by the progress we’ve made in just a few short months, to show that artists with disabilities deserve a seat at the table, on the stage, as presenters and performers, and behind the scenes.”

Image: Lisa Sniderman aka. Aoede

shesaid.so: What has been the feedback regarding the RAMPD movement from the community of those who have joined RAMPD, and from the greater music community?

Tabi: “I am Tabi, a singer-songwriter in New York City with Muscular Dystrophy. Having sold out shows in music halls, I’ve been featured on CNN’s “The Human Factor” discussing how singing helps my respiratory challenges. I am also co-chair of the RAMPD PR Committee where I have the pleasure of helping share with the world the multitude of things we are doing to amplify the disability music scene.

“I’ve heard so many wonderful comments about RAMPD from music lovers to music industry folks, saying we’re making a huge difference giving voice to those who’ve been under-represented. I’ve received great feedback on how we showcased our amazing talents at our launch event, the best virtual launch folks have ever seen. In addition, many have all been in agreement with me that when it comes to creativity such as expressing emotions and experiences, we (disabled musicians) do not have to try to tap into that, it is naturally part of us and therefore already part of our art. And they love that. People who can appreciate music in its truest form love that.”

Image: Tabi

shesaid.so: What are some of the major barriers and issues that organizations like RAMPD aim to counter or improve upon in the global music industry?

Eliza Hull: “I am Eliza Hull, a disabled musical artist from Castlemaine, Australia, and a member of RAMPD. I have a physical disability called ‘Charcot Marie Tooth Disorder.’ I recently won the Music Victoria’s Amplify award, am working on a new record produced by Pip Norman and Odette, and am off to SXSW in Austin, performing alongside Ruth Lyon and Lachi.

“The music industry is starting to shift, but there is so much more that needs to be done. I think there needs to be far more representation of disabled musicians on TV, on the radio and in magazines. I want emerging disabled artists to feel represented and know what’s possible. Larger music organizations and record labels need to enable more disabled musicians to have their music heard. As for physical barriers, stages and live music venues aren’t accessible which makes it hard for me to get onto the stage or into the venue. The time is now for change to happen so we can create a more inclusive industry.”

Image: Eliza Hull

shesaid.so: How can others get involved with or support RAMPD, either as individuals or organizations?

Precious Perez: “My name is Precious Perez, and I am a blind Puerto Rican singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, music educator, and childrens author. I am proud to be the Membership Chair of RAMPD, and I recently graduated with a double bachelors in performance and music ED from Berklee College of Music.

“We encourage both allies and individuals with disabilities to get involved with this groundbreaking cultural movement. We have a community of over 400 plus members already. Anyone is welcome to join as a community member and sign up to receive updates on news and events, at any time on RAMPD.org. Organizations can get involved by partnering with RAMPD through a brand partnership, sponsoring a RAMPD event, or making a tax-deductible donation to the movement at RAMPD.org, so that we may continue to grow and fulfill our mission of making the music industry diverse, inclusive and accessible.”

Image: Precious Perez

shesaid.so: How has joining the RAMPD community been for you as a music professional who identifies as having a disability?

Molly Joyce: “I am Molly Joyce, a composer, performer and Professional RAMPD Member, who’s been described as one of the “most versatile, prolific and intriguing composers working under the vast new-music dome” by The Washington Post. RAMPD has provided an invaluable community and network to progress musicianship grounded in disability culture and aesthetics.”

Image: Molly Joyce

Maria Mucaria: “I am Maria Mucaria, a classical trained musician specializing in flutes and recorders. I also enjoy playing whistles, bodhrán and singing folk music from Celtic, Italian, and American cultures. Some of my accomplishments include touring North America and Europe as a musician, and teaching students in the US and UK. As a professional musician, I joined RAMPD to connect with a community of peers who understand being a professional musician and disability culture. Not only did I find a network of amazing musicians from all styles of music, I found a support system to celebrate disability.”

