Women PowHer Music Makes Strides for Women in the Music Industry

Posted On May 1, 2020

Samantha Colleran, May 2020

Women PowHer Music is an organization started by SUNY Oneonta senior and Music Industry Club president Temima Shames and University of Florida junior Danielle Gray. The two met while interning at Atlantic Records and teamed up to create this organization. The main goal of Women PowHer Music is to connect women in all fields of the music industry with one another to inspire and support each other, especially during the trying times with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, says co-creator Temima. 

During this time where it’s hard to connect and network face to face, the co-creators wanted to find a way to bring the women of the industry closer together despite the distance. Using their connections and relationships within the industry, Shames and Gray curated an online Zoom conference with over 15 guest panelists who shared their knowledge, experience, and inspiring stories with a group of viewers over the course of the week-long event. 

Every day posed a new music industry related topic, from marketing, to touring, and even breaking down barriers within the industry. Guest speakers included Rida Naser (Sirius XM), Veronica Marmolejo (LaneOne), Holly Espinosa (Atlantic Records), Kimberly Harris (Columbia Records), Q. Johnson (Cinematic Music Group), among many other important women in the industry. 

Some important highlights from the week include SUNY Oneonta alumnus Jill Reda, who works at BMG Music Company. Reda shared a number of powerful statements with those in attendance, such as “If he can do it, I can do it too” and encouraging women to “continue shattering the glass ceiling” to become the powerful forces in the industry they are destined to be. Alyssa Reddish, an employee at Atlantic Records, expressed the importance of making sure you are in control of your own narrative and telling your own stories. Danielle Risi of Republic Records told viewers “Stand your ground and know your worth”. 

Speaking to fellow Oneonta students who attended the event, they spoke about some important takeaways from the meetings. One key factor that was mentioned was that some of the panelists expressed their gratitude towards bosses who treated them as equals; a panelist discussed the fact that her boss introduced her as someone they worked with instead of simply referring to her as a secretary, allowing her to be seen as an equal when involved in group meetings. Having supportive men and women on a team together allows for equality among workers, and allows for more success once differences are set aside. 

One specific and very important note came from Oneonta student and Music Industry Club E-Board member Vershone “Zy” Bowser, who said his biggest takeaway from the whole meeting was that he learned just how important it is for other men in the music industry to learn from the women of the industry. He said at first he felt that it wasn’t his place to join the meetings, thinking that it was only for women, but he realized quickly that more men would have benefitted from hearing about the experiences the panelists shared. “I heard stores of co-workers being inappropriate, overstepping their boundaries, not treating them right based on their gender, and the many examples of hurdles that men don’t necessarily encounter while moving up the ladder in the music industry,” Zy said. He said these panelists woke him up to the importance of listening to women’s stories. He also notes that it’s important for men to help uplift their female counterparts and not silence them in the workplace. 

Overall, the event was a great success. Women PowHer Music gained over a thousand followers on their Instagram page, and the daily events gathered over a thousand viewers. You can follow Women PowHer Music on their Instagram page to stay updated on the amazing work Temima and Danielle will continue to do in the future.