Hosted by Deborah Francis-White of The Guilty Feminist podcast, the Women in Music lunch was spearheaded by leading women in the music industry and members of The Circle network, Sammy Andrews (Deviate Digital), Cassandra Gracey (Sony Music), Natasha Mann (Universal Music), Kim Chappell (Chappell Productions), Sarah Henderson (MCPR), and Tara Paterson (XIX Entertainment) at the House of Koko in London, ahead of International Women’s Day on the 8th March.
We’re delighted to share that Sony Music, Universal Music, Universal Music Publishing Group, SJM Concerts and Warner Music Group joined forces to donate to The Circle’s new Empowerment Fund which will provide urgent, flexible funding to grassroots, women-led projects around the world. Global funding for women’s rights and gender-based violence remains critically low, despite 1 in 3 women around the world experiencing gender-based violence in their lifetime, and over 100 million women and girls living in acute poverty.
The event featured an inspiring discussion with Rwandan activist and member of The Circle network, Delphine Uwamahoro. The Circle’s Founder, Annie Lennox, provided hand-written lyrics of ‘Sisters’ and renowned photographer Rankin donated a personal photoshoot. So far, the event has raised just over £58,000 in vital funds to support our grassroots partners and our fellow sisters around the world, in a powerful demonstration of solidarity and action across the music sector.
Raakhi Shah, CEO of The Circle said: “The Circle has a long history of partnering with the music industry over the years from our ‘Music Icons’ Auction with Billie Eilish and Taylor Swift, to our Global Feminism film with Ed Sheeran, Mary J Blige and others. We are delighted that the industry is coming together to raise vital funds for marginalised women around the world through the inaugural Women in Music lunch.”
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