By: Victoria Boyington
Women have come a long way from just being in the band. This year women are the focus in California as number of women focused events have already happened, and more event are planned.
Richie Sambora joins Orianthi. (Photo by Kevin Graft.)
On January 23rd, 2015 at the Anaheim Hilton hotel’s Pacific Ballroom SheRocks Awards highlighted women in music who have made an impact. Some of the women honored at the awards ceremony included Music Inc. editor, Katie Kailus; Vice President of Brand Marketing at Martin Guitar, Armani Duncan; muliti-platinum artist, Colbie Caillat; Grammy Award nominated saxophone player, Mindi Abair; Vice President for Online Learning and Continuing Education/CEO for Berklee College of Music, Debbie Cavalier, Vice President of Capitol Studios, Paula Salvatore; Avedis Zildjian CEO, Craigie Zildjian; Beacock Music Co-Owner, Gayle Beacock; Owner of Robo Records, Rob Christie and the legendary band The Bangles. I had the pleasure of being there to experience the magic. The night was filled with inspirational speeches that included words of encouragement to all women in music, and amazing performances from The Bangles, Colbie Caillat, Grethchen Menn, SHEL, and Orianthi who Co-Hosted the Awards with WiMN Founder Laura B. Whitmore. Attendees enjoyed a dinner and grab bags packed with lots of merch, cd’s and books. Find out more about WiMN, they run a weekly column called Front and Center, which spotlights accomplished women who work in the music and audio industry.
8th grader Iraya Cress at the 2014 Festival
In Northern California, the Northern California Women’s Music Festival is gearing up for their October 2015 Festival at the State Theater in Modesto, California. This festival is a non-profit women’s music festival dedicated to the advancement of women in music, business, education and the fine arts. Their first fundraising concert will be on February 6th, 2015 at Deva Café in Modesto, California. If you can’t attend, you can still be part of the festival through Stageit.Find out how to support the Northern California Women’s Music Festival.
In other places across the United States, women are taking center stage at a variety of women focused events. On January 15th, 2015 Women in Music hosted a members-only event at New York University. Twenty-four members had their songs reviewed by top A&R representatives who gave feedback on their music. The panel included Director of A&R and Artists Development, Riggs Morales; Director of Publishing US Operations, Nettwerk Music Group, Melissa Emert-Hunter; and Director of A&R, Republic Records, Kristina Grossman. Find out more about Women in Music.
WOMEN IN MUSIC PRESENTED: A&R DEMO
The National Women’s Music Festival is celebrating 40 years of women in music on July 2- 5, 2015 at the Marriot Madison West Conference Center in Middletown, WI. Attendees come from all walks of life to celebrate women in music. This year’s festival will feature workshops, concerts, theater presentations, a marketplace, newly released films and videos, a live auction, spirituality series, writer’s series and much more.
It is a great time for women in the history of music. We have chances today that our predecessors only dreamed of. It is time to take advantage of the opportunities that we have to become involved in the power of sisterhood through music.