Image: Maria Mucaria

Neesa Sunar: “I’m Neesa Sunar, classical violist, singer/songwriter and licensed Master of Social Work (LMSW) in New York State, which has empowered me in maintaining my own mental health condition. For over ten years, I was unable to play music because of my disability, but last year I began gaining strength to play. As a member of RAMPD, I have found a community of folks who understand my experiences, and I finally feel that I can develop my musical talent to share with the world.”

Image: Neesa Sunar

Mercedes Lysaker: “I’m Mercedes Lysaker, a classically trained cellist now devoted heart and soul to electric strings. I’m a Professional Member of RAMPD, rebuilding a career in music after brain injuries that totally rewired how I experience performing, creating, and teaching music. Seeing other disabled music professionals work with joy, purpose, and passion has made me less interested in hiding my identity as a disabled woman, and more interested in making music on my own terms — changing the field for the better.”

Image: Mercedes Lysaker

Anne Leighton: “I’m Anne Leighton, a music publicist, spoken word artist and songwriter. I’ve thrived, sustaining my career and growing and rebuilding it during the Pandemic. I’m part of RAMPD’s PR Committee. Joining RAMPD has helped me find my community and to not hide when I need help for things I can’t do on my own. This attitude gives me a better chance at getting the help I need.”

Image: Anne Leighton

Thanks so much to everyone for their contributions.

Find out more about RAMPD on the website

Read more about shesaid.so or become a member

shesaid.so 2021: It's A Wrap!

It’s the end of another year, and here at shesaid.so we are taking a moment to reflect on our progress and all the community events we have enjoyed this year. In turn, we are encouraging all of you to take stock of your achievements this year. However grand, or however seemingly small, we know that all achievements are worth celebrating. So take a moment to be proud.

Here are some of our highlights of the past 12 months. We’d love to hear yours!

. . .

We shared over 140 job postings on our job board.

We launched 4 new chapters in 2021, taking our currently total number of chapters up to 21.

Around the world, our chapters partnered on projects, events, mentorship schemes, panels and more. Highlights include shesaid.so Athens collaborating with Athens Music Week on an Artist showcase and panel; shesaid.so Istanbul chapter x Sisters of Sound; shesaid.so Montréal x Pop Montréal; shesaid.so Portugal x Festival MIL; and shesaid.so Sweden x Malmo Music Conference.

We highlighted more of our inspiring sheaid.so members and friends on our Medium blog, sharing 10 more Member Spotlights and launching a new Artist Spotlight series highlighting 4 awesome artists this year.

Looking for some reading or to get inspired? Read them HERE

We ran 8 Industry Icons this year, a new exclusive opportunity for shesaid.so members, giving attendees the chance to speak to pioneering and inspiring leaders in the music industry.

Guests included legendary artist manager Keith Harris, Soy Kim (Creator Product Marketing, Spotify), DJ and Producer Anja Schneider, Nur Ozdamar (Lead, Artist and Label Development EMEA, YouTube & Google) and more.

Our Instagram account was a hive of activity, where we hosted a full schedule of IG Lives, 40 of which were collaborations with partners.

We learnt something new every week; whether it was a session on “How to Pitch” from PR pros Dawbell, or “5 Tips for Starting a Sustainable Event Journey” with Bye Bye Plastic, we heard from the experts and bettered our skills.

Not only did we learn but we also loved to relax by tuning in to 18 live music sessions on the shesaid.so IG on a Friday, for the perfect wind down (or warm up to the weekend!).

We were treated to sets by Indira May, Eliza Shaddard, Lavaud, Lady Sanity, Elde and more. Thank you so much to our amazing guest artists.

. . .

Moreover, we launched many exciting new collaborations with new industry partners for many worthwhile and enriching projects.

We briefly enjoyed the return of live gigs, as we partnered with War Child UK on their Day of the Girl panel on “Digital and Direct to Fan are Changing the Music Industry” at Abbey Road Studios, plus an evening showcase in London curated by Griff.

MENTORING

Our we.grow/she.grows mentoring programmes continued to thrive this year, running 3 different programmes matching around 180 new mentors and mentees around the world.

