At the Music Week Women In Music Awards this month, 12 names were added to the Roll Of Honour, sponsored by Jack Radio, which celebrates female execs across the industry. We meet the class of 2019...
Remi Harris, creative business trainer and consultant, Remi Harris Consulting
How do you feel about joining the Music Week Women In Music Roll Of Honour?
“I feel in good company!”
How do you look back on your early years getting into the industry?
“I fell into working at AIM by accident, and I was lucky to be given loads of responsibility early on, to be involved in setting up a pivotal organisation as part of Alison Wenham’s founding team and to work with some of the indie sector’s pioneers at the start of the transformation to digital.”
Did you have a mentor or role model who helped you at that stage?
“As well as Alison, I’ve been fortunate to have several mentors from the generation above me and in particular Doug D’Arcy, Keith Harris and Paulette Long, Jackie Davidson and the late Terri Anderson come to mind.”
What do you consider to be your biggest achievement so far?
“Probably founding Young Guns Network, I reguarly hear from people that it has helped them progress in their career or life, which is the best thing ever.”
What one thing would you change about the music industry?
“To somehow make it a more financially sustainable and rewarding one for more artists/songwriters.”
Is the biz taking enough positive and proactive steps to deal with the issues surrounding diversity and equality?
“In my opinion, the music industry is still at the early stages of this journey compared to some sectors. It has moved on massively though. Even 10 years ago, colleagues and I experienced a lot of difficulty getting industry organisations just to have a discussion about diversity, and happily that isn’t the case these days.”
Is the industry doing enough to protect the mental health of execs and artists?
“As an industry, we want to get the most out of the artists and execs, but it can be to the detriment of their wellbeing as we are pushing them to work more and make more money, so we could think more about sustainability and wellbeing. Like diversity, it’s now a conversation people feel more comfortable having, I feel like artists are more aware of the support from Help Musicians UK, Music Support, BAPAM, Music Industry Therapist Collective and PRS Benevolent Fund.”
What advice would you offer young female executives about enjoying a successful career in music?
“Build relationships with people you really trust who can advise and support you. The more successful you are, the more you’ll need them.”
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
“‘Step into the spotlight’ was the motto we came up with on the Music Leaders Development Programme I took part in in 2007 [co-ordinated by the MPA for women future-leaders]. Before then I would say I was very under the radar, and this gave me the confidence to create and develop my own projects.”
What is your vision for the music industry’s future?
“I would love to see more new ways of rewarding creators and new models of creators self-sustaining their careers.”
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