Music Leaders Network Announce Fifth Cohort

14 December 2023 - Press release

Music Leaders Network announces members of fifth cohort, including participants from across the music industry in the UK and Ireland. 

Music Leaders Network, the transformative leadership programme for women* in the music industry created by Tamara Gal-On and Remi Harris MBE returns for a fifth edition. Included in the programme are mid-career women from across the music industry with participants from PRS for Music, PPL and AIM Ireland as well as music creators and members of the academic community.

 

Music Leaders Network is announcing its September 2023 cohort. 

Half-way through this life changing leadership programme, participants are already starting to see improvements in key skills needed to lead in an industry that is still male dominated at the highest levels.

The programme is one of the only leadership programmes that brings mid-career women from across the music industry together for a unique combination of executive and group coaching. 

Included in the cohort are women from across the music industry in the UK and Ireland. Businesses who have invested in their female leaders and future-leaders include PRS, AIM Ireland, PPL, BMG and Polydor Records, Welsh National Opera and The University of Westminster. Elsewhere, bursaries have been provided to self-employed participants and those working for charities in order to assist with costs.

Led by respected music industry educators Remi Harris and Tamara Gal-On, the transformational programme, launched in 2020, is open to both company employees and self-employed people with a minimum of 5 years music industry experience.

This year saw the programme go from strength to strength with two cohorts running in the UK and recruitment for the first international edition of the programme - Nordic Music Leaders Network, which takes place in early 2024.

With an emphasis on developing leadership style, the programme also provides tools for participants to increase their visibility and improve their communication, all while building a network of supportive peers placed across the industry.

The programme's pragmatic and supportive approach has created significant elevation in the careers, visibility and incomes of past participants who have included artists, producers, label executives, managers and live industry professionals.

 

The full list of network members for September 2023 is as follows:

• Abi Rudd - Freelance Music Producer

• Calista Kazuko Georget - Artist/Composer/Producer

• Candida Vaide - Solicitor at PPL

• Catherine Porteus - Orchestra, Concerts and Project Manager at Welsh National Opera

• Elaine Allan - Head of Joint Ventures and Revenue Assurance at PRS for Music

• Eve Fairley-Chickwe - A&R Director at Polydor Records

• Gill Dooley - Independent Music Consultant & CEO of AIM Ireland

• Jenny Coyle - Co-Founder, Sounds Northern; Music/Creative Specialist;  Account Manager, GALA PR; HE Course Leader, Italia Conti

• Jess Luton - Label Manager for the UK Marketing (New Recordings) team at BMG

• Mika Sellens - Producer/Writer/Mixer; Executive Director of the Music Producers Guild and Professor of Electronic & Produced Music at Guildhall School of Music & Drama

• Pops Roberts - Producer, vocalist and Ableton Certified trainer

• Sareata Ginda - Senior Lecturer in music business management and Course Leader MA Music Business at University of Westminster

 

After completing the Music Leaders Network in 2021:

• Members reported increases in income of between 15% and 100% 1 year post-programme (by adding greater business value, and progressing to more senior roles). 

• 100% of women understood their leadership strengths and weaknesses.

• 91% of women felt more confident in their abilities as a leader

• 82% of women considered themselves a more effective leader who was more equipped to deal with conflict and difficult team dynamics.

 

With the September 2023 programme underway, expressions of interest are welcomed for the September 2024 programme, which will open for pre-registration shortly.

Co-Creators Remi Harris and Tamara Gal-On said: 
"We are thrilled to be working with this talented group of people, supporting them to make their voices heard across the music industry. It's positive to see the investment from the music industry in supporting their leaders, and to know that these leaders will go on to be role models for so many others."

Janeace (Jay-T) Thompson, Director of Talent, Culture & Experience, PRS for Music, said: 
"We worked with the business to identify some of our high potential women leaders to put forward for this programme, having heard of its success and the work opportunities the alumnae had secured previously.

We have many talented women here at PRS for Music, as our first participant in Music Leaders Network we sincerely hope that Elaine will benefit from the programme and that it will yield positive outcomes for her and other future leaders."

Gill Dooley, CEO, AIM Ireland said: 
"I've always believed in championing women in music. I am thrilled to be part of this very special group within the Music Leaders Network. I want to lead AIM Ireland in a way that is true to my values, whilst delivering on the mission to promote growth, awareness and opportunities for the independent music industry at a national and international level. 

My decision to apply was fuelled by the program's commitment to fostering confident, effective female leaders who live by their values, make ambitious career moves, and ask for the recognition and compensation they deserve. So far, this journey has been nothing short of inspiring in helping me to do this. 

The supportive environment has allowed me to enhance my leadership capacity. The focus on personal development, integration of leadership, and the achievement of tangible goals has already been instrumental in how I am moving forward - navigating my professional journey."

*Music Leaders Network centers women and is inclusive of people who identify as non-binary or trans.