Alicia Keys and She is the Music Celebrate Women in the Music Industry

On Thursday, the inaugural Women Sharing the Spotlight event was held at The Peppermint Club in Los Angeles, recognizing Gracie Abrams along with her talented female team members. This occasion was organized by Alicia Keys and her nonprofit initiative, She is the Music, which aims to promote the inclusion of women in the music industry. The event was supported by Live Nation Women and TuneCore.

During this significant gathering, 50 exceptional women from various facets of the music business were honored. The Hollywood Reporter played a vital media partnership role, ensuring that honorees brought along a rising talent as their plus-one, thereby fostering connections within the community and empowering women at the start of their careers.

Alicia Keys, who brought the emerging artist Baby Rose as her guest, warmly introduced Gracie Abrams. She noted Abrams’ commitment to working with a predominantly female team, which Keys highlighted as a rare achievement in the industry. “This serves as a reminder that we belong in every room, at every table, and we should be leading every conversation,” Keys stated emphatically.

In her acceptance speech, Abrams expressed heartfelt gratitude towards Keys for being a source of inspiration, as well as to the esteemed She is the Music team including Universal Music Publishing Group’s Jody Gerson. “It’s a remarkable time to be a woman in America, and I genuinely believe that our strength lies in leadership,” Abrams conveyed to the audience, extending appreciation to her female team members.

Wrapping up her remarks, Abrams creatively referenced Margaret Mead, stating, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed women can change the world; in fact, it’s the only thing that ever has,” which resonated deeply with those in attendance.

She is the Music was established by a collective of women including Keys, Gerson, Ann Mincieli, Sam Kirby Yoh, and Dr. Stacy Smith from USC’s Annenberg Inclusion Initiative. Dr. Smith, along with TuneCore CEO Andreea Gleeson, shared the latest insights from the annual Inclusion in the Music Business report. According to Keys, the troubling data from this report initially fueled the founders’ motivation to take action.

Reflecting on the organization’s inception, Keys remarked, “As three successful women in the industry, we were astounded by the disheartening statistics. It served as a significant wake-up call for us.” She emphasized that the primary goal of the initiative was to create opportunities and safe spaces for women striving to break into the industry. “You may have dreams and aspirations, but often the door remains closed,” she elaborated, stressing the need for such initiatives to facilitate openings.

Keys voiced a powerful statement on the importance of supporting one another in the industry, especially during times when entertainment companies are retreating from diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. “No one can prevent you from opening doors for others; that power lies within you,” she stated passionately. “Regardless of the external noise, we can uplift each other, forging a community that celebrates each other’s achievements.”

The event concluded with an invitation to explore more images from She is the Music’s Women Sharing the Spotlight celebration.

To see more photos from the memorable evening, visit the Hollywood Reporter.