Announcement

New shesaid.so Dublin chapter Co-Director: Nikki Raymond

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shesaid.so Dublin are absolutely thrilled to announce that Nikki Raymond will be coming on board as the Co-Director of the Dublin team. Nikki will work side by side with current Chapter Director Lisa Murray to organise, coordinate and oversee the Dublin chapter as they launch into an exciting period of fresh activities and collaborations for the coming months and year ahead.

The Dublin chapter of shesaid.so, founded by Shauna Watson in 2018, initially focused on organizing skill-sharing workshops covering various music industry topics. They also partnered with the inaugural music festival "We've Only Just Begun" in August 2018, which featured an all-female lineup. In 2020, leadership was passed to Lisa Murray, who adapted the community to operate online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, collaborating with organizations like IMRO, West One Music Group, and the National Concert Hall to host workshops and webinars. Now, as the pandemic subsides, the chapter, led by Lisa and co-director Nikki Raymond, is gearing up for a series of events and collaborations, including educational workshops and panel discussions in partnership with the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO), to support the Irish music scene.

We sat down with Nikki Raymond, and here’s a Q&A to get to know the newest member of the shesaid.so Dublin chapter! 

Tell us about yourself!

My name is Nikki and I work in the music industry as a Promoter Assistant. I’m also an artist manager and a music reviewer for The GOO magazine which is printed locally here in Dublin. It took me a couple of years to figure out what career path I wanted to take after college. It blew my mind when I realised that you could have a career in live events and at that point the decision was made for me. I’ve also spent the last few years travelling whenever I can and have lived in four different countries (so far..). As much as I love exploring the world, I think my heart belongs in Dublin.

Top 3 Albums?

Melodrama by Lorde, An Awesome Wave by alt-J, Where I Should End by Saint Sister

Favourite music video?

Fell In Love With A Girl by The White Stripes

Favourite lyric?

"I was housed by your warmth, thus transformed" - Shrike by Hozier

Favourite album cover?

Melodrama by Lorde

Dream festival headliner?

Daft Punk

Best gig this year?

Hozier in The Academy

Best gig ever?

Paul McCartney at Tinley Park Amphitheatre, Chicago in 2017

Who are you listening to at the moment?

Cat Ryan, KhakiKid and Big Sleep 

What’s your favourite song right now? 

'I Think I Lost My Number Can I Have Yours?' by milk.

What are you looking forward to most as the new Co-Director of shesaid.so Dublin?

First of all, I am incredibly excited to be working alongside Lisa. I met her for the first time last year at a shesaid.so event and because of that I ended up reconnecting with an old college friend who I now manage - the universe works in weird ways. I’m also really looking forward to organising as many seminars, workshops, showcases, panel discussions and networking events as possible because there is an amazing community of like-minded people out there - it will be phenomenal to give people a space and a platform to amplify their talents and expand their skill set

Statement from Lisa:

I am absolutely thrilled to welcome Nikki to the shesaid.so Dublin team. I met Nikki at one of our shesaid.so Dublin Cocktails and Chats mixer events last year and we clicked immediately! Her enthusiasm, drive, passion and professionalism are going to make her an incredible co-director and I’m beyond excited to enter into this next season of shesaid.so working with Nikki by my side. We already have lots of exciting things on the horizon so stay tuned!

If you have any questions about becoming part of shesaid.so Dublin, feel free to reach out to use on Instagram or via email. 

Join shesaid.so Dublin

Amsterdam Chapter of shesaid.so Relaunches with Industry Leaders Melissa d’Engelbronner and Connie Chow

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We’re thrilled to announce that the Amsterdam Chapter of shesaid.so is reignited by music industry veterans Melissa d’Engelbronner and Connie Chow. Amsterdam is city is known for creativity, tolerance and pushing boundaries and therefore it's only natural that the team relaunches a community that mirrors this same spirit.

The Chapter’s objective is to establish an inclusive and comprehensive platform dedicated to supporting women in music at every stage of their careers, including students, junior-level professionals, seniors, and those in C-suite positions.

