For International Women’s Day, we are pleased to be spotlighting women in the music industry from across the globe. Across the industry, statistics suggest that women are underrepresented: Forbes reported that women made up 21.7% of artists, 12.3% of songwriters, and 2.1% of producers (2019). Shocking right! We wanted to highlight women creating impact within the industry for IWD from writer to lawyer.
Read more to learn more about these women, as they share advice and a personal quote to get you motivated to level up this year. These are women that are actively showing up and showing out in their industry, breaking different bias’ as women in a male-dominated space:
Daisy Mae
Daisy Mae is a dynamic, resourceful music marketing and strategic communications practitioner with diverse experience in music marketing, campaign management, music promotions, and project management. She previously worked for both Columbia Records. Her roster includes; B Young, Willow Kayne, TMulla, Calvin Harris, Davido, Oxlade, The FaNaTix, Mayorkun, Tom Odell, Pip Millet, Ruger, and many more.
Daisy also handles international artists’ PR, Marketing Campaigns, and radio promotions across the UK and globally. She has worked with Nigerian artists Ruger and Asa, WurlD, Skiibii as well as Ghanaian artist Kofi Mole, Kkeda through her leading independent marketing agency ONE88 AGENCY. Daisy continues to prove how hardworking she is by also managing International rapper, singer Suté Iwar and fast-rising UK Rap group – DFT.
Advice from Daisy to those that are looking to break into the music industry:
“Don’t stop no matter what! The days you are most uncomfortable are the days you learn most about yourself. Let your dreams be bigger than your fears keep at it”
A quote that strongly resonates with Daisy:
There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish – Michelle Obama
Elizabeth Ntiamoah
Elizabeth Ntiamoah is the General Manager for Boomplay (Ghana), a renowned music streaming platform with offices in Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and a certificate in Music Business Foundations from Berklee College of music.
Elizabeth also worked as a radio correspondent for a South African Online radio TransAfrica Radio in 2017 and a radio presenter and producer for 1FamilyRadio in 2015. Lyza, as she is known in the industry, was a PR assist for Supreme Rights Ghana (former management for Worlasi) between 2015 and 2017, Harmony Records between 2016 and 2018, and TTD Media group (management for M.anifest).
Recently Elizabeth has aided different African and artiste of African origin such as Mike Akox, Wurld, Danista, Kojo Cue with country-specific strategies and manages budding Ghanaian sensation BRYAN THE MENSAH.
Advice from Elizabeth to those that are looking to break into the music industry:
Perfecting the craft, Being consistent, and staying true to yourself. Something good always comes out of these attributes the world will definitely hear about you.
A quote that strongly resonates with Elizabeth:
I think, therefore I am.
Foza Fawehinmi
Oyinkansola Foza Fawehinmi is an award-winning lawyer and the president of Digital Music Commerce and Exchange Limited, an intellectual property valuation, management, and administration company serving sub-Saharan Africa.
Over the last 9years, she has served as a legal advisory and business consultant for some of Africa’s most reputable entertainment companies and artists like Chocolate City Music, Premier Records, Boomplay Music, Infinix Nigeria, K1 De Ultimate, Teni, Adekunle Gold, The Sarz Academy, Sarz and more.
Advice from Foza to those that are looking to break into the music industry:
Sometimes, you’d find that you’re the only person doing what you’re doing at a scale everyone else is still struggling to match. It’s going to be a lonely and arduous journey but never stops. Teach yourself to always see the greatest potential in what appears to be the least promising situations and you’d be glad you ever did.
A quote that strongly resonates with Foza:
“Go wherever the narrow way passes. If possible, go wherever there seems to be no way and create away.” — unattributed.
Ore Abiona
Ore Abiona is a freelance journalist, presenter, and content creator born in the UK but molded by south London. A film and music enthusiast, she’s interested in critique, analysis, and understanding the synergy between creative content and culture.
Advice from Ore to those that are looking to break into the music industry:
The best advice I can give is to keep trying – it can be really easy to give up because you can see other people around you getting opportunities, but you have to remain assured that there is space for both you and them. It’s also really important to know and understand what you bring to the table and figure out the best way to articulate that. What makes you stand out? There’s definitely something so it’s key to figure that out and hold onto that.
A quote that strongly resonates with Ore:
“There’s almost always room at the table – if they tell you there isn’t, build a new table”
Shay Sade
Shay Sade is a Presenter, DJ who hosts her own show on London-based station, Reprezent Radio, and is the Producer/ Co-host on Ubunifu Radio via No Signal. Shay has a natural flair for finding new music from across the globe, her mixes can be seen on Kiss 100 and presented on BBC Radio 1. When she is not on air she is a brand marketeer for global tech brand Depop, previously Nike.
Advice from Shay to those that are looking to break into the music industry:
You have to believe in yourself before anyone else can believe in you, if you can’t believe in your craft, your dream your goal then how can anyone believe in what you want to do. You are the only person who can open the doors and change your future so being confident in who you are and what you want to do is key. It will feel hard sometimes but staying true to yourself and who you are will be the result of your own success.
A quote that strongly resonates with Shay:
“I’ll tell you what freedom is to me: no fear”
Titilope Adesanya
Titilope Adesanya is a Music Executive currently working as a Product Manager at EMPIRE across various artist projects including L.A.X, KiDi,
Kizz Daniel, Fireboy DML, Yaw Tog, Buju, Bad Boy Timz, and more.
Previously head of communications and digital sales at Africori while also handling label and client services. With a journalism & events background, Titi has been in the creative industry for just over 8 years.
She also runs a creative consulting agency “We Soko Afrika” through which she has worked with acts including Kiddominant, Tim Lyre, Ricky Tyler, DJ Lambo, Phaemous, and more.
Advice from Shay to those that are looking to break into the music industry:
Persistence, patience, clarity & reality checks. The Path is different for everyone but from personal experience, I’d say utilize what you have within i.e what makes you “you” to find a corner of the space you can slowly make yours. By that I mean make yourself valuable. You have a way to do things that are uniquely yours. Lean into that and nurture it till it becomes what people see and want.
A quote that strongly resonates with Titilope:
“Keep the hearth of your thoughts pure. By so doing, you’ll bring peace and be happy” – Abd-ru-Shin
Did you know that the ladies contributed to this week On Rotation? Click here to see what songs they selected.
