Panel Day: Meet 15 Women Creating Culture & Leading the Industry
It's not every day that 15 different women from varying walks of industry life get together to shed their truth on navigating the music biz. Come join us on April 7th at the New Parkway Theater for a day of conversation, encouragement and inspiration from women who are shifting perspectives in their field. In partnership with Redbull Music, our featured panels and segments will include Women in Live Music, Women in Artist Marketing, Women in Media, and a Live Artist Chat. All panels will be formatted to allow attendees to ask questions, start conversations, and approach panelists one-on-one afterwards.
Whether you're interested in working in this field or you're an artist looking for advice on how to market your work, our panels will offer real and fresh viewpoints on what it takes to succeed in the music industry. So bring a notepad and pen because our panelists are about to be dropping some crucial gems that you won't want to miss. Get to know all 15 panelists & purchase tickets below!
FEATURED PANELS & SEGMENTS
WOMEN IN LIVE MUSIC (POWERED BY EVENTBRITE)
Join us for an in-depth panel discussion on all things live music, powered by Eventbrite. While you see the finished event, these four women are behind the scenes making it happen. From booking talent and marketing major events to cultivating community in the Bay Area, our Women in Live Music panelists will discuss what it really takes to jump into this industry and how to demystify gender roles in live entertainment. Meet our panelists below.
Eboni Jones
Marketing Director, The New Parish
Eboni Jones is the Marketing Director for Parish Entertainment Group which includes two music venues, The New Parish and Brick & Mortar Music Hall, along with two bars in San Francisco.
During her seven years in this role, she has worked with numerous Grammy winning artists, management teams, talent agencies plus local and national promoters. Her responsibilities include developing marketing plans for 500+ shows annually in all music genres (rock, indie rock, reggae, hip hop, Latin, EDM/Dance Music, Soul, Americana, etc). She also runs the Ticketing Operations for the company as the liaison to TicketWeb and sets up and manages ticketing for all events, manages guest lists, reserved seating, VIP sections, and solves potential ticketing issues as they arise.
Eboni got her start in the music industry in 2011 at Ticketfly after graduating from the Academy of Art with a Master’s Degree in Multimedia Communications. In her role in the marketing department, she was responsible for social media, blogging and helping developed the online voice for startup.
Sep Mashiahof
Musician, Co-founder of Scream Queens Radio
Sep Mashiahof is a trans-femme Iranian-American musician, writer, and organizer. She is a co-founder of Scream Queens Radio which airs weekly on Berkeley Liberation Radio. Sep is also a member of the queer industrial punk trio SBSM, who have toured over 15 countries, had their work featured in SFMOMA's Open Space series, and have released music on Thrilling Living and Remote Outposts record/tape labels. Sep works as the Development Coordinator at Bay Area Girls Rock Camp, an Oakland-based arts organization that empowers girls and gender-nonconforming youth through music and socially conscious workshops. Scream Queens Radio, SBSM, and Bay Area Girls Rock Camp have all been featured in the internationally recognized punk magazine Maximum Rock n'Roll. Sep has had prose published in LIES: A Journal of Material Feminism, plays occasional solo shows as Moths Protect Me, does artist management for The Bedroom Witch, and is currently crafting a screenplay for a horror film that celebrates women's intergenerational solidarity within DIY punk scenes.
Tessa Morris
Marketing Director, Berkeley Music Group
Tessa Morris is an avid promoter who passionately chases live music—and the great outdoors. After graduating from UC Berkeley with a degree in Media Studies, she rejected the comfort of a salaried 9-to-5 and took countless risks to chase her dream of working in entertainment.
Morris got her start in the music industry by handing out flyers at concerts until sunrise while managing the NorCal street team full-time for Lightning in a Bottle festival. Since then, she has held numerous roles revolving around media, art, and marketing at various independent record labels and music festivals across Colorado, Arizona and California. Currently she is Marketing Director at The UC Theatre, a non-profit, state-of-the-art, 1350 capacity music venue in downtown Berkeley. Tessa began her role at the theatre prior to its rebirth as a music venue in 2016, and since then, has built the entire marketing department, team, systems and processes from the ground up. When she's not at the theatre or enjoying a concert, you can find her shredding pow or sandwiched between her two cats.
Keep up with Tessa on Instagram at @tessasomnuk.
MODERATED BY Lauren Kish
Production Operations Manager, Eventbrite
Lauren’s a fast-talking Australian, who’s worked in the music industry for the better part of 15 years, with 7 of those spent in music-tech in the Bay Area. After working at Dazed + Confused in London, she kicked off her career in music at an independent music distributor in Melbourne, working with labels like Sub Pop and Kill Rock Stars. After moving to Oakland, she was hired as employee #1 by music discovery app WillCall to lead business development, operations, and marketing efforts at the seed-stage startup. She’s been blurring the boundaries between Product and Operations since, (at Ticketfly and now at Eventbrite), always working to find creative solutions to satisfy clients’ product needs. She’s stoked to be sitting alongside some very talented womxn to dissect and discuss some really important topics.