Connie and Melissa want to foster a vibrant community where individuals from both Dutch and international backgrounds can unite, share their experiences, and collaborate with one another. They believe it is imperative to cultivate an enjoyable and engaging atmosphere where members can connect and find inspiration while building meaningful relationships within the music community.

Melissa d’Engelbronner, a seasoned professional with close to a decade of experience in the music industry, brings her wealth of knowledge to the forefront. Having begun her career working on brand campaigns at agencies, Melissa's journey eventually led her to FUGA in 2015, where she ascended from coordinator to Head of Audience Strategy. Over the last three years, she has been instrumental in building an award-winning team dedicated to global 360 marketing campaigns for independent artists. Her passion for mentoring and uplifting her peers drives her commitment to supporting women in the music industry.

Connie Chow is the Dance & Electronic Marketing Strategy Director at FUGA, having joined in February 2021 after spending 8 years as Executive Vice President at Little Empire Music. At FUGA, Connie built out the distributor's Dance & Electronic division, and has acquired and worked with prominent labels including Insomniac Records, Hospital Records, STMPD, Revealed, Hexagon, and Dim Mak. Connie is also on the executive board for AFEM, a Recording Academy voting member for the Grammy Awards, and an inspirational mentor for the Asian American collective across the entertainment industries.

The objectives of the shesaid.so Amsterdam Chapter include:

  1. Establishing an inclusive and comprehensive platform dedicated to supporting women in music at all career stages.

  2. Challenging the stereotype of Amsterdam as primarily a hub for dance music by celebrating and promoting various genres within the music industry.

  3. Fostering a diverse and inclusive environment that encourages collaboration among individuals from Dutch and international backgrounds.

  4. Providing valuable resources and networking opportunities to empower women in music to advance their careers.

  5. Facilitating mentorship programs connecting aspiring women in music with established industry professionals.

  6. Cultivating an enjoyable atmosphere for members to connect, find inspiration, and build meaningful relationships within the music community.

To celebrate this exciting relaunch, shesaid.so Amsterdam is hosting a Vrijdagmiddag borrel mixer on Friday, October 20, 2023, from 15:00 to 17:00 on the 4th floor of the FUGA office.

Space is limited to the first 100 people, so be sure to RSVP:

https://bit.ly/ADE_Vrijmibo

For those looking to get involved, there are several opportunities:

For more information about shesaid.so Amsterdam and its re-launch, please visit https://www.shesaid.so/amsterdam/

Contact: amsterdam-team@shesaid.so

CTA: Join Whatsapp community, Follow on LinkedIn, Sign up for our newsletter: https://linktr.ee/shesaidsoams

Welcome shesaid.so Nashville!

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We’re excited to announce the newest chapter of shesaid.so in Nashville, Tennessee!

Chapter leaders Jenny Reader and Kiki O’Connell are both Brits now living in Nashville and were united via shesaid.so earlier this year, both fueled by the mission to create an extension of the family in Music City. 

Having carved different paths within the music industry - Jenny with almost two decades in the independent sector of recorded music as a marketer, and Kiki as an artist, producer and people, operations & culture executive - they are excited to bring their unique perspective to the community.

The chapter will have a regular mixer for members, as well as holding workshops, events and showcases to provide a valuable network and support system in Nashville. 

If you’re interested in joining the Nashville chapter please follow/DM them on Instagram @shesaidsonashville - and save the date for their first mixer on Thursday, September 21. 

If you know anyone who is local to Nashville and in the music industry, direct them to the sign up page to join the community as well.

We can't wait to see what the Nashville chapter accomplishes!

Chapter & Sign Up Form

Read more about Jenny & Kiki.

we.grow at ADE 2023 Mentorship Program presented by shesaid.so and ADE Lab

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We are excited to renew our partnership with ADE this year with activities that include a mentoring program for 40 mentors and mentees of all genders and an official shesaid.so space as part of the ADE Lab program on Thursday, October 19th.

we.grow at ADE 2023 is a mentorship program presented by shesaid.so and ADE Lab that connects mentors from the shesaid.so community with mentees selected by the Amsterdam Dance Event team.

