Music Week can now reveal the winners of this year’s Women In Music Awards.
The music industry came together at Kensington’s Royal Garden Hotel today to celebrate the work and achievements of some of the most influential women in music across a range of categories.
Hosted once again by Alice Levine, the event has grown significantly since launching in 2014, with UK Music, AIM and Music Week working closely to celebrate the most important and inspirational women from all sectors of the music industry. This year's event was headline sponsored by Live Nation Entertainment.
Scooping this year’s Rising Star Award was Years & Years manager Martha Kinn, while Julie’s Bicycle CEO Alison Tickell received the Campaigner Award for her work in the fight against climate change.
Kinn said on receving her award: "It means so much to win this award. It is important for me but also for all the amazing womem in the industry."
The new PRS For Music Foundation New Artist Award went to burgeoning new talent Lapsley, while the Media Pioneer gong was awarded to MOBO founder Kanya King, who made an impaasioned acceptance speech. The award was the first ever to be given to her by the music industry.
"I've dedicated my life to celebrating the excellence of other, so it's humbling to receive this award," said King. "To any young female I would say, Don't strive to be a person of success, but a person of merit."
Meanwhile, the Inspirational Artist Award went to singer-songwriter KT Tunstall and Businesswoman Of The Year went to Nicola Tuer, COO, Sony Music UK.
Tunstall said in her acceptance speech: "The most rewarding thing is having people say to me after a show that they've taken up playing, because there aren't enough girls playing music. Girls still need more encouragement to start playing in bands. We are musicians. Not male or female musicians. It doesn't matter what gender or colour you are in music, and that is why music is more important than ever."
Before taking the stage to receive her Businesswoman Of The Year Award, a star-studded video was played honouring Tuer's achievements in the industry, with contributions from Jason Iley, who presented her with the award, as well as Manic Street Preachers, Olly Murs, Simon Cowell, Ward Thomas, Robbie Williams, Doug Morris and Dolly Parton, to name but a few.
Iley said: "Nicola has time and time again gone above and beyond to make sure Sony and her artists succeed."
"I feel extremely privileged to win this award, even though I'm past President Trump's check-out time," commented Tuer. She also paid tribute to the late Leonard Cohen, who passed away on the eve of the ceremony, describing him as "a wonderful man".
The final award of the day was the Outstanding Contribution Award, which went to WIN CEO Alison Wenham.
"I know these awards are working," she said. "I know people are listening and I know things are chaning."
A tribute to the late Fiona Haycock by John Deacon CBE, former BPI chief, proved to be one of the afternoon's most moving moments. Posthumously inducted into the Women In Music Roll Of Honour, Haycock sadly passed away earlier this year.
"She was a lady of quiet dignity and a consummate professional, with a wonderful sense of fun," he said. "Thank you for recognising Fiona's work and including her in this illustrious list of names. She was a truly lovely lady who graced this industry all too briefly."
Ahead of today’s event itself, Music Week revealed 12 new inductees to the Music Week Women In Music Roll Of Honour, including Rebecca Allen, managing director, Decca Records; Natasha Bent, live agent, Coda; Lucy Blair, director, international sales and marketing, The Orchard; Fiona Haycock, executive producer, Music Industry Trusts Award; Sam Isles, VP, artist services, Ticketmaster, international, and managing director, TicketWeb; Pascale Khalaf, VP, synchronisation and licensing, Warner/Chappell; Paulette Long, director, Westbury Music; Emmy Lovell, VP, digital, Warner Music; Damaris Rex-Taylor, general manager, Disturbing London; Sandie Shaw, co-chair, Featured Artist Coalition; Jane Third, SVP, Because Music; and Carla Marie Williams, songwriter and founder, Girls I Rate.
See the full list of award winners and Roll Of Honour inductees below.
Award winners:
Rising Star: Martha Kinn
Campaigner: Alison Tickell, CEO, Julie’s Bicycle
PRS For Music Foundation New Artist: Lapsley
Media Pioneer: Kanya King, founder, MOBO
Inspirational Artist: KT Tunstall
Business Woman Of The Year: Nicola Tuer, COO, Sony Music UK
Outstanding Contribution: Alison Wenham, CEO, WIN
Roll Of Honour:
Rebecca Allen, managing director, Decca Records
Natasha Bent, live agent, Coda
Lucy Blair, director, international sales and marketing, The Orchard
Fiona Haycock, executive producer, Music Industry Trusts Award
Sam Isles, VP, artist services, Ticketmaster, international, and managing director, TicketWeb
Pascale Khalaf, VP, synchronisation and licensing, Warner/Chappell
Paulette Long, director, Westbury Music
Emmy Lovell, VP, digital, Warner Music
Damaris Rex-Taylor, general manager, Disturbing London
Sandie Shaw, co-chair, Featured Artist Coalition
Jane Third, SVP, Because Music
Carla Marie Williams, songwriter and founder, Girls I Rate