We ran the Royal Opera Houses’s first ever mentorship scheme with 14 participants; and we.grow partnered with Keychange in 2021 to pair 144 mentors and mentees from our community — all Keychange participants. In Spain, she.grows Spain partnered with YouTube Music matched 20 mentors and mentees. In addition, we hosted 4 further panels with YouTube Music, including the we.challenge Music Industry Roundtable which you can read about here.

Plus, if you’re anything like us, then 2021 TikTok was a source of learning, laughter and connection with others. We posted 102 videos for our nearly 6k followers.

One particular project we ran with TikTok was a series of “mentor moments” with inspiring personal advice from industry mentors such as Joy Crookes, Kanya King CBE and more. Follow us on TikTok to watch.

IN OCTOBER WE HAD OUR 7TH BIRTHDAY PARTY!

In London we were lucky enough to be able to celebrate our 7th birthday with our members and friends, featuring an amazing guest DJ line-up. Head here to see some of the photos of the night.

shesaid.so 7th birthday party

#ALTLIST2021

Finally, in December we welcomed 100 new names to the Alternative Power 100 Music List 2021, celebrating the New Creative Economy in partnership with Patreon. We loved seeing everyone at our launch brunch in Amsterdam. Missed our panel of experts discussing the New Creative Economy? You can still watch it HERE.

. . .

And what gave us the biggest boost through all the ups and downs this year threw at us? The music.

So get stuck in to some of our music content from the year -

We shared 32 shesaid.so Mixes this year — take a listen here.

And 12 Spotify playlists with 103 different artists over the past 6 months.

Or any of our beautiful IG Live performances by our brilliant artist friends.

The biggest thank you to everyone who continued to make our community so special this year. Thank you to all of our collaborators, guests, speakers, writers, mentors, mentees, chapter teams and everyone who supported us. See you next year.

. . .

Become a member or ally >>> shesaid.so

Member Spotlight #36: Erika Montes

Erika Montes — VP, Artist Relations at Soundcloud

Erika Montes is the VP of Artist Relations at Soundcloud, where she is in charge of building and maintaining SoundCloud’s relationships with artists, managers, producers, and agents. We spoke with Erika about her experience working with artists like Rihanna, how she pivoted from working at record labels to working in music tech, and why budding executives should fight for their fair share.

Erika Montes

shesaid.so: Tell us a little more about yourself, and your music career journey to date.

Erika: I have now been in this industry for over 20 years — 22 to be exact! I started out as an assistant at a latin label back in 1999. Then in 2001, I went over to Def Jam to do Video Promotions and I was there for close to 10 years. It was the best boot camp I could ask for! That place taught me almost everything I know (the good, the bad, and the ugly) and also gave me some of the most memorable moments of my life. Maybe one day I’ll write a book. From there I went over to Fuse, a music TV channel, and then over to LoveLive, a Creative Agency, where I got to dip my toe into the agency world. While I was at LoveLive, I got a call from a recruiter at Soundcloud to work with someone who I had met during my Def Jam days and I could not pass up the opportunity. I had been wondering whether I wanted to continue in music and thought, well I haven’t ventured into tech so I at least have to try it. Coming to Soundcloud reignited my love for music and the best part is that I get to work with ALL kinds of music. On the daily I have a team where we listen to every single genre imaginable and get a first hand look at what is bubbling under on the platform that will dictate who we will be listening to a year from now.

shesaid.so: What do you consider some of your greatest career achievements, and why?

Erika: There are so many to mention because the experiences keep getting better. I’ve had the honor of working with some of the biggest names at the beginning of their careers like Rihanna, Fall Out Boy, and Kanye West. To watch them become as huge as they have and know that I played a tiny part in that is a feeling I can not describe. Recently though, I’m really proud of the team I’ve built at Soundcloud and coming into my own as a manager. Encouraging and passing on the knowledge that I’ve learned to the next group of music executives is key to making this a more inclusive and empathetic industry.

shesaid.so: What are some of the challenges you’ve faced, and how have they shaped you and your career?