This year, the program will focus on 4 areas of the music business, reflecting the tracks that attendees will be able to engage in as part of ADE Lab 2023: Artists, Producers, Mixed Media and Music Professionals.

The program will feature a total of 20 mentors and 20 mentees, with 5 mentor-mentee pairs per each of the four Lab areas.

The 40 participants will gather for the first time at ADE on Wednesday, October 18th as part of a private event for mentors and mentees powered by Meta.

The we.grow Mentoring Program is open to all genders with priority given to people from underrepresented communities and disadvantaged backgrounds.

we.grow at ADE 2023 mentors

  1. Bailey Greenwood (Agent, WME)

  2. Cristina Lazic (Producer/DJ, Lazic Records)

  3. Drew Lam (Artist Services, Platoon)

  4. Evie Thomas (Head of Marketing [Dance], Atlantic Records)

  5. Jameson Thomas (Artist Manager, IAMJT)

  6. Kelly Staa (Editor in Chief, Cosmopolitan NL)

  7. Kenny Eshinlokun (Founder, Taboo/Black Music Summit) 

  8. Liz Miller (Artist Partnerships, Meta)

  9. Lucy Andrews (Brand Partnerships, Ballantine’s)

  10. Lucy Atkinson (Agent, Earth Agency) 

  11. Maria Panayi (Music Marketing Lead, TikTok)

  12. Manuka Honey (Artist)

  13. Melissa d'Engelbronner (Head of Audience Strategy, Fuga)

  14. Natacha Bouchon (Booking assistant (Dskonnect) Stage manager (Nitsa) Host (Primavera Sound)

  15. Nicola Murray (Global Culture Marketing Specialist, M&C Saatchi Sport and Entertainment)

  16. Romy Harber (Global Head of Dance & Electronic, Believe) 

  17. Sonya Okon (Head of Digital, North America, Ultra Publishing/Helix Records/Payday Records)

  18. Tiffany Calver (Artist/DJ, BBC)

  19. Whitney Wei (Editor In Chief, Resident Advisor)

  20. Yasmin Leung (Label Manager, Ghostly International / Spectral Sound UK & Europe)

We are excited to return to ADE and create an environment where the global ADE and shesaid.so communities can connect, learn from each other and experience the latest trends in music. shesaid.so Founder, Andreea Magdalina, states:

“The shesaid.so space and mentoring program we.grow at ADE 2023 will give ADE attendees the opportunity to engage with ideas and people that are guided by values rooted in innovation, equity & intersectionality.

Mentor/Mentee Commitment

  • Read through & apply the information from the mentoring guidelines we share with you prior to their engagement.

  • Attend shesaid.so events at ADE if logistically possible.

  • 3h of mentorship: spend at least 1h together throughout your ADE attendance and 2h after ADE (3h in total between October 18th and December 31st, 2023).

Applications are now closed and mentees have been selected.

shesaid.so at All Access Fest Virtual

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We're excited to be part of All Access Fest Virtual on August 2nd with a virtual booth.

All Access Fest is a worldwide virtual music and live entertainment career fair that will provide unprecedented access to industry professionals, invaluable knowledge, and countless opportunities to accelerate your career journey.

This free music & live entertainment industry career fair inspires the next generation (ages 16-24) to follow their dream career through tools, resources, and hands-on learning from industry professionals panels, workshops, resume reviews, A&R feedback, and more.

Companies involved include Netflix, YouTube, Billboard, TIDAL, EMPIRE, UnitedMasters, among others.

Whether you’re an aspiring musician, agent, roadie, or interested in other aspects of the industry, All Access Fest is your place to get valuable insights and make connections to help you get to the next level. 800+ attendees from 10+ countries and 30+ states in the US are already signed up!

Register for FREE today at bit.ly/MFF_AAF.

