Overarching criteria: 

• The Judging period for this year’s Women In Music Awards is from  August 2023 - June 2024
• All nominees / businesses must be based in the United Kingdom (except for International Woman of the Year)
• We welcome all women and female-identifying people. We are proud to be trans and genderqueer inclusive.

Rising Star

Nominees for the Rising Star award will be under 30 years old* and have been working fully in the industry (as a whole) for seven years or less (inclusive of full-time internships). The Rising Star award serves to highlight emerging female talent in the music business, across all disciplines and functions, except artists, who will be recognised via the New Artist Award.

Nominations should include details regarding:

- Exceptional Achievements: Please provide examples of exceptional achievements as part of this person’s role

- Consistent Contribution: Please include details of projects the nominee has contributed to, with examples of how their input ensured success.

Nominations should include case studies/examples of the above, and testimonials from her colleagues and/or clients in support of the nomination.

*Entrant needs to be under 30 by the end of the judging period (June 30, 2024)

Music Champion

The Music Champion Award shines a light on women working in a public-facing capacity who encourage the use of music as a force for change, inclusion, education or improvement. Nominees will be individuals who successfully occupy the space between the industry and the consumer, influencing the perception of the music industry by the rest of the world.

In particular, nominations should include details regarding:

- Positive promotion of music: The nominee’s involvement in positively promoting the music industry in the mainstream media via multiple channels and mediums

- Force for change: Evidence of the contribution of the nominee’s efforts to use music as a force for change, inclusion, education or improvement Nominations should include case studies/examples of the above, and testimonials from colleagues and/or clients in support of the nomination.

Music Creative – Spirit Of The Studio

sponsored by Downtown

The Music Creative Award recognises a woman who has made a significant contribution to the making of music behind the scenes, through songwriting, studio production, or studio technology.

This nominee should have demonstrated a commitment to the following ideals throughout their career/the qualifying period from August 2023 - June 2024:

- Exceptional Achievements: Please provide examples of exceptional achievements as part of this person’s role

- Consistent Contribution: Please include details of projects the nominee has contributed to, with examples of how their input ensured success.

- Campaigner: Proven examples of encouraging equality and changes in the culture towards women in the music industry on a global scale.

Campaigner

This is a special award for either an individual woman or women co-founders working for, or with, a music-related charity or similar organisation, or who has dedicated themselves to pushing for change, inclusion and acceptance within the music industry.

In particular, nominations should include details regarding the nominee’s commitment to:

- Campaign cause/impact: Evidence of a public commitment to raising awareness and impact of their campaign through a variety of platforms.

- Courage, dedication & passion: nominees should embody the values that they are campaigning for in their personal behaviour and brand.

Nominations should include case studies/examples of the above, and testimonials from colleagues and/or clients in support of the nomination.

Live Music Inspiration

The Live Music Inspiration Award recognises a woman who has made a significant contribution to the live music industry in the UK.

Nominations for individuals working across all disciplines and functions within the live/touring sector will be considered, but entries must demonstrate the nominee’s commitment to at least three of the following ideals throughout their career, and with particular reference to the qualifying period from August 2023 - June 2024:

- Exceptional Achievements: Please provide examples of exceptional achievements as part of this person’s role.

- Consistent Contribution: Please include details of projects the nominee has contributed to, with examples of how their input ensured success.

- Role Model: Mentoring, succession planning, pushing boundaries, ability to motivate others, relationship building with colleagues/employees, especially for other women.

DE&I Initiative of the Year

This category focuses not on an overall business or individual but a specific initiative from a business or organisation that has gone the extra mile to champion diversity and inclusion both internally and externally.

Nominated initiatives must be able to show evidence of demonstrable results to the following:

- Widespread Diversity – evidence of initiatives and policies that actively promote diversity, equality and inclusion of all kinds, including gender parity

- Equal Opportunities – evidence of a commitment to diversity and equality at all levels within the company, from board level through to entry-level

- Education & Evangelism – examples of how the initiative is leading the way in highlighting the benefits of diversity in business

Whichever aspect of diversity this nomination focuses on, the initiative must have delivered proven and demonstrable results towards improving diversity, equity and inclusion.