Erika: You name them, I’ve faced them. Being told that I would be submitted for certain power lists and not others because I’m Latina, and not because of the work that I’ve contributed to a particular type of music. Being marginalized in that way is very difficult. Knowing that you’re not being paid enough for the jobs and positions you’re being promoted to. I am very vocal and will make sure to stand my ground and ask for what is right and what I know I deserve, but I know that is not the way we are conditioned. My mom taught me to be vocal but at the same time not ruffle too many feathers. As I grew more, I started to see the major discrepancies in salaries between men and women and then men and women of color, and I quickly realized that everything is negotiable and first offers are just a starting point in negotiations. And not just for myself, but making sure that I’m sharing that with my friends, my colleagues, and making sure that my team members get what they deserve.

shesaid.so: Who in the music industry are you inspired by, and why?

Erika: I find inspiration from the incredible friends that I have been lucky enough to build friendships with in my career journey. There’s nothing better than finding a community where you push each other to be better, to want better, and to pass that on to the next generation.

shesaid.so: What do you hope to see more of in the music industry in regards to latinx/hispanic representation?

Erika: I want to see more places where we get to celebrate each other and our wins. Some great friends of mine, who are part of the group that inspires me, started the Asian American Collective, and they’re always encouraging me to start the LatinX version and I think about it daily especially right now as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. That will be my goal and future contribution. Putting it in writing!

. . .

Become a member or find out how to support shesaid.so here.

Member Spotlight #37: Maria Gironas

Senior Media Partnerships Manager, Creators and Artists at Reddit

Maria Gironas

For Latinx and Hispanic Heritage Month, we’re spotlighting inspiring latinx and hispanic people making waves in the music industry. Maria Gironas is a Senior Media Partnerships Manager for Creators and Artists at Reddit, where she works with creators to onboard them onto the Reddit platform. Maria spoke with shesaid.so about her past life as a touring musician, her experience living with anxiety and depression, and her vision for latinx representation in the music industry.

shesaid.so: Can you tell us a little more about yourself, and your music career journey to date?

Maria: I started my career as an artist signed to a small label, and it changed my life. I got to play shows, tour, produce, and learn the nitty gritty on what it meant to be an artist. The crazy thing was, I was 11 when that all started. I was a kid being told what to wear, to write about honest feelings, to balance school and social life, and couple that with both the weight and honor it is to be a child of two Bolivian immigrants. It was a lot. I fell out of love with the idea of a musician, and fell in love with the idea that I could work with artists and creators to protect and honor their visions. My career since has been about two things: 1. Empowering creators and artists through embracing technology and data and 2. Elevating marginalized communities through all the work I do. Those north stars have brought me to companies like Reybee as a publicist, Fender in social media, YouTube in artist and creator development, Q&A/Human Resources on platform partnerships, Wide Eyed Entertainment in marketing, Downtown Records in DSP strategy, and now, Reddit heading up talent partnership efforts.

shesaid.so: What do you consider some of your greatest career achievements, and why?

Maria: Honestly, in my wildest dreams, I would have never thought to be in the place I am in my career. This might sound silly to someone reading this, but I am in a constant state of gratitude for my life, and I think I’d be lying if I wrote out what my greatest career achievement was, because just living right now, in the moment, feels like the biggest win of all. Young, little Maria would think this current Maria was pretty awesome.

shesaid.so: What are some of the challenges you’ve faced, and how have they shaped you and your career?

Maria: I’ve had a winding mental health journey my whole life. Through therapy, medication, and support from my friends and family, I’ve been able to manage my anxiety and depression. I’m grateful to say I’ve had some incredible bosses who were very open to letting me share my struggles and allowing the space to take a step back when I needed to. But, there were many, MANY, moments where I just didn’t take care of myself and it manifested into panic attacks, obsession, intrusive thoughts, and distancing myself from the people that cared about me. I think because I went through all of this, I can see when others might need space to feel heard and seen. Sometimes, gentle conversations on mental health could be allowing the space and time to properly ask, “how are you doing?” Within the Latino community, there is an unfortunate stigma surrounding mental health that is slowly being corrected, but still has a long way to go. All we can do sometimes is create space and give space, and I have known those simple actions to change the course of my life and career.

shesaid.so: Who in the music industry are you inspired by, and why?