DETAILS

Event Time: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (PT) / 12:00 - 8:00 PM (ET)

Location: Custom virtual platform (Zuddl)

Registration Link: bit.ly/MFF_AAF

MFF Social Handles:

Instagram – @musicforward

LinkedIn – Music Forward Foundation

A Day in the Life of Music Industry Exec and Mom of Two, Kayleigh Ramchand-Bentley.

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The Flexible Working Bill has successfully passed its third reading at the House of Lords on July 14th without any amendments, and it is expected to receive Royal Assent and become law. Workers across the UK are set to have more say in their working patterns than ever before. These laws will include the right for workers to request flexible or remote working from the very beginning of their employment, marking a significant departure from the current requirement of 26 weeks of continuous service.

Experience a day in the life of Kayleigh Ramchand-Bentley, a music industry executive and mother of two, as she juggles her responsibilities at Various Artists Management with her youngest daughter by her side. Watch the video and gain insights into Kayleigh's perspective below.

“There’s only so much you can capture in a 1 minute reel, and by no means is taking a 7 month old into the office as easy as this video seems - it’s exhausting and sometimes not the most ideal situation for me, or my daughter… or my colleagues 😅 but we make it work and I’m grateful to be in a position to do so.

However, I want to recognise that this set up should not be considered a privilege, but rather an acceptable flexible working request. I’m by no means saying that this way of working is for everyone, but everyone should be entitled to reasonably request working around their’s and their family’s needs.

The Flexible Working Bill is set to become law in the UK and will give workers the right to request flexible working from day one, and will require employers to respond within a certain timeframe, justify rejecting a request and provide consultation with the employee where a request has not been deemed suitable".

We hope it has a huge impact on making the music industry more accessible for parents and carers.’

Thank you so much for sharing this, Kayleigh!

shesaid.so Montreal: Project Crescendo

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Musicaction Foundation and shesaid.so Montreal are proud to present the 28 professionals who will be participating in the inaugural edition of Project Crescendo, an initiative aimed at supporting women entrepreneurship.

shesaid.so MTL is the local branch of an international network of creatives and entrepreneurs working in the music industry. Their aim is to create opportunities, dialogue, and space for local women and their allies. This chapter was founded in 2021 after a year of consulting women who make our scene thrive, building on their needs and experiences to create an organisation that empowers, connects, informs and entertains. They also build bridges across Tiohtià:ke/Montreal’s different communities through eclectic programming, insightful networking and radical inclusion. shesaid.so Montreal has been announced as a partner by the Canada Council for the Arts this year to present the Polaris Music Prize Long List in support of extraordinary and diverse musical talents from across Canada.

Project Crescendo is an innovative project that aims to provide emerging professionals in the francophone Canadian music sector with the opportunity to benefit from the transfer of experience and knowledge through the mentorship of recognized and experienced female entrepreneurs in the industry. It also aims to create and expand the professional network of women in music through opportunities for exchange, mutual support, and sharing while highlighting successful female role models. These are all essential elements for professional development and addressing the access gaps and gender inequalities in the industry, as highlighted by women in the study funded by Musicaction published in March 2022.

You can read more information about the project’s Phase 1 & 2:

Phase 1 - Entrepreneurship Support of the project, support is provided to 4 early-career entrepreneurs for the next year, allowing them to deepen and acquire new knowledge and skills to better support the artists they work with and strengthen their businesses.

Phase 2 - Advisory Hour Bank will provide entrepreneurs and early-career employees with access to professionals in various fields of expertise. Whether seeking information, seeking advice, or accessing specific professional expertise, each of the selected 10 participants will have access to 20 hours of consultation over the next year.

Selected participants : Flavie Mélançon, Garance Chartier, Julie Frigault. Natalie Aloessode-Bernardin, Elma Bos, Julie-Anne Cloutier, Léonie Bourassa, Leslie Cortés, Luna Choquette-Loranger, Maude St-Armand Coucy, Monira Cormier, Nelly Jourdain, Sima Dell’Olio, Joanie Moreau.

