When it comes to the business side of the music industry and the people responsible for introducing the world to new acts, genres and events, you will be hard-pressed to find many female faces. However, the following ladies are paving the way for future women in UK urban radio, music PR, marketing, management and events. Salute!
Chloe Fletcher
At the age of 26, Chloe is an executive member of MTV’s International Talent & Music team. Within this role, she serves as the link between new global music releases and MTV’s worldwide networks, excluding the United States. She helps artists from around the world with marketing and coordinates their TV and digital promotion so that we get to hear about them. She also helps with priority events like the MTV European Music Awards and MTV World Stage.
Joss Meek
As part of an all-girl team, Joss has worked under the pseudonym of Wired PR for the last three years alongside founder Rachel Campbell. As the Head of their Digital Press team, she helps artists to get as much exposure as possible. The 27-year-old has previously graced the web pages of Hypetrak, a Hype Machine blog, Vice, We Are SME and Who’s Jack Magazine as a music journalist and Joss moonlights as a social media manager too. She has a radio show on Hoxton Radio station; and if that wasn’t enough, she also has a documentary in the works, the topic of which is presently unknown.
Kanya King
Ms. King is the youngest of nine, born to Ghanaian and Irish parents in North London. She is the CEO and founder of the MOBO (Music of Black Origin) Awards, which helped to put urban music in the mainstream consciousness in Britain. The brand is now responsible for an annual live tour, a TV channel and website, while offering training and guidance to aspiring musicians, DJs and producers, in addition to the yearly award show. Queen Elizabeth II and her son Prince Charles presented Kanya with an MBE for her involvement in the UK Music Industry Task Force. She is also responsible for starting educational programs, with the help of artists, and a voting campaign to highlight African artists.
Caroline SM
Twenty one year old Caroline was newly appointed as an A&R rep at independent label XL Records. She is the Editor of GRM Daily, an iconic brand that has helped Grime music to become the phenomenon it is today. Last year she co-founded the New Gen brand, which includes live music events and a weekly show on Radar Radio station. Her show spotlights up-and-coming London talent and her work over the years has helped multiple new artists to develop their brand and sign to major labels.
Leila Singh
Leila started her career at the tender age of 17, co-managing Funky House group Crazy Cousinz. One of their biggest hits, “Do You Mind,” featured Kyla, the sampled artist on Drake’s “One Dance” tune. She started the concert brand ILUVLIVE in 2010, curating lineups with the likes of Ed Sheeran and Krept & Konan. Leila also founded her own PR company; creating campaigns for independent MCs, brands like Adidas and RWD Mag, and events. In 2012, she started handling the promotion of Eskimo Dance and is now, at the age of 26, the marketing manager of the whole brand.
Madam X
According to The Fader, the DJ and Kaizen label boss grew up in Milton Keynes to Greek parents. She has been an advocate for MCs based outside of London for the last seven years through her regular slot on NTS Radio. She developed her passion for Grime during her time at university and fell in love with Manchester’s unique energy and take on the genre. It has been argued that artists outside of London aren’t given the respect and recognition they deserve, as the genre started in the capital. Her radio show blends Grime, Techno and Bass music with a view to changing that outdated view.
Parris Oloughlin-Hoste
Parris is currently the Urban Promotions Manager at Sony Music UK, working with artists like Yo Gotti, Future, Lady Leshurr and A$AP Ferg. She also runs an independent digital PR firm, known as POW PR. In the past, she has written for SBTV, MTV, The Line of Best Fit, Clash and Nation of Billions. She also hosts a weekend show on Bang Radio station. Her broad understanding of the industry at the age of 23 helps her to tackle the development of new artists with press, radio and marketing exposure.
Jackie Eyewe
Miss Eyewe became the Junior Marketing Manager at Atlantic Records last year, handling the promotion of artists like Fetty Wap and UK group WSTRN. By the age of 22, she has written for The Guardian, Grazia Daily and the BBC, as well as being Deputy Editor of Live Magazine. She then moved into music marketing and PR, working with brands like Kiss FM, 4Music, Grazia Daily and Q Magazine. Her work involved music brand partnerships for the O2’s youth project GoThinkBig, ticketing initiative O2 Priority and Sony Music. Jackie has also produced the radio show ‘NANG Selection’ on Radar Radio for over two years now.
Alia Loren
22-year-old Alia was raised in the county of Essex, just outside of London, by strict Muslim parents. When she discovered her love for Grime during her college days, they didn’t approve of the lyrical content or the notion that she was going to be working with predominantly men. She now presents the weekly go-to Grime show on Radar Radio, following slots on South London’s Reprezent Radio last year. Her mission is simple: “I see a lot of culture vultures in the industry who leech onto [Grime] and don’t care about the artist’s progression, or just want to feed off of the established MCs and disregard a lot of [new] talent that is in the scene. I want to be a [DJ] that listeners and supporters can look at and say, ‘She knows what she’s talking about.’”
Rebecca Judd
Inspired by Grime artists Chipmunk and collection Nu Brand Flexxx, Rebecca got into radio to share her passion for the genre. Last year she held a regular Rap and R&B slot on Westside Radio, until her chance came to feature Grime artists in a one-off special. The show gave her the opportunity to host her own regular grime slot for the station due to the special’s viral popularity. The 21-year-old also organizes a monthly live Grime event called ‘The Den’ with BBK’s artist Frisco. She told The Fader that she believes that with the rate the genre is growing across the world, it is important for DJs to stay woke on the emerging new talent.
Stay tuned for their future movements.