Maria: My parents, Carla and Ramiro Gironas, are the people that inspire me the most in all aspects of my life, hands down. Within the music industry, I am the luckiest human on earth to admit that I have been truly blessed to have friends and mentors like Jenna LoMonaco, Rachel Stoewer Poston, Beka Tischker, Irene Richter, Jessica Rivera, Brooke Rascoff, Julie Nguyen, Sam Juneman, Rebeca Leon, Chelsea Dankner, Jordan Federman, Vatana Shaw, Erika Montes, Danielle Jimenez, Doris Munoz, Ana Maldonado, Ranya Khoury, Daniela Sala, Livia Piomelli, Tayla Ridley, Emily Garibaldi, Madilyn Bailey, Evange Livanos, Brynn Elliott, Kristin Gregory, Jensen McRae, Grace Adeyemo, Noreen Prunier, Kat MacLean-Daley, Ritz McCain, Blair Miller, Jordana Golub, Jamie Hart, Caroline Trujillo, Tenille Arts, Michele Stephens, Satasha Torres, Jillian Newman, Julie Gurovitsch, Brittany Crawford, Phylicia Fant, Erin Hanson, Lauren McKinney, Nicole Barsalona, Grace Segundo, Cecille Crisostomo, Sara Dempsey, Jackie Yaegar, Grace Roslovic, Shaun Alexander, Evangeline Elder, Whitney-Gayle, Benta, Niki Pittelli, Chelsi Zollner, Cecilia Winter, Julie Ciccarelli, Melanie McClain, and so so so many more. Remember these names!

shesaid.so: What do you hope to see more of in the music industry in regards to latinx/hispanic representation?

Maria: I want to see our community represented in all genres of music on all sides of the business. Latinx and love metal? Manage a metal band. Latinx and love pop music? Start a pop label. Latinx and love pop punk music? Start a pop punk band. Let’s spread our culture far and wide!

. . .

Become a member or find out how to support shesaid.so here.

Meet the Alternative Power 100 Music List 2021 Ambassadors

We celebrate the New Creative Economy with this year’s #AltList

To say we’re excited about this year’s Alternative Power 100 Music List is an understatement.

We have just come from our brilliant #AltList2021 launch and networking event in Amsterdam with our partners Patreon and we’re eager to share more with you.

This year, the #AltList 2021 is celebrating The New Creative Economy and the new era it is ushering in for the music industry.

The pandemic forced a reckoning of what it means to operate in a system that isn’t sustainable for the music industry’s independent creators, thinkers & entrepreneurs. Alongside our partners at Patreon, we will honor those whose alternative paths lead to a better world for everyone.

From architecting new ways of owning work to community-supported funding, the music industry is building a new creative economy where the independent community can fully thrive.

And we can’t wait to celebrate those at the forefront of this new era.

So get ready to meet our extraordinary ambassadors this year…

MEET THE AMBASSADORS

To help bring our vision to life, this year we are also introducing special awards and ten brand new categories covering industry areas such as Artists, Community, Record Labels and more.

Here are the ambassadors championing this year’s #AltList.

Artists and DJ’s

NJ Ndure — Relationships Manager for North America Catalyst Brand Management, Nike

Based in Los Angeles, during her nearly six years with Nike, NJ has built an impressive project portfolio working with today’s leading talent such as Megan Thee Stallion, IDK and Chika. She has worked on countless cultural moments throughout her career including Air Max Day, All Star Weekend, Super Bowl, and Grammys.