Senior accompanying participants : Krista Simoneau, Jacynthe Plamondon-Émond, Stéphanie Moffat, Suzie Hamel, Anne Vivien, Dorothée Parent-Roy, Émile Tremblay, Gaby Gauthier-Durand, Jenny Thibault, Kyria Kilakos, Martine Groulx, Roseline Rousseau-Gagnon, Sabrina Cousineau, Sonia Ceseratto. 

Congratulations and best of luck to the 28 professionals selected for Project Crescendo's inaugural edition as they embark on this exciting journey!

Read more about the project and first cohort HERE.

Connect with shesaid.so Montreal’s team HERE.

shesaid.so UK Chapter Director: Lauren Elliott-Griffiths

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We are thrilled to introduce our new Director for shesaid.so UK, Lauren Elliott-Griffiths. Help us give her a warm welcome to the shesaid.so UK team!

Hi, I'm Lauren and I work at Red Bull, looking after their media partnerships. Prior to that I was working for Live Nation. Music is a huge part of my life; when I was about 12 I would head up to the local skate park where local bands would play every Friday night and then when I was old enough, I would come up to London just to see my favourite bands play. My taste in music is varied to say the least but I love finding new artists and bands.

Outside of work, I am a qualified spin and level 2 fitness instructor, I love running - it's my aim to complete the big 6 marathons, skiing and surfing.

What are your top tips for finding your first music job?

I have always had a passion for music from trying to start a band in primary school, to going to the local skate club to listen to local bands play through to Friday nights spent at venues in London catching my favourite artists. I think taking that passion and pursuing, and not letting anyone tell you otherwise would be my top tip for how to get into the industry. It is one of the toughest but those are always worth the hard work to get there. Never let anyone tell you otherwise, if you have a dream and a goal in mind, just jump in with both feet, I truly believe that pays off. And my second tip would be to leverage anyone you know, start small, attend networking events even if they are out of your comfort zone, add people on LinkedIn that you believe would be a good connection and start to build it up. Those around you are there to support and push you forward. 

Women you admire.

Three women in my life that inspire me would be; my mum (she's one of the strongest women I know), my friend and mentor Teresa Palladino (she has gotten me through a lot in my career and is always my sounding board) and my friend Agi (who is one of the most positive and beautiful people I have ever met). 

Tips for staying grounded on a tough day.

My top tips for staying grounded on a tough day, are getting yourself outside, go on a walk or move your body in some way, a good coffee and a great soundtrack - music for me can instantly change my mood and has definitely gotten me through the toughest moments and the happiest moments in my life. 

What does community mean to you in one sentence?

Community to me is belonging, feeling supported and trusting that there is always someone there whether it's in tough times or happy times. 

We are thrilled to welcome the team of shesaid.so Miami

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Launched in 2023 by AJ Alvarez, Francesca Aquino, and Adel Hattem, the chapter was established out of a need for a community of women and gender non-conforming people in all areas of the music industry.

Miami is full of vibrant and effervescent energy, and so the aspiration is to create a secure and inclusive environment where like-minded people can come together, communicate openly, exchange ideas, bring attention to issues, learn, mentor, be mentored and find opportunities related to the music field.

“We believe it's our duty as women in the music industry to give back, support each other and help each other rise. This is our community and we all play a major role in it. We invite all music genres! Through diversity, new ideas are born. Stay tuned for chapter meet-ups, plans, events and more!”

shesaid.so Miami has already hosted its first event - brunch organized by Meta alongside “She is the Music” and “Femme House” during Miami Music Week. It was a fantastic opportunity to celebrate women in electronic music, both behind the decks and behind the scenes. We look forward to hosting more events like this in the future, where we can come together to celebrate and empower women in music.

Thank you for being a part of creating a beautiful culture!

