"Time's Up" sign held aloft at women's march in January
Naomi is celebrated on the shesaid.so Alternative Power 100 Music List for her work leading the MU’s Safe Space initiative. With a programme of open meetings across the UK, a confidential email reporting service, and practical advice for musicians wherever they work, Naomi brought musicians together to share their experiences, discuss practical ways of creating change, and make change happen.
She is honoured alongside the founder of the #MeToo movement Tarana Burke, Palestinian DJ and electronic music producer SAMA, and gal-dem founder Liz Little.
Previous honourees include Annie Mac, Bjork, Chi-chi Nwanoku OBE, Grace Jones, Mary Anne Hobbs, MNEK, and Suzanne Bull MBE.
MU Deputy General Secretary Naomi Pohl said:
“As a long-standing member of shesaid.so, I’m so thrilled and grateful to have been selected for this alternative list of industry folk who’ve contributed to or fostered community in some way. It is an exciting time to work in music, despite the many challenges we face collectively.
“The Musicians’ Union is in great shape and campaigning harder than ever on behalf of musicians. I’m pleased that the work my colleagues and I are doing has been recognised. I will shortly be returning to the MU after my maternity leave with a renewed sense of vigour.”
MU General Secretary Horace Trubridge said:
“Naomi works tirelessly to expose sexual harassment and bullying where it exists in the music industry and to enable victims to share their experiences without fear. We are absolutely delighted to see Naomi’s name on the Alternative Music Power 100 List.”
No-one should experience or fear sexual harassment, abuse, bullying or discrimination on campus or at work. If you have, whatever your role in the music industry, you can report it in confidence to safespace@theMU.org.