Aly Gilla — Bandcamp

Aly Gillani is the co-founder of First Word Records — an independent UK label focusing on the intersections between Hip Hop, Jazz and Soul. He’s also the UK and Europe label rep for Bandcamp.

NJ Ndure and Aly Gilla

Music and Sound Creators

Aubrey Whitfield — Producer and Songwriter

Aubrey Whitfield is a London based Music Producer and Songwriter who has worked with an array of talent from Kelly Clarkson, Simon Webbe (Blue), Little Mix, J-Fla, Charlotte Kelly (Soul II Soul) and George Shelley, to writing and producing songs for Universal and BMG.

Maria Egan — Chief Music Officer, Splice

At Splice, Maria oversees creative partnerships and music strategy globally, plus is Chair of the DEI Council. Previously she served as President and Head of Creative at Pulse Music Group for seven years. Egan signed and developed writers delivering multiple #1 hits ranging from the record breaking Latin smash ‘Despacito feat Justin Bieber’ (Marty James) to ‘Adore You’ by Harry Styles (Tyler Johnson).

Maria Egan and Aubrey Whitfield (L-R)

Community and Activism

NIKS — Black Artist Database

London based DJ, facilitator, educator and consultant NIKS co-created the database and editorial platform Black Artist Database (B.A.D) with a group of five friends in early June 2020. Now a full-fledged website, B.A.D houses over 3,500 artists, producers, labels, bands and counting.

NIKS

Steven Braines

Steven Braines — CEO, The Weird & The Wonderful & HE.SHE.THEY.

He.She.They. is an international event series/record label/fashion house which aims to create “places without prejudice for people to be people” bringing intersectional audiences and artists together to diversify dance floors and make spaces more inclusive and welcoming to a wider range of people in brave spaces from London, New York and Berlin through to Ibiza, Amsterdam and Mumbai and countless others in between.

Record Label

Andreea Gleeson — CEO, Tunecore

Since joining Tunecore in 2015 Andreea has made significant contributions to the company’s growth, after years as an eCommerce pioneer in the retail industry. Andreea also rose as a fierce advocate for female-identifying creators, commissioning the MIDiA Research study BE THE CHANGE: Women Making Music 2021.

Julia Killer — Head of Music Label Partnerships EMEA, Facebook

Julia Killer joined Facebook as Head of Music Label Partnerships EMEA in 2019 and her team works with record labels on music product opportunities across Facebook and Instagram. Before Facebook, Julia was Director of Artist and Label Services at Soundcloud, managing the international label and artist services team , headed up the Label Relations team at 7digital and started her career in Music Publishing at Kobalt, where she joined in 2006. Julia is also a proud Alt List 2020 Honoree.

(L-R Andreea Gleeson, Julia Killer)

Artist Management

Jameson Thomas — IAMJT

Jameson Thomas is the co-founder of IAMJT, a Los Angeles-based creative agency and management company whose clients have included Off White, Boiler Room, Theophilus London, Seb Wildblood, Biako aka Itai Shapira, and more. He also serves as Artist Relations Board Member at shesaid.so and is a partner at The Foundation, a new management venture with a roster ranging from The Martinez Brothers and Joseph Capriati to Vince Staples, Madeintyo, and Yuna.

Sophia Kearney — CEO, The Weird & The Wonderful & HE.SHE.THEY.

Sophia’s career started at WME Entertainment, after which she moved to ATM artists. Then Sophia and Steven Braines founded “The Weird & The Wonderful”, who manage an eclectic roster of artists such as Maya Jane Coles, Robert Owens, Louisahhh, Emily Nash, SYREETA & Wax Wings. Steven and Sophia launched an event series and fashion house HE.SHE.THEY.

Josh Andriano — Indie Pop

Josh co-founded the artist management company Indie-Pop and has helped to develop hit songs, platinum albums, and the careers of music producers, songwriters, DJ’s, and artists, including Kyle, Yuna, The Martinez Brothers, Joseph Capriati, Carnage, Yellow Claw, Boombox Cartel, MadeinTYO, KSHMR and more. In 2020 he co-founded the label alternative Independent, a boutique and curated full service music distribution company.