Join shesaid.so Miami via sign up form HERE

Connect on Linkedin

Read about all members HERE

shesaid.so Portugal and ARDA Academy Launch Scholarship Programme

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shesaid.so Portugal x ARDA Academy launch a Scholarship programme for women and gender nonconforming people for the academic year of 2023/2024

In order to mitigate unequal opportunities in the industry, Arda Academy  is partnering with shesaid.so Portugal to award scholarships for the Studio Engineering and Music Business courses to women and gender non-conforming people for the 2023/24 academic year.

In order to promote career development and professionalization of the audio and music industry in Portugal, the attribution of one scholarship per course will exempt the selected person from paying the tuition fee. 
Applications are open until April 22nd, eligible for beginners or experienced professionals who want to further their studies, just fill in the form available online for the respective course at https://ardaacademy.com/

Note: Courses are lectured in Portuguese and are open to residents in portugal.

The selection of the applications that elect the scholarship holders for the academic year 2023/24 are selected by a diverse and prestigious jury of professionals in the area at the invitation of Arda Academy and shesaid.so Portugal to be announced in early May.

The Studio Engineering intensive course is unique in the country and classes are taught at Arda Recorders studios in Porto, Portugal. Over 6 months, all the details and advanced techniques of audio recording, mixing and mastering are explored. 
The Music Business course is dedicated to the areas of music curation, programming, production and editing. Over 7 months, the course creates a context of information exchange with professionals linked to structures of great importance in the national music scene.

ARDA ACADEMY: Founded by elements with proven professional and formative experience in the audio and music industry, Arda Academy aims to equip its trainees with the fundamental concepts and practical skills for the world of audio recording and post-production in a studio context, and the development and application of projects related to curation and programming, event production and phonographic editing.

https://ardaacademy.com/sobre

https://www.shesaid.so/portugal 

Find all info at:

www.ardaacademy.com

Contact: info@ardaacademy.com
Photos © Arda Academy

On Beatport & workplace toxicity part 2: IMS updates

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Dear community,

We are writing to inform you of our decision to pause shesaid.so's partnership with the International Music Summit (IMS) this year.

As some of you may be aware, over the years, shesaid.so has collaborated with IMS on various initiatives, including panel discussions, workshops, networking events, and artist showcases. During this time, IMS has taken significant steps to increase diversity and inclusion in their programming as well as in their audience - and we are proud of the contributions we have made towards this change.

After a thorough review, we have decided to pause our partnership for its 2023 edition. This decision was not made lightly and is primarily motivated by the recent acquisition of IMS by Beatport (announced on February 1st, 2023), in addition to financial and strategic considerations that we are forced to make given the current economic climate. 

As an organization dedicated to empowering women and underrepresented communities in the music industry, it is important that we partner with organizations that authentically share our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. We have a responsibility to hold our partners accountable and to ensure that our collaborations reflect our values and mission. Given Beatport’s majority stake in IMS and the recent allegations made against Beatport’s leadership team, it is currently unclear the impact this will have on the summit in 2023 and moving forward. 

Real change is difficult and takes time. We are seeing some positive changes being implemented at the Beatport Group, and we look forward to seeing the results come into full effect over the next few months and years. In the meantime, we remain open to conversations with both IMS and Beatport in regards to reigniting our partnership in the future so long as a firm and authentic commitment to our values will continue to be sustained.

For further context in regards to the allegations surrounding Beatport, on August 23rd of last year, VICE published an article in regards to the toxic workplace culture that permeated the Beatport Group dating back to 2015. We immediately called for a Community Town Hall meeting and asked the community for guidance on how we should proceed. On that same day, we were slated to announce that we would be taking part in Beatport’s inaugural ReConnect Summit in NYC - specifically to host a fireside chat and networking event as part of the summit.

The event was scheduled to take place at the end of September, and, following the Community Town Hall we hosted a week later, we decided to withdraw from the event and announced our decision privately to the community on August 30th. A week after that, on September 7th, Beatport announced that ReConnect is postponed until further notice (to our knowledge, there have not been any further updates since). Our friends at Black Artist Database also suspended their editorial partnership with Beatport on August 24th 2022, a day after the article was published.  On August 29th, 2022, Beatport CEO Robb McDaniels released a statement in response to the article that is no longer available. The general consensus in our community at the time was that it lacked acknowledgement and apology. 

