The Keychange Movement has announced that they will be expanding into Ireland. The initiative encourages festivals and music organisations to achieve at least 50% women and under-represented genders in their programming and staffing.
The expansion of the movement into Ireland was announced during a panel this week. The initiative announced James Foley as a Keychange Ambassador. Foley is the Lead, Editorial at Spotify UK and Ireland. Ireland Music Week are the Keychange partner coordinating and supporting activities in Ireland, alongside sponsors IMRO. Ireland Music Week is also the festival partner for Keychange in Ireland so will host 6 international Keychange participants, as well as the Irish participants in 2021.
Seven Irish organisations have signed the Keychange gender pledge including Choice Music Prize, Foggy Notions, The Folly @ Cullohill, Ireland Music Week, HearOne Music, Minding Creative Minds and Róisín Dubh. Ireland’s Keychange participants for 2020/21 include acts Pillow Queens, Elaine Mai, Mona-Lisa Das and SYLK, as well as Rubyworks’ Shauna Watson and artist manager/video producer Lia Liegho.
This Thursday, the 26th of February The Keychange Movement will be hosting a panel moderated by UK Keychange Project Manager, Maxie Gedge on ‘Community and Management.’ The panel will focus on the Benefits and importance of collaboration and creating your network. Maxie will be joined by Lia Liegho (artist manager and Keychange participant), Ceri Dixon (artist manager) and Ismay Bourke (music PR), will be broadcast on the Keychange Facebook page.
Speaking about the movement, James Foley said; “Even though the statistics on gender equality in music continue to make for bleak reading, I am ever-hopeful for change when I see the impact Keychange is having and the potential we all have to do more. In my day to day role in the UK + Ireland music team at Spotify, I’m focused on how we can create a more equal platform, give under-represented voices a stage and open up our listener’s ears to different viewpoints.”
“I’m also keenly aware that gender equality in music is intersectional and can positively address other systemic inequalities. I take seriously the commitment to affecting change and connecting people who can unlock the challenges we face in making the industry a more equal place to exist. I’m really looking forward to working with everyone involved in Keychange as an Irish ambassador and I am excited about what’s to come.”
The Keychange Movement’s current list spans 40 countries and 400 organisations. Over in the UK, artists Violet Skies, Suzi Wu, Chagall, Tawiah, Poppy Ajudha, Anaïs, Islet and Machine Woman are already members of the movement. You can see the full list here.