(L-R) Jameson Thomas, Sophia Kearney, Josh Andriano)

Events

Ali Harnell — President & Chief Strategy Officer, Live Nation Women

At Live Nation, Ali Harnell spearheads women’s initiatives and women-led programming, for example Oprah’s “2020 Vision” Tour. Prior to Live Nation, Harnell spent 15 years as SVP at AEG Presents, overseeing national tours and more.

Stephanie LaFera — Global Head of Electronic Music, WME

Stephanie leads an international team of agents focused on the genre whose roster includes top electronic music acts, including Kygo, Steve Aoki, TOKiMONSTA, Martin Garrix, Marshmello, Eric Prydz, and Peggy Gou.

Terry Weerasinghe — COO, Boiler Room

Terry is COO at online broadcaster and live events company Boiler Room. He spent seven years at Beatport, and previously spent over five years as the Head of Native Instruments’ Traktor brand, which he grew from a small side business to be the companies major revenue generator.

(Clockwise from top) Ali Harnell, Terry Weerasinghe, Stephanie LaFera)

Creative

Ibrahim Kamara — Digital Entrepreneur and Co-Founder, GUAP

Ibrahim is a 27-year-old digital entrepreneur and co-founder of GUAP, which has grown from the world’s first video magazine to becoming a multi-platform youth media brand, covering all aspects of creativity and culture.

Teresa Aramburu — Global culture marketing activations, Adidas

Over her career so far, Teresa has successfully spearheaded the artist relations, entertainment marketing and partnership departments for companies such as Marshall Headphones and Speakers, Urbanears and FL Studio. Over the years, she has carved out numerous high-profile collaborations with artists and partners including Little Simz, Cuco, Iggy Pop, Tove Lo, Alan Walker, Deb Never, Vagabon, TM88, Amsterdam Dance Event, Afropunk, ComplexCon, Razer, Red Bull and Beatclub, to name a few.

Teresa Aramburu and Ibrahim Kamara (L-R)

Business and Technology

Maria Gironas — Senior Media Partnerships Manager, Creators, Reddit

Maria is a creator and artist development professional, having been a signed artist herself to cultivating publicity or social media campaigns for artists and brands including Fender and Noah Gundersen. Previously, she was Strategic Partner Manager on the Artist Development team at Youtube.

Suzy Ryoo — Co-Founder & President, Q&A

Suzy Ryoo is the Co-Founder & President of Q&A, a music tech startup on a mission to empower the independent future of the music industry. Q&A recently launched software & services platform Venice as a community built to level up independent artists & entrepreneurs including Erick the Architect, Thuy & Kota the Friend.

Suzy Ryoo and Maria Gironas (L-R)

Marketing, Comms & PR

Yasmine Summan — Journalist & Social Media Consultant

Yasmine is a non-binary, South Asian, multi-media music journalist and social media mogul, interviewing your favourite bands by day and going viral on Tik Tok by night.

Whitney Wei — Editor-in-Chief, Resident Advisor

Foremost a journalist and critic, Whitney writes about club culture and experimental dance music scenes from around the world. Her words have appeared in The Guardian, Vogue US, Pitchfork, Mixmag, FACT, Highsnobiety, and Numéro Berlin, among others.

Yasmine Summan and Whitney Wei (L-R)

Sync and Publishing

Shauni Caballero — Founder, The Go 2 Agency & G293 Publishing

Shauni Caballero is a former Universal Music and PRS for Music Exec, founded The Go 2 Agency a Music Publishing and Consultancy company to help artists, writers and producers make money from their music.

Shauni Caballero

. . .

The Alternative Power 100 Music List launched in 2017 as a response to Billboard’s Power 100 List with the aim to challenge conventional music industry standards. Over the past four years the #AltList has evolved into a sought-after distinction by many executives, artists and other creators in the music industry, focusing on traditionally underrepresented communities. The #AltList is open to all genders.

Find out more and get ready to nominate here.