WOMEN IN ARTIST MARKETING
From management and A&R to music marketers and artist marketers, we'll be taking a look at how women are shifting the conversation in the realm of all-things-artist. Whether you're interested in working in this field or you're an artist looking for advice on how to market your work, our panel will offer real and fresh perspectives on what it takes to succeed in this industry. Meet our panelists below.
Vatana Shaw
TALENT MANAGER AND CREATIVE STRATEGIST
Vantana Shaw is a talent manager specializing in artist development, tour management, & creative strategy. With a background in sound engineering and composition, she worked intently for Interscope/Amaru as an engineer then later signed to Universal Records as recording artist and composer. Currently, she manages Tiffany Gouché through her independent record label, Earthtones Music Group.
Keep up with Vatana on Instagram at @_vtshaw.
SARAH HASWELL
SENIOR MANAGER, ARTIST SERVICES AT UNITEDMASTERS
Sarah has over 7 years of experience working in music and tech. She graduated with a degree in Media from York University in the UK in 2009 and headed to London, where she tackled a number of roles at management and digital marketing companies before landing at SoundCloud. Traveling between London, Berlin, NY and San Francisco, she was initially responsible for managing SoundCloud's independent label partners and experimenting with partner marketing opportunities. She later moved from London to the Bay Area to take over Artist Relations for SoundCloud and work with a growing group of independent artists, tackling everything from discovering and onboarding independent artists, managing marketing campaigns and brand opportunities, providing feedback to product, collaborating on roadmaps and evolution strategies, and educating artists on new and existing product features.
Keep up with Sarah on Instagram at @srhhswl.
STACY CUNNINGHAM
DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC RADIO MARKETING & EVENTS
Stacy Cunningham started her career in radio at 92.3 The Beat/Los Angeles as an intern in the Promotions department where she worked her way up to Assistant Promotions Director. In 2001, she relocated to San Francisco to work as Assistant Promotions Director for then Clear Channel’s 106 KMEL. From 2002-2005, she was promoted to Director of Promotions for KMEL and KIOI. In 2005, she earned her Programming stripes and became Program Director for 106 KMEL. Throughout her tenure at Clear Channel, she over saw programming duties for KMEL, KIOI and KISQ. In 2012, she crossed the street to Entercom Communications and became Program Director for legendary station 102.9 KBLX and Director of Operations for Entercom San Francisco. Currently, she has moved over to the record label industry as Director of Strategic Radio Marketing and Events for EMPIRE Distribution in San Francisco.
Keep up with Stacy on Instagram at @cheeseystacy.
KRISTEN FRASER
MUSIC MARKETING, BEATS BY DRE
Learning early in her career importance of merging brands & culture, Kristen Fraser has spent the past 12 years doing just that. Focusing on the music and genuine relationships, Kristen had spent her career connecting the right talent with the right brands at the right moments for companies such as Cornerstone Promotion & Nike and as Director of Strategic Partnerships for Island Def Jam. Over the past three plus years, Kristen has done the same in her role leading Music Marketing for headphone giant, Beats by Dre.
Keep up with Kristen on Instagram at @kfrastar.
SOPHIE ASH
Artist Services, UnitedMasters
After graduating from New York University with a BFA in Recorded Music, Ash parlayed jobs at Def Jam and Translation into a project manager gig at Beyoncé's Parkwood Entertainment. There, she helped launch her boss's sixth No. 1 album, "Lemonade," and her Formation World Tour, which has grossed over a quarter of a billion dollars.
Keep up with Sophie on Instagram at @sophsaproblem.
Moderated by MOYA NKRUMA
Director, Rhythm & Soul (Urban) ASCAP
Moya Nkruma has always known what she wanted to do in life. Moya knew that she wanted to work in music and make a positive impact on the world. As a native of Los Angeles who grew up in a very artistic household, falling in love with music, art and the entertainment industry was almost predestined. Music being the vessel, she honed her chops at the music conservatory and sharpened her teeth as an intern in music publishing. With over 10+ years of music industry experience, Moya has held creative positions at BMG Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group and at KPFK 90.7 FM’s Associate Producer for “Radio Afrodicia”, an afro-beat show, hosted by DJ Nnamdi Moweta.
