The 501(c)3 non-profit Women In Music has announced the addition of new Advisory Board members and Ambassadors to the organization to continue their mission in advancing equality, visibility and opportunities for women in the musical arts through education, support, empowerment and recognition.
2023 WIM Ambassadors
Rapsody — In the saturated market of music and entertainment, consumers live with a constant craving for outliers and one-of-ones. In the sphere of hip-hop, Rapsody is that outlier. The Jamla/Roc Nation artist has spent the better part of the present decade lapping peers and counterparts while mesmerizing fans whom still prefer their rhymes detailed and nutritious. The Snow Hill, North Carolina native has more than held her own alongside greats like Kendrick Lamar, Black Thought and the late Mac Miller (in 2011, she toured with Miller on his Incredibly Dope Tour). She has been broadcasted and hailed by media giants — from NPR to USA Today to TIME Magazine to BET (2013’s Hip Hop Cypher) to NBC (The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, 2015). In 2014, XXL named her one of the 20 Greatest Female Rappers of All Time. The following year, Dr. Dre crowned her his “favorite female emcee.” In 2018, The Netflix/Mass Appeal 8 part documentary series, RAPSURE, Rapsody is featured as the only female artist and role model in Episode 6. She toured with Big K.R.I.T. in 2019 and hit the road in 2020 for a tour to support her latest album Eve.
The North Carolina native called the tour “A Black Woman Created This” continuing the theme of her sophomore LP of Black women empowerment. All of her hard work paid off as BET recognized her as the “Lyricist of the Year” at the 2020 Hip Hop Awards. Later in 2020, she was featured in Stevie Wonder’s song “Can’t Put It In The Hands of Fate”. Rapsody is one the hosts for Revolt’s show “Off Top” alongside Tiger. This 4x Grammy Award winner is also active in philanthropy and plays an important role with social justice and social empowerment.
Faryal Khan-Thompson — Faryal recently joined CD Baby (part of Downtown Music Holdings) as Senior Vice President of Marketing & Community Engagement where she will oversee brand and growth marketing, international expansion and artist education and engagement. She previously served as TuneCore’s Vice President of International, where she led the brand’s growth and expansion into 30+ markets during her tenure, which included scaling operations, product localization and revenue growth . She has a professional background that spans the areas of Localization, Marketing, International Growth Strategy, Operations and Partnerships. She is also an independent artist manager and the 2023 recipient of the inaugural WIM Canada Honours International Leader of the Year Award. Faryal is passionate about creating a diverse music ecosystem and creating more opportunities specifically for women and BIPOC communities. She is thrilled to become an Ambassador for Women in Music, where she can help drive this critical agenda forward.
“Behind every successful woman, is a tribe of other successful women who have her back. As an ambassador for Women In Music, I am honored to be a part of that tribe, supporting and uplifting women in the industry every step of the way.”
Amy Davidman — Amy Davidman is a veteran agent with more than 20 years’ experience in the music business. She began her career at the legendary Bowery Ballroom and went on to work with esteemed David Lefkowitz Management before focusing on the live business working at High Road Touring before becoming an agent at The Windish Agency and then Paradigm.
In 2020, a year defined by the global pandemic, Amy launched TBA, a new independent agency as a founding partner. TBA gained instant recognition from the likes of Billboard, Pitchfork, Variety and more being hailed as a new era of agency, marking “the beginning of the deconsolidation of corporate agencies” according to Pollstar’s cover story.
Independently Amy has been featured in Rolling Stone, Pollstar, The LA Times, Billboard’s 2020 Pride List, Music Business Worldwide’s Inspiring Women Series, and made Billboard’s 2021, 2022, and 2023 International Power Player Lists and has appeared on panels and as a guest speaker at conferences and universities including International Entertainment Buyers Association (IEBA), Wavelengths: Global Music Conference, Folk Alliance: Folk Unlocked, Women In Music: Driving Change, Women In Music: Know Your Worth, Pollstar: The Future of Live, The International Live Music Conference (ILMC), The Clive Davis Institute at NYU’s Tisch School of Music, and UCLA’s Herb Alpert School of Music. She also designed and moderated a panel for SXSW 2022 called “Making Live Music Sexual Harassment Free”.
She brings deep experience in several genres and represents artists including Pink Martini, Resistance Revival Chorus, Hiatus Kaiyote, José González, Cut Copy, Caribou, Ana Tijoux, Helado Negro, Boy Pablo, Cuco, Bebel Gilberto, Ed Maverick, Tirzah, Madame Gandhi and more.
“Women In Music is the community I go to for everything — advice, referrals, mentors, and mentees. I can’t imagine a music industry without this amazing space for us to share, learn and grow in.”
