Milk & Honey Launches U.S. Scholarship For Female Writers and Producers (EXCLUSIVE)

Just weeks after announcing her arrival at Milk & Honey, Milly Petriella is spearheading an international program to elevate women in the writer and publisher spaces.

The full-service songwriter, producer, mixer and artist management company launches a U.S. scholarship, a mentoring initiative that connects aspiring professionals from Australia and New Zealand with A-listers in California for on-the-job experience.

Created by Lucas Keller, president and founder of Milk & Honey Music + Sports; Peter Coquillard, head of international at Milk & Honey, and Petriella, the new scholarship supports emerging female writers and producers to live, work and create in Los Angeles for two consecutive months, and should give recipients an edge in the workplace.

“This opportunity is a dream come true for any aspiring emerging female producer especially coming from Australia and New Zealand,” reads a statement from Milk & Honey.

Each scholarship will be paired with an experienced producer-writer client at the music company to mentor the recipient during a two-month residency in Los Angeles.

Participants will have “guaranteed access” to the Milk & Honey roster, and in-studio sessions during their SoCal stay.

The international project is one of the first launched by Petriella, APRA AMCOS’ ex-director of member relations at APRA AMCOS, whose priority at Milk & Honey is “developing a stronger female presence in the Australasian writer/producer community,” a statement reads.

(From Left To Right) Chelsea Warner, Oak Felder, Jenna Andrews and Milly Petriella

“Less than 20% of our industry is female and the number of women in production is considerably less, it’s time to create real experiences, connections, and provide financial support if we are to truly going to change the future landscape of the music industry,” comments Petriella, the firm’s newly appointed Australasian managing director.

“Those who have the resources and capacity can really step up and make a meaningful contribution.”

First up, Australian recipient Chelsea Warner will be paired with producer/songwriter Oak Felder (Demi Lovato, Lizzo, Kehlani, Alicia Keys, John Legend) and Jenna Andrews (BTS, Noah Cyrus, David Guetta).

Petriella started in her new role with Milk and Honey with effect from Oct. 1, following a 27-year-stint with APRA AMCOS.

In her new post, Petriella will concentrate on signing new and established talent to the Australasia division of the company, with a focus on developing and mentoring female producers, as well as expanding and supporting awareness of diversity within the songwriter and producer community, read a statement welcoming her to the company.

Based in Sydney, Petriella will also continue to represent the company’s top producers, writers and artists in the territory.

Milk & Honey is headquartered in Los Angeles and has offices in London, New York, Nashville, Dallas and and now Sydney, and counts 30 employees.

The music company and says it has sold over $150 million in music publishing catalog assets in the past couple of years.

Its roster includes songwriters and producers such as David Hodges, Oak Felder, Sir Nolan J. White Did It, Noah Goldstein and Jenna Andrews, as well as global DJs like Oliver Heldens and Benny Benassi.

The Milk & Honey U.S. Scholarship initiative kicks off February 2023.