Needless to say, it was an extremely difficult time for all involved; on that note, I want to send my appreciation to everyone who reached out with their words of support. It truly gave me the strength and the clarity to navigate the tumult in the best way possible - not just for shesaid.so, but the music community as a whole. As you can imagine, this story had many intricacies and nuances to consider. Not only the nature and extent of the alleged toxic behavior; the company's response and how this may impact its future, the wellbeing of past and current Beatport staff as well as other people affected; the legal, financial and ethical implications; but also the impact on the music industry. It was brought to our attention that Beatport has taken some steps to address the allegations of workplace toxicity, including hiring an independent consultant to conduct an investigation and implementing new HR policies. However, some current and former employees expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of these measures, citing a lack of transparency and accountability. 

At the time of writing this, 7 months had passed since the article was published. To my knowledge, no additional press coverage is currently in the works by the original author. Following our decision to withdraw from ReConnect, we have expressed our interest in collaborating with Beatport to explore best solutions forward, and it wasn’t until the end of March 2023 that two newly appointed Board Members reached out to us to relay the steps they have taken. As Beatport’s acquisition of IMS was getting close to being confirmed, IMS leadership has helped reestablish contact between myself and Robb McDaniels, who later on shared a letter detailing the steps the company has taken or intends to take to further address the issues raised by the article. While we did appreciate this initiative, we believe that in order for real accountability to be upheld, it is best to pause any affiliation with Beatport for the time being until enough time has passed for those efforts to come into effect. 

In the meantime, we will continue to seek out partnerships and collaborations that support our mission and vision. We remain committed to working towards a more equitable and just music industry for all, and we invite other organizations and individuals that share our values to join us in this effort. In doing so, we acknowledge the risks that we face as we aim to nurture partnerships that not only fund our organization but enable us to develop programs that carry our mission forward and invest back into the community. As we navigate this process, we are committed to holding our partners accountable to the best of our ability and, when possible, facilitating change from within.

Today, we are proud to join hands with Black Artist Database in expressing our current position and look forward to continuing these transparent conversations with other partners in the future. We want to thank IMS for their past collaboration and hope that they will continue to uphold their commitment to change as part of the new leadership - with or without our involvement. As mentioned, we remain open to future collaborations and will monitor their developments over the next few months.

We hope that this decision will spark a productive conversation and lead to meaningful change in the industry. We invite our members and allies to further discuss this decision and explore best steps moving forward at our upcoming Community Town Hall on May 9th, 2023. RSVP details and other info will be shared closer to the time.

If you have any thoughts, questions or suggestions in the meantime, please contact hello@shesaid.so.

shesaid.so LA screening: Spinning Gold

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We have limited spaces for an exclusive advance screening of Spinning Gold, this Monday, March 27th, in Los Angeles, ahead of its premier in theaters March 31.

The movie, about Neil Bogart and Casablanca Records’ discovery of artists such as Donna Summer and Gladys Knight, also features the story of Joyce Bogart Trabulus, who actually discovered KISS, taught them how to do their makeup and steered them to stardom, only to be completely written out of their narrative.

After the movie we’ll hold an intimate panel with Joyce Bogart Trabulus herself and a few other surprise guests, to hear directly about their experiences with the movie and as women in music. Co-hosted by shesaid.so LA, Warner Music Group and Women Under The Influence.

Please RSVP HERE to request a spot.

shesaid.so and Pirate Studios Announce Residency Initiative

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Apply now for a chance to play at upcoming 2023 events.

Are you an artist, producer or DJ based in the UK, US or Germany? We’re teaming up with Pirate Studios for their Residency initiative where selected participants will get the chance to play at one of our upcoming 2023 events in addition to other prizes offered by Pirate - including studio credit, radio play and other showcasing opportunities. Submit your application via this LINK by 27th of March.