Dina Marto — Dina Marto is a seasoned entrepreneur, having shattered gender and ethnic glass ceilings during her over 20 years as a music executive and small business owner. She founded Atlanta staple Twelve Music & Studios in 2012 and curated one of the South’s most sought-after creative environments to develop talent and produce Billboard-shattering hits. Previously, she served on the A&R team for music mogul Antonio “L.A.” Reid at Island Def Jam, acting as A&R coordinator for albums by Young Jeezy, Nas, Rick Ross, Janet Jackson, LL Cool J and more throughout a six-year period. She has managed a hand-selected group of talent, as well as consults emerging and established artists. Currently, Dina is on the management team for superstar Tip “T.I.” Harris and helped launch his popular podcast “expediTIously” which became #1 on Apple Podcasts. Additionally, Dina has partnered with marketing guru Courtney Rhodes to form C & D The Agency in 2020; an all women-led management agency dedicated to empowering minority women. In 2015, Dina received a Proclamation from the City of Atlanta for her contributions to the music industry. She served as the Vice-Chair of Events for the Women In Music Atlanta Chapter for four years and was on the Creative Industries Board for Invest Atlanta. Presently, Dina has been appointed as a board member for the Georgia Entertainment Caucus. Dina is a proud Palestinian who was born in Amman, Jordan and grew up in Marietta, Georgia. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Oglethorpe University.
“I helped launch the WIM Atlanta Chapter and served as the Vice-Chair of Events for four years, so it is a pleasure to be able to continue to work with Women In Music as an Ambassador. I am thrilled to support this incredible organization, which also aligns with my personal passion of empowering women leaders and executives.”
Adriana Arce — Miami born and raised, Adriana Arce is the Vice President at REBEL where she manages Lil Nas X, and previously Miley Cyrus for a decade. Prior to being on the business side of entertainment, she was a full time artist and musician, having been awarded a singing scholarship to the top global music school, Berklee College of Music. She is on the board of Forbes Magazine 30 Under 30 where she has been honored for her contributions in music.
“We still have so much further to go in providing more opportunities for women and minority people across entertainment. It’s not enough to hire. We need to seek, advocate, educate, and promote within these structures. I’m incredibly inspired by the next generation of talent coming up in our business. As a creative industry, we need all unique perspectives seated at the table, with equal opportunities to head the table.”
2023 WIM Advisory Board Members
Lauren Apolito — Executive Vice President, Strategy & Business, Rumblefish
Nikisha Bailey — General Manager, NVAK Collective
Erin Barra — Director of Popular Music, Arizona State University; Executive Director, Beats by Girlz
Cindy Charles — Head of Licensing & Industry Relations, Twitch
Liz Cimarelli — COO / Head of Business Development, Cosynd
Alex Flores — Executive Vice President, Music, Hello Sunshine
Maureen Ford — President of National Sales, Live Nation
Ali Harnell — President & Chief Strategy Officer, Live Nation Women at Live Nation
Ariel Hyatt — Founder, Cyber PR & Cyber PR Music
Lauren Iossa — CMO & EVP, ASCAP
Sari Kohen — Head of Partner Marketing, Melio
Bea Koramblyum — Global Head of Business Affairs, Downtown Music Publishing
Linda Lorence–Critelli — Assistant Professor II, Arts & Entertainment Industries Management, Rider University. [Formerly; VP SESAC, President/Trustee NY Recording Academy, Board of Songwriters Hall of Fame, President WIM, Co-Founder NYC3]
Molly Neuman — CMO, Downtown Music Holdings
Mayna Nevarez — CEO, Nevarez Communications
Jennifer Newman Sharpe — General Counsel & Head of Legal and Business Affairs, Exceleration Music
Jessica Sobhraj — CEO, Cosynd
Monika Tashman — Partner, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP
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ABOUT WOMEN IN MUSIC
Founded in 1985, Women in Music is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization with a mission to advance the awareness, equality, diversity, heritage, opportunities, and cultural aspects of women in the musical arts through education, support, empowerment, and recognition. Today, Women in Music encompasses chapters across the globe — from LA to India. Our members are a diverse group of individuals at all stages in their careers — from students to seasoned industry veterans. We are record label executives, artist managers, songwriters, musicians, attorneys, recording engineers, agents, publicists, studio owners, music publishers, marketers, and more. Women in Music believes that the conversation around equality is an inclusive one, where all voices are welcome. Our panels, seminars, webinars, workshops, performance showcases, achievement awards, leadership summits, and global initiatives serve the needs of our diverse communities around the world. For more information, visit womeninmusic.org.
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