Overarching criteria: 

• The Judging period for this year’s Women In Music Awards is from  August 2025 - June 2026
• 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.

Nominations Taken

Businesswoman Of The Year

Sponsored by Musixmatch

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 2025- June 2026.

This woman should have demonstrated a commitment to the following ideals throughout the qualifying period from August 2025 - June 2026;

• 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 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.

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.

DE&I Initiative Of The Year

Sponsored by BPI

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. 

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. 

This woman must be able to demonstrate a commitment to at least two 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

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 2025 - June 2026:

• 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.

Music Champion

The Music Champion Award shines a light on women working in a public-facing capacity who act as a trusted tastemaker, guiding fans to discover new music and inspire passion for artists. 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. Only work within the following disciplines will be considered: broadcasting (radio, TV, podcasting), journalism, and musical editorial voices at DSPs.

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

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 2025 - June 2026:

• 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.

Partnership Award (New for 2026)

Another new category for 2026, the Partnership Award celebrates the power of teamwork. The category is open to a collective of two to three women working in the music industry who have excelled as a team in their chosen field, be it through entrepreneurial, business or charity endeavours. This may include business partners, co-MDs/presidents, co-founders, artist/manager partners.

These women should have demonstrated a commitment to at least one of the following ideals throughout the qualifying period from August 2025 - June 2026;

• Entrepreneurship: Founders/leaders of a business, driving force behind success through pioneering approach, business acumen, dynamism, innovation, audacity, tenacity
• Campaign cause/impact: Evidence of a public commitment to raising awareness and impact of their campaign through a variety of platforms.
• Financial Success: Sustained profitable business growth and healthy balance sheet in the most recent completed financial year

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. *Entrant needs to be under 30 by the end of the judging period (June 30, 2026)

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.

Special Recognition: Unsung Hero

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 – for a minimum of 20 years or longer, and who has made a critical and palpable difference to their company.

Women In Music Roll Of Honour

The Women In Music Roll Of Honour was established in 2014, and now has over 180 members. Every year a select group of women are inducted into the Roll Of Honour in recognition of their work for the music industry. Nominees for any of the above awards are automatically also considered for the Roll of Honour, however, nominations can also be made solely for the Roll Of Honour.

The Roll Of Honour aims to highlight the breadth, depth and variety of individuals who are ‘game changers’ in the music industry, with one common theme; they are either female, or their activities consistently benefit women, or focus on female empowerment/gender disparity.

Nominations Not Taken

Artist Impact (New for 2026)

The brand new Artist Impact Award has been conceived to complement our pre-existing artist categories: Rising Star and Inspirational Artist. The award will celebrate an artist who has blazed a unique trail in the judging year and cut through the noise to make a profound impact on the music industry – be it through commercial success, campaign work, artistic excellence or a combination of all of the above. As with our other two artist categories, the winner will be a recognisable public face through both their music and their commitment to equality and female empowerment in music.

New Artist Award

Sponsored by PRS for Music and PRS Foundation

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.

Inspirational Artist

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.

Outstanding Contribution

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.

The Music Week Women In Music Awards are curated by the Music Week editorial team in conjunction with the Women In Music founders, steering committee and judging panel. The Music Week editorial team exercises editorial discretion in assessing all entries against the published criteria. Music Week reserves full editorial discretion to ensure the Music Week Women In Music Awards maintain the highest standards of integrity and excellence. Music Week's recipient selection and event production decisions are final.