Currently, Moya Nkruma is the Director for the Rhythm & Soul/Urban department at ASCAP in the Los Angeles office, where she is responsible for identifying and signing new and meaningful songwriter/producer talent, cultivating new and existing industry relationships, and produces several live events throughout the year (i.e. showcases, writing camps, award shows, etc). Drawing on these experiences, coupled with her knowledge of the current trends of the music industry, Moya hopes to continue to assist in the creative development of artists and advocate for music creator rights.
Keep up with Moya on Instagram at @missmoyamoya.
LIVE INTERVIEW + ARTIST CHAT W/ RAYANA JAY
In-between panels, we'll be sitting down with rising R&B-soul singer Rayana Jay for a candid artist chat about her career and personal experiences that have shaped who she is today. Lauded by everyone from Saint Heron to Nylon and NPR, Rayana Jay’s influences span from Organized Noize, all the way to the raw emotions of Amy Winehouse and sultry tones of Anita Baker. The Richmond, CA singer will reveal what she's learned so far navigating the music industry in a 1:1 interview with music journalist and curator, Emily Berkey.
WOMEN IN MEDIA
More and more women are changing their media diets and searching for a sense of real (outside of the bullshxt we're served daily). Our Women in Media panel will explore how women are working to change the conversation of how stories are told at existing companies and how stories are chosen at publications. Meet our panelists below.
EMILY BERKEY
FREELANCER & PHOTOGRAPHER
Emily Berkey is a freelance journalist and photographer from Portland currently living in Los Angeles. She writes about and takes photos of musicians, artists, and creatives from an intimate perspective– often times photographing them in their homes or creative spaces. Emily exclusively uses 35mm and Polaroid film to photograph her subjects– an ode to the photographs of her youth.
Emily recently photographed Common and Goapele’s visit to Folsom Prison, traveled to Washington D.C. to interview and photograph a musician and DACA recipient during a DACA protest, and is working on an ongoing documentary photography series called Rap Dads where she travels to the homes of fathers who work in hip hop, photographs them with their children, has them answer questions in their own handwriting, and asks the children to draw a picture of themselves with crayon.
Keep up with Emily on Instagram at @Emily_Berkey and on Twitter at @Emily_Berkey
KELLEY COYNE
SOUND ENGINEER & INSTRICTOR, WOMEN'S AUDIO MISSION
Kelley is a sound engineer and educator based in the Bay Area. She currently works full-time for Women's Audio Mission, but has worked at Tiny Telephone, Sharkbite Studios, and multiple live venues. Recording clients include Diana Gameros, Rocky Rivera, Pamela Z, and Mariachi Feminil Orgullo Mexicano (an all-female mariachi band). She teaches women and girls recording and music production, as well as curates and promotes the Local Sirens concert series for Women's Audio Mission. She loves sharing her enthusiasm for recording with her students, and building up the community of women in the music industry. Outside of music, Kelley has a love for fashion and theatre.
MARTINA ABRAHAMS ilunga
CREATOR & CEO, YOU HAD ME AT BLACK
Martina turned her lifelong passion for storytelling into a career in media and marketing. In 2016 she launched You Had Me at Black, a storytelling media and event series reclaiming the Black narrative by giving regular people a platform to share the stories not seen on TV. Martina pays her bills as a product marketer at Square, where she connects underserved communities with financial services to start and grow businesses. A Bay Area transplant from New Jersey, she desperately misses bagels and pizza but has a new affinity for avocado. She's also a proud Hoya.
Keep up with Martina on Instagram at @m__tina.
Fabi Reyna
Founder/Editor-in-Chief of She Shreds Magazine
Fabi Reyna is a Mexican born, Texas raised guitarist as well as the founder and editor-in-chief of She Shreds Magazine—the world's first and only print publication dedicated to women guitarists and bassists. At 26 years old Reyna has built what was a small Portland based zine into a media company with a print circulation of over 40k distributed in 28 countries, a dedicated digital presence with over 100k monthly website visitors, as well as an events and creative agency. Outlets such as Mic.com, Bitch media, Fender, New York Magazine, Stereogum, and many more have praised the editor for her passionate work to create an inclusive community within the guitar industry that transcends the boundaries of gender and genre—supporting radicalism, respect and revolution.
Keep up with Fabi on Instagram at @sheshredsmag.
MODERATED BY RUTH GEBREYESUS
WRITER & PRODUCER
Ruth Gebreyesus is a writer and producer based in Berkeley. Her writing has been featured in The Fader, KQED, East Bay Express, and San Francisco Magazine. She also creates exhibits and presentations on online black creative production, the latest of which is being hosted by Rhizome at the New Museum in New York. Ruth also hosts Link in Bio, an internet radio show where she explores film, art, music and culture with her guests. Ruth will act as moderator for the Women in Media panel.
Keep up with Ruth on Twitter at @kotetakotet.
