QMusic targets industry gender gap with new mentoring program

Queensland’s peak music association has launched the Women in Music mentoring program.

Currently, only 28% of women hold a senior industry position.

In comparison, 54% of female high school students are studying music.

“Our industry is undergoing rapid change,” says QMusic general manager Kim Pengelly.

“Providing support for women to be at the forefront of remaking the music business is not just a good thing to do, but something that will make us stronger as we welcome a broader range of skills, opinions and experiences into the tapestry of what supports Australian music.”

Women in Music will provide mentees with the right resources to inspire them and improve their skills and provide a vast amount of networking opportunities with women in leadership roles.

This program is designed completely by women for women.

The association wants to, address the appalling statistics found in a recent study by APRA AMCOS and RMIT – that 50% of women feel their gender has negatively impacted their career.

Only 1% of men felt the same.

Minister for employment and small business Shannon Fentiman hailed QMusic as a well-deserved recipient of one of the Palaszczuk government’s Advancing Women in Business grants in what is an important and growing industry for business development.

“You can’t be what you can’t see, so having more women supporting each other through participation in a focused mentoring program for the music business will encourage more women to give it a go,” said the minister.

“Apply for a mentorship or a scholarship to enhance their business capability and look at how we can get more women stepping up into the world of owning and running their own business.”

Mentors aboard for the inaugural program span a variety of specialty areas including change management, public speaking, marketing, tourism and export management.

It will take place in early 2019, mentees will be given the opportunity to determine their mentorships, choosing learning opportunities to increase their skills.

Included in this program, mentees will prepare an investment pitch with a pool of $16,000 to be distributed across eight mentees for further professional development.

Applications close January 13, 2019 via QMusic.