PRS for Music presents Women in Music

PRS for Music has announced it will present ‘Women in Music’ at the Red Bull Studios in London Bridge On Wednesday, 19 June to debate the role of gender within the industry: Women have dominated the music charts for the past few years but PRS for Music’s membership of over 95,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers is only 13 percent female. The latest statistics from Creative & Cultural Skills? also show that the divide across all music industry related jobs is 67.8 percent male to 32.2 percent female.

The round table is moderated by Sophie Heawood, VICE columnist and writer for The Times, Guardian, Independent and NME. The other names confirmed are:

• Gemma Cairney (presenter, BBC Radio 1)
• Mira Calix (composer, Warp Records)
• Deborah Coughlin (composer and director, Gaggle Choir)
• Elizabeth Sankey (singer/songwriter Summer Camp)
• Kate Hutchinson (music writer for Guardian Guide, Q, Time Out and Mixmag)
• Laura Martin (director, Real Life PR, ex Anorak Director)
• Emily Cooper (director Everything Counts PR, ex-Anorak director)
• Kate Riding (co-founder Bang On PR)
• Angie Somerside (general manager, Red Bull Records)
• Katrina Larkin (co-founder The Big Chill)

Paulette Long, PRS for Music Foundation Vice Chair, commented: “I know as a music publisher how much the industry is evolving but there is still an inequality which doesn’t quite add up. So many women are developing big talent or writing enormous worldwide hits but PRS for Music research still shows a vast divide. We can work together to help women into the industry and this event is a perfect place to start, especially given the collective wisdom and experience of those involved.”

PRS for Music presents Women in Music will run from 10am – 2pm, focusing on songwriting, production, live music, festivals and music journalism. Lunch will be provided and guests will be given an opportunity to look around the Red Bull studios. to attend  please email: olivia.chapman@prsformusic.