Nominations should include case studies/examples of the above, and testimonials from employees and/or clients in support of the nomination. . 

Businesswoman Of The Year

The Businesswoman Of The Year category is open to senior women working in the music industry in a commercial capacity. This is defined as someone who regularly brokers and concludes partnerships and deals involving the exchange of money for goods or services. They should have enjoyed considerable commercial success through the qualifying period from August 2023- June 2024.

They should have direct budget control of at least £500,000.

This woman should have demonstrated a commitment to the following ideals throughout the qualifying period from August 2023 - June 2024;

- Entrepreneurship: Founder/leader of a business, driving force behind success through pioneering approach, business acumen, dynamism, innovation, audacity, tenacity

- Financial Success: Sustained profitable business growth and healthy balance sheet with a minimum turnover of £3M in the most recent completed financial year

Nominations should include case studies/examples of this woman’s commercial success, and testimonials from her colleagues and/or clients in support of the nomination.
 

Entrepreneur Award

The Entrepreneur Award recognises a woman or women co-founders who have been the driving force in founding and/or building a business, displaying considerable innovation and success. Nominations for individuals/co-founders working in any sector of the music industry and at any stage of their career will be considered, but entries must demonstrate the following throughout their entrepreneurial career, and with particular reference to the qualifying period from August 2023 - June 2024.

- Entrepreneurship: Founder/leader of a business, driving force behind success through pioneering approach, business acumen, dynamism, innovation, audacity, tenacity

- Success: Identifying or developing a new market or generating considerable new value in existing markets through innovation, and evidence of substantial impact on that market.

- Vision: Evidence of understanding and capitalising on opportunities, taking risks, overcoming challenges

Nominations should include case studies/examples of this woman/women’s entrepreneurship and success, and testimonials from colleagues and/or clients in support of the nomination.

International Woman Of The Year

The International Woman Of The Year Award recognises a woman* who has made a global contribution to the music industry over the course of the qualifying period from August 2023 - June 2024.

This woman must be able to demonstrate a commitment to at least three of the following ideals throughout their career/the qualifying period:

- Entrepreneurship: Founder/leader of a business*, driving force behind success through pioneering approach, business acumen, dynamism, innovation, audacity, tenacity

- Financial Success: Sustained profitable business growth and healthy balance sheet with a minimum turnover of £500,000

- Corporate Social Responsibility: Genuine commitment to responsible and sustainable business practices such as environmental policies, employee benefits, workforce diversity, and community schemes/relationships

*Nominees/businesses must be based outside the United Kingdom
 

Special Recognition Award

The industry has many unsung heroes, and we want to celebrate those whose roles may not always take centre stage in the industry or necessarily be covered by the other categories at our ceremony. Introduced in 2023, the Special Recognition Award was conceived to honour an individual who has excelled in their chosen field – spanning any job in any sector of the industry – over a long period of time and who has made a critical and palpable difference to their company.          

Inspirational Artist
(no nominations taken)

sponsored by Vevo

The Inspirational Artist Award is for an artist who has had a stellar career over a long period of time. The winner of this category will have, or have had, a record deal, and will be a recognisable public face through both their music and their commitment to equality and female empowerment in music.

Nominations will not be taken for this category; the winner of the award will be selected by Music Week, AIM, WIN and UK Music.

New Artist Award

(no nominations taken)

The New Artist Award is for an up-and-coming artist who is using their initial success to draw attention to female empowerment and equality. The winner of this award does not have to have a record deal.

Nominations will not be taken for this category; the winner of the award will be selected by Music Week, AIM, WIN and UK Music.

Outstanding Contribution

(no nominations taken)

The Outstanding Contribution category aims to recognise a woman who has been working in the music industry for 10+ years, with considerable success and profile. The recipient will have demonstrably pushed the boundaries within their chosen field, and will have contributed positively to driving change and equality in music throughout their career in the music industry.

Nominations will not be taken for this category; the winner of the award will be selected by Music Week, AIM and UK Music in consultation with the expert judging panel.