The She Rocks Awards concludes another year, and the first with presenting partner NAMM, of honoring groundbreaking women and innovators from across the music and audio industries.
The night was kicked off with an electrifying performance by PRS Guitars international touring artist Jimena Fosado, followed by opening remarks from Women’s International Music Network and She Rocks Awards founder Laura Whitmore.
The night proceeded with inspiring speeches from a diverse group of honorees including Holly G, the founder of Black Opry and Black Opry Records, who spoke on the importance of communities like Women’s International Music Network to amplify underrepresented voices. Multi-platinum-selling producer Sylvia Massy spoke on her work with a group of Iranian female musicians, and reminded the crowd of the work that needs to be done to end oppression, not just here in the United States but around the world. Composer Laura Karpman, who made history last week by being only the fifth female composer to be nominated for an Oscar for her work on American Fiction, encouraged the audience to keep working towards their dreams however impossible they may seem, and explained that progress is not always linear. “Things are not upwards, they are not sideways; it goes up and down and backwards and forwards.” In her moving acceptance speech honoree Lindsey Stirling went on to say that “events like this are so important because the idea that there are only so many places for women at the table becomes archaic. When women stand together and celebrate one another and we state that if there is only one chair at this table I will bring up another one, I will make more room.”
The night was rounded out by incredible performances by AIJIA, Susanna Hoffs, Kelsy Karter & the Heroines, Britt Lightning, Laura Karpman performing a piece from the score of American Fiction, and She Rocks Trailblazer honoree Debbie Gibson, who had the crowd, and her devoted group of” Deb-Heads'' out of their seats, and dancing in the aisle to a medley of her hits that included “Out of the Blue,” “Electric Youth,” “Shake Your Love,” “Only in My Dreams” and more. The show was streamed live on AXS TV’s YouTube channel, Spin Magazine’s social media channels, and the NAMM+ app and can be viewed in full on the She Rocks YouTube channel.
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