Shanice Edwards

Junior A&R, Since ‘93/ Sony Music

Shanice Edwards is a Junior A&R Manager at Since ‘93/Sony Music UK. Working on artists such as METTE and DC. Before joining the label, she founded an up-and-coming artist event series, which lead to her being across exciting up and coming artists. Shanice is passionate about finding distinctive artists who are incredibly driven and at the fore of their scenes and genres.

Sheneice Charway

Head Of Black Music & Culture, EMEA, YouTube

Since joining YouTube in 2019, Sheniece has played a seminal role in the growth of Black talent both on and off the platform. In addition to working on events such as Skepta’s Live Q&A, GRM Daily Discography with Ghetts & Wretch 32, a Stefflon Don Fan Event, Aitch’s EP launch party, Michael Brun’s Album launch party and Tiwa Savage’s single launch party, Sheniece is actively involved in tackling anti-Black racism and championing Black talent within the music industry. Sheneice's contribution to elevating Black culture has led to her being crowned Music Week’s ‘Rising Star’ at the 2021 Women In Music Awards, and won the Best Publicity & Relations award two years in a row at the Young Music Boss awards in 2023 & 2024

Sophia Alexandra-Hall

Deputy Digital Editor (Audience), The Big Issue

Sophia is Deputy Digital Editor (Audience) for The Big Issue. A proud care experienced journalist, she writes across social affairs and culture, and finds creative ways to bring the news to social media audiences. Sophia has appeared on Sky News as part of the morning paper review, and BBC Breakfast, speaking on the topic of foster care. She is a 2023-2024 Churchill Fellow, researching trauma-informed journalism. In 2021 Sophia was named on the PPA 30 under 30 list, and in 2022 won ‘Exclusive of the Year’ at the NCTJ Excellence in Journalism Awards.

Sophia Burn

Vice President European Touring Live Nation UK

Sophia started out in the industry as a musician, before jumping the fence to become a promoter in the Live Nation office in London. Her roster of artists includes the Weeknd, TWICE, Lizzo, Twenty One Pilots and Stray Kids, and she also works on the team looking after Coldplay’s touring in mainland Europe. When not working, she likes gardening, as plants cannot send emails.

Sophie K

Radio Presenter

Sophie K is presenter of Kerrang Radio’s breakfast, Absolute Radio Weekends, Amazon Music and her succesful ‘On Wednesdays We Wear Black’ podcast. Sophie has presented her own show (Tube Screamer) for the UK’s most well known rock and metal channel Scuzz TV. She has also been cover presenter for the BBC Radio 1 Indie Show.

Sophie Pitchforth

Senior Promoter, Metropolis Music

Having started her career in radio events at Global (Capital and Radio X), Sophie moved into the concert promotions world 16 years ago. In her current role as Senior Promoter at Metropolis Music (part of Live Nation), Sophie has built an impressive roster featuring artists like The Lumineers, Bat For Lashes, Laufey, Benson Boone, and Jessie Murph, while also working closely with renowned musicians such as Robbie Williams, Blur, Eminem, Paolo Nutini, Tenacious D, and George Ezra. This year, she is co-programming the 2024 British Summer Time shows in Hyde Park.

Tom Farncombe

Manager - Publishing Society Partnerships, YouTube

Tom Mehrtens

Head of Music, Satellite 414

Tom Mehrtens is Head of Music & Entertainment at leading PR agency SATELLITE414. Their current roster of musicians includes Rina Sawayama, Chappell Roan, Caroline Polachek, Beyonce, Ellie Goulding, Walt Disco and more. Outside of music they also work with a variety of leaders in their fields such as Munroe Bergdorf, Attitude Awards, Mighty Hoopla festival, Homo Sapiens podcast and Queer Britain (the UK’s first and only LGBTQ+ museum).

Andrew Lansley

Trustee

Andrew is innovation Manager for Cheltenham Festivals, Senior Academic at the University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham Culture Board coordinator and in his spare time performs as double bassist with Thrill Collins. He has worked in cross sector roles including events, academia, politics, broadcast and innovation, has written research and worked with young people to help them realise their own musical ambitions. Andrew is autistic and runs a neurodiverse consultancy that specialises in intersectional, regenerative projects to help make businesses and organisations more accessible and sustainable.

Berkeley Edwards

Trustee

Berkeley is the Head of Music and a principal at Clintons – a market-leading boutique law firm. He represents a broad cross section of the most successful musical talent in the UK and Europe as well as advising many emerging artists on the pathways available in the modern music industry.

Bre McDermott-King

Trustee

With a passion for marketing, Bre has worked on a number of global artist campaigns. She is passionate about equality, diversity and inclusion, and was previously the Head of Sony Music UK's first ever diversity committee, HUE UK. In 2019, she launched a collective, Women Connect UK, which works to advocate for and provide opportunities for women and non-binary folk in the creative industries.

Charlotte Edgeworth

Youth Music Co-Chair

Charlotte is passionate about finding ways for organisations to have a positive impact on their communities, their employees and wider society.  

Starting her career in marketing and moving through the voluntary sector into Corporate Responsibility, Charlotte has worked across a variety of functions including Social Impact, DEI and Environmental Programmes. She is an expert in strategic grant-making and has led corporate foundations for global FTSE-listed organisations as well as having been CEO of a charity.

In 2021 Charlotte joined Sony Music UK as their first Director of Diversity, Inclusion and Social Impact. In this role she leads on community programmes, charity partnerships and embedding equitable and inclusive practices across the company.

Claire Wills

Trustee & Chair of F&A

Claire is an audit partner at Saffery LLP, a top 15 accountancy firm. She has more than 20 years’ experience and specialises in working with charities. Her client portfolio includes a number of arts charities as well as a wide range of other not for profit entities including grant makers and fundraising charities. Claire enjoys working with her clients to help them navigate a variety of challenges and opportunities. No two clients are ever the same.

Freddie Aitken

Trustee

Freddie works in Membership and EDI at London Youth Choirs. He also runs a DIY electronic music record label, hosts monthly radio shows, and DJs in his home city of London and around the UK. Alongside this, Freddie is a member of the first European Music Business Task Force and podcast show host for the Music Cities Network's "Music Industry Voices" podcast. 

Hanna Chalmers

Trustee

Hanna Chalmers has spent her career working in, and around the media, tech, music and entertainment industries. She spent nearly a decade at the BBC working with a wide research remit across the youth brands from Cbeebies to BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra. She then moved to Universal Music where she established and led the research and insights practice in the UK. In 2020 Hanna set up CultureStudio Research, a 'culture first' insights practice and collective operating out of London but working internationally.

Miri Buac

Trustee

Miri is a brand strategist and Head of Communications for a not-for-profit membership organisation. She has worked with an array of consumer brands and charities leading on creative and behaviour change projects. She’s passionate about youth culture, helping people share their lived experiences to influence societal change or help increase opportunities available to individuals and communities. Over the years, Miri has worked on the launch of Apple Music, implementing programmes with Sport England, Youth Sport Trust, and national governing bodies, and even whipped up a media storm(zy) about Youth Music. 

Paul Bonham

Trustee

With a background in public funding, diversity and inclusion, music management and professional development, one of Paul’s first paid jobs in the industry was running a Youth Music funded DJ and Rap project in his hometown of Oxford. Paul currently leads the Music Manager Forum's ground-breaking Accelerator supported by YouTube Music.