Last day to apply for Women Empowerment++ music industry mentorship program

As part of Women’s History Month, indie music distributor Symphonic is launching its second edition of Women Empowerment++, a mentorship program aimed at furthering the progress of women throughout the music industry.

The goal of Women Empowerment++ is to open doors in an industry where women have statistically been underrepresented in leadership roles. Mentees will get the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the music industry’s business practices and culture, focus their efforts, and hone skills alongside experienced professionals.

Mentors come from all sectors of the music business including tour management, artist management, publicity, A&R, and more. 

The deadline to apply to be a part of this year’s Women Empowerment++ is todayThursday, March 17th.

“We believe that empowering women in the music industry is not just a responsibility but an essential step towards creating a more diverse and inclusive industry,” said Janette Berrios, VP of Corporate Marketing at Symphonic. “Our mentorship program is a catalyst for this change, providing women with the support they need to unlock their full potential, build confidence, and connect with a network of mentors who can guide and inspire them on their personal journey. Together, we can break down barriers, stereotypes, and build a more equitable music industry for all.”

Last year saw 56 mentors and 160 mentees matched, and the 2023 goal is 74 mentors who can offer valuable guidance and advice.

Senior Mentors include: Sara Gozalo, the Head of Music Label Partner Engineering with YouTube Music, Carolina R. Daza, a Music Partner Specialist with TikTok, Fernanda Bas, the Strategic Partner Manager at Meta Brazil, Sarah Janiszewski, the Senior Manager of Label Relations at TIDAL, Rhea Ghosh, the US Chief Marketing Officer at Cosynd, Sharon Tapper, the Executive Director of the US Music Managers Forum as well as Billboard Women in Music 2023 winners Portia Sabin, the President of the Music Business Association, and Lisa Robinson, the VP of Community & Social Engagement at Downtown Music Holdings.

Mentors also include executives from Rimas, Sirius XM/Pandora, Sound Royalties, Peermusic, and more.

Apply to join Women Empowerment++ by end of day today Thursday, March 17th.

Bruce Houghton is the Founder and Editor of Hypebot and MusicThinkTank, a Senior Advisor at Bandsintown, President of the Skyline Artists Agency, and a professor for the Berklee College Of Music.