Keychange aims to accelerate change and create a better, more inclusive music industry for present and future generations. Photo: Shutterstock.
Keychange is a pioneering international initiative, which aims to transform the future of music by encouraging festivals and music organisations to achieve at least 50% women and gender-diverse individuals in their programming, staffing and beyond.
Over 300 exceptional women and gender-diverse artists and industry professionals have already been empowered through Keychange Talent Development Programmes so far, covering 13 countries in Europe, Canada and the U.S. This year, a further 42 participants based in 25 countries will also be supported.
Keychange aims to accelerate change and create a better, more inclusive music industry for present and future generations.
The Programme is a revolutionary coming together of ideas, expertise and knowledge
The Keychange Talent Leadership Programme is a six-month Creative Europe-funded training programme, and is aimed at women and gender-diverse individuals, who are future leaders and agents of change.
It builds on the movement’s nearly decade of work in the music industry, galvanizing organisations, institutions and companies to make space for an intersectional gender approach that will achieve a more equitable and inclusive music ecosystem.
The Programme will kick off at with a full network meet-up at Tallinn Music Week (a showcase festival and conference in Estonia) on 2 April 2025, where participants will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the innovative and invigorating programme, focusing on leadership, social change design, entrepreneurship, innovation, and DEIA (diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility) best practices.
Christina Hazboun, Advocacy and Knowledge Manager for Keychange at PRS Foundation says: “The Talent Leadership Programme is a revolutionary coming together of ideas, expertise and knowledge that will light the path of collaboration and exchanges between the new participants, who bring forth such rich and varied backgrounds and a wealth of expertise”.
MU Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I) Officer joins 2025 cohort
The MU congratulates Dr Diljeet Bhachu, the Union’s ED&I Officer, who is one of the 42 participants selected for this year’s Talent Leadership Programme. She will join the cohort at Tallinn Music Week next month to kickstart six months of training, and says:
“I’m really excited and grateful to Keychange EU, Creative Europe and PRS Foundation, for this opportunity to develop my career and progress our work at the MU through the learning I’ll bring back.
“Since joining the MU in 2022 I’ve been developing ideas, including some from my days as a member activist, and look forward to bringing them to life in the months and years ahead, to make our Union and the music industries a better place. The rest of the cohort are so incredible and inspiring, it’s an honour to be amongst them.”
View the full 2025 cohort and learn more about the Programme.