Keychange opens artist support program as major music company gender equality pledges pass 500

500 global music organizations have now signed the Keychange Pledge to achieve at least 50% representation of women and gender minorities.

EBU Music, part of the European Broadcasting Union is the 500th signatory of the Keychange gender pledge joining recent additions The Southbank Centre and BBC Proms.

Festivals, venues, promoters, booking agents, record labels, music companies and organizations, educational institutes, and broadcasters have all signed on.

Keychange is funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union champion, spotlight and upskill exceptional women and gender minority artists and innovators from 12 countries: Canada, Estonia, France, Germany, Iceland, Italy, Norway, Republic of Ireland, Spain, Sweden, Poland and the United Kingdom..

An ‘Open Call’ to help artists

The organization is also launching the Open Call talent development program and inviting women and gender minority artists and innovators from those 12 countries to apply for the next year-long program.

“The music industry is not an easy industry to be in. It’s the least professional industry I’ve encountered; we have very few industry standards. Since moving into film and television, it’s highlighted how compromised my entire career in music was. That’s what inspired me to work with Keychange, to do something about it – because people get hurt. I urge the music industry to take responsibility for change. Work with Keychange and other positive action organisations – set new standards and change the culture NOW. And if you’re a woman or gender minority working in music, apply to be part of the Keychange programme to BE the change you want to see.” – Kate Nash, Musician, Actor, Activist and Keychange Ambassador

The Keychange Open Call launches Monday 5th July. Read more and apply @ keychange.eu

Pictured at top: Arua Naru

Bruce Houghton is Founder and Editor of Hypebot and MusicThinkTank and serves as a Senior Advisor to Bandsintown which acquired both publications in 2019. He is also the Founder and President of the Skyline Artists Agency and a professor at the Berklee College Of Music online.