Pirate Studios provides a global community of 24-hour spaces, encompassing more than 700 studios, catering to the needs of producers, vocalists, DJs, band members, dancers, and podcasters alike.

shesaid.so x MPA: Coaching for Progress

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The MPA and shesaid.so have joined forces to present Coaching for Progress – a coaching/mentorship scheme targeting mid/senior level established music publishing executives on the verge of moving into senior leadership roles.

Coaching for Progress aims to elevate our mentees through coaching and, as a result, diversify boardrooms.

The programme has been designed to promote women into senior management positions because of historical discrimination that has led to male-dominated C-suites.

Please apply using this link by Wednesday 15th March.

You will be contacted if you have been selected to be part of our first cohort of Coaching for Progress by the MPA x shesaid.so.

5 successful applicants will commence with the 4-month programme from March 2023 until July 2023. The 5 successful applicants will be paired with a carefully chosen and well-suited mentor to coach them through the 4-month programme. Both mentee and coach will be provided with training and given handbooks to guide the relationship in order to get the most out of it. If you fit the criteria below, please respond to our questionnaire in the link. A minimum of 2 years experience in music publishing, including sync, A&R, copyright, sampling, and business affairs.

Protected characteristics: people representing age, disability, gender reassignment (being an individual who is 'proposing to undergo, is undergoing or has undergone a process or part of a process to reassign their sex'), marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex (being a man or a woman), and sexual orientation (LGBTQIA+); Aim to step into a leadership role.

Farewell Christine Osazuwa, new UK Director Advisory Role opens

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At the end of March 2023, Christine Osazuwa will be leaving her role as UK Director, after making a significant impact on shesaid.so. Her fresh perspectives and valuable insights have been instrumental in shaping important discussions, solutions, and community growth. Let's take a moment to express our gratitude and admiration for her contributions.

Christine Osazuwa

After a fantastic year as UK Director for shesaid.so I'll be stepping down from the role at my one year mark at the end of March 2023. It's been an incredible privilege to be in this role and to be able to represent gender minorities and encourage discussion, provide solutions, and help foster & grow the shesaid.so community.

During my tenure, I've had the privilege of representing shesaid.so internationally attending ADE (Amsterdam Dance Event) where I spoke on a shesaid.so hosted panel about community & music and also served as mentorship manager for our ADE edition of shesaid.so's we.grow mentoring program.

As a representative of shesaid.so I also moderated panels at Reeperbahn Festival in Hamburg and at A2IM Indie Week in NYC to facilitate discussions on gender inequity in the music industry and highlight solutions such as mentorship & allyship.

Closer to home, I was able to provide insights & recommendations for the Musician Union's newly launched Musicians Census. I also provided stakeholder feedback for the Be The Change Women in Music Study and the UK Government's Women & Equity Committee's Misogyny in Music Inquiry. I also represented shesaid.so on panels at Brighton Music Conference, Musician's Union Members Conference and Keychange's London Meetup and hosted a breakfast and curated a shesaid.so all woman panel at NTIA's Night Time Economy Summit.

In the summer, I hosted an in-person community mixer that featured a performance and an incredibly inspirational talk from Madame Ghandi plus a fantastic set from Lex on the Decks. And in the background, I've recommended women for roles & opportunities, made introductions, celebrated successes, and remained a sympathetic ear for so many underrepresented people in the music industry.

I'll be taking part in and hosting several more shesaid.so events in February & March as I close out my tenure. I'm thrilled to continue to be a member of this incredible community. I remain continuously in awe of the work & dedication Andreea Magdlina brings to this community she's founded. I cannot wait to see what the next chapter looks like for shesaid.so.

If you want to be part of shaping that next chapter, please consider applying for the role of UK Director. It's been an amazing opportunity to grow, learn and give back. If you're interested, you can find more information here and please feel free to drop me a note at christine@shesaid.so & CC hello@shesaid.so if you have any questions. I'd be more than happy to answer!