https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09tc4ph

'Much looking forward to Kenya's IWD Orchestra performing music from my opera, Dido Belle, from my Heroines of Opera series for International Women's Day at the Kenya National Theatre, 8 March, 7pm. Dear Friends in Kenya - please spread the word and attend the gig if you can'

Shirley Thompson

Key Change is a major initiative by PRS Foundation which looks to make major changes in how Festivals and venues programme with an assurance from 45 YES! 45! Festivals and venues to programme 50/50 male and female artists in the next 4 years - by 2022.

Congratulations from Women in Music  - something we have been advocating for a long time!

"Keychange is an exciting new European project which celebrates and invests in the talent of female music creators and innovators who will be driving the future success of the music industry.

Through keychange showcases and collaborations, a programme of creative labs and a digital platform will give a new network of 60 women the chance to extend their reach to audiences across Europe and connect with the pioneering work of leaders from tech, design, music, audiovisual and other sectors which are shaping creative industries development. Our mission is to accelerate the industry’s recognition of women’s potential artistic and economic value so that we can transform the music industry for current and future generations.

30 emerging female artists & 30 innovators/industry professionals (10 participants per country) will be selected to take part in Keychange and travel to leading music festivals across Europe and in Canada."

See the website for more information about participants and partners: Key Change

Our favourite blogger (and author and critic and more ) Jessica Duchen featured this in a recent JDMB post. Jessica always champions women in music. 

These posts also trigger @WomeninMusicUK twitter posts - do follow us and we will follow you back 

Celebrating women in sound is a remarkable event at Goldsmiths - University on International Women's Day itself March 8th. Follow the link to find out more : Goldsmiths events

A highlight is an opportunity to have a guided tour of the WRPM archive!

To celebrate International Women’s Day, as part of "Celebrating Women in Sound", Special Collections provide tours of the "Women’s Revolutions Per Minute (WRPM)" archive.

To celebrate International Women’s Day 2018, in the centenary year of UK women aged 30 and over in the UK gaining the vote, the Unit for Sound Practice Research at Goldsmiths, University of London and Women in Sound Women on Sound (WISWOS) and are launching Celebrating Women in Sound, a day of sound-related activities featuring the work of female-identifying artists at Goldsmiths. The purpose of International Women’s Day is to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women; perhaps more importantly, the day is a call to action to change the shape of society and to push for gender parity in all areas.

Activity #3: Between 1.30-2.30pm and again between 3.30-4.30pm: Tours of the WRPM (Women's Revolutions Per Minute) Archive.
Women’s Revolutions Per Minute (WRPM) was an independent, feminist music distribution network active 1977-2005. It distributed music by women, for women, and about women, typically from artists with a feminist or lesbian feminist standpoint. It distributed music by women, for women, and about women, typically from artists with a feminist or lesbian feminist standpoint. 

There are over 1500 music items and a great many related items. There will be discussions and sonic experiences as well.

See also our Whats On pages in www.womeninmusic.org,uk 

Arab Women Artists Now is a wonderful Festival in  London which showcases and highlights Arab Women in the arts across all disciplines. Music is a major part of the season with some premieres and some favourites. Have a look at the programme and see what interests you. Yuma is especially recommended. 

Blossom Street chamber choir are hoping to celebrate the 100th anniversary of women gaining the vote by releasing a CD of choral music by women composers, performed by women.

You can help them raise funds for this project here

https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/blossomstreet 

And there is more information about the project here

https://www.nycgb.org.uk/news/a-good-time-to-celebrate-women

A new book examining what it is like to work in the classical music industry today, looking into inequality with regard to gender, race and class.  A must have book for every music library.  It is rather expensive but there is an ebook option.

https://www.routledge.com/Gender-Subjectivity-and-Cultural-Work-The-Classical-Music-Profession/Scharff/p/book/9781138942561  

A very measured post on the importance of trust and being seen to do the right thing in a difficult situation.  And why the culture which tolerates sexual misconduct needs to change.

https://jessicamusic.blogspot.co.uk/2017/12/charles-dutoit-conducting-nhk-orchestra.html

60 FEMALE ARTISTS AND INNOVATORS ANNOUNCED FOR PRS FOUNDATION’S ‘KEYCHANGE’ 

Ten successful participants selected from six European countries to join the new international initiative empowering women to transform the music industry.