During the Music Week Women In Music Awards 2026, we inducted a host of trailblazing industry executives into the Roll Of Honour, in association with Live Nation Women.
They join a huge list of previous honourees, including some of the leading names from across the business like Kanya King, Emma Banks, Charisse Beaumont, Rebecca Allen, Stacey Tang, Laura Monks, Shani Gonzales and Mary Anne Hobbs, who have been selected since the awards began in 2014. The Roll Of Honour aims to shine a spotlight on the variety of individuals who are leading the charge in the music industry and consistently using their platforms to support women, or focus on empowerment and gender disparity.
Following the Women In Music Awards ceremony, Music Week is running Q&A interviews with all of this year’s Roll Of Honour inductees.
Metropolis Music’s Alexandra Ampofo has established herself as one of the UK's leading live music promoters over the past decade, building a career that spans international touring, community leadership and industry advocacy.
She began her career as an intern at Metropolis, working her way up through the business, first as a promoter assistant before becoming a promoter. Today, she leads campaigns for a diverse roster of international artists, working across everything from intimate club shows to major arena tours. Her career progression is testament to the value of perseverance, having advanced through every tier of the business, while developing a reputation for delivering impactful live events and establishing lasting global music relationships.
Alongside her work in live music, Ampofo is the co-founder of Women Connect, a community interest company established in 2018 to improve access to the music and entertainment industries for women and non-binary people. What started as a grassroots initiative has grown into a thriving community, delivering networking events, workshops, mentoring, wellbeing programmes and professional development opportunities that have supported hundreds of aspiring creatives and industry professionals.
Among Women Connect's flagship initiatives is Gig Lab, a live music training programme delivered in partnership with Lewisham Music. Designed to give aspiring promoters, marketers, tour managers and live event professionals vocational experience, the programme allows participants to produce a live show from concept to delivery while learning directly from established industry experts. Ampofo has always believed that access to experience, networks and practical opportunities is one of the most effective ways to create a more representative and sustainable music industry.
Ampofo’s commitment to championing others extends beyond her day-to-day role. She has served as an ambassador and mentor for The F List, supporting women and gender-diverse musicians through mentoring, community building and career development initiatives, while also helping to strengthen regional music communities. She previously spent six years leading Embrace Nation, Live Nation UK's employee resource group, delivering programmes, partnerships and cultural events that celebrated excellence and created opportunities for meaningful dialogue across the business. She continues to mentor emerging professionals, speak on industry panels and contribute to initiatives that encourage greater diversity across every part of the music industry.
Her work has been recognised through a number of industry honours, including being named on the BBC 1Xtra Future Figures list, receiving the GUAP Industry Professional of the Year Award and winning the ILMC Arthur Award for New Boss.
Whether promoting world-class live shows or creating opportunities through community-led initiatives, Ampofo has remained committed to opening doors for others and helping shape a music industry that is more accessible, inclusive and representative of the audiences and talent it serves.
How do you feel about joining the Roll Of Honour?
“I’m incredibly honoured to join such a great list of women who have achieved amazing things across the entertainment industry. So many of them have inspired my journey as a live music professional, so to have my own achievements recognised feels humbling and affirming. I’ve spent much of my career putting my head down, working hard and trying to make a positive contribution wherever I can, so moments like this really do mean a lot.”
How do you look back on your early years getting into the industry?
“If I’m candid, it wasn’t the easiest journey. Like a lot of people entering this industry, I struggled with imposter syndrome, confidence and belonging. The entertainment industry was unknown to me and I didn’t know much about the roles available. I owe a lot to the people who opened doors, answered my questions and gave me opportunities. That said, those early years were fun. I love learning – some of my best and most teachable moments happened then. It was all character building and has shaped so much of the person and professional I am today.”
Did you have a mentor at that stage?
“My first mentor was Jackie Davidson, who was inducted into the Women In Music Roll of Honour in 2020. I met Jackie when I was around 19 – well over 10 years ago. She was one of the first people to give me work experience in the music industry when I didn’t know much and I was still figuring out my path. I learned so much from her and she has remained a constant source of support to this day. Mentorship is incredibly valuable because sometimes you just need someone who can help you see what’s possible. Access to someone’s knowledge, experience and perspective saves you from feeling like you have to figure everything out alone. A good mentor doesn’t give you all the answers either; sometimes they simply ask the right questions, open a door, or give you the confidence to walk through one yourself.”
You’ve worked with a range of artists including Tyla, Amaarae, Shenseea, Gabzy, Bashy, Leigh-Anne, Tommy Richman and Enny. What has it been like to work across the breadth of Black music in the live space during your time in the business? Lots has been written about the recorded music achievements of artists from the scene during this period – but how have things changed up in the live space?
“It’s been quite an awakening. Although I was born in the UK, my heritage is Ghanaian, so there is a particular pride in seeing artists with similar backgrounds achieving incredible success outside of their home countries. Seeing more opportunities for Black artists across the diaspora to tour, headline bigger venues and build audiences internationally has been really encouraging. When I think back to where the live landscape was when I was entering the industry, the progress is significant. We were still operating in an environment where Form 696 [controversial risk-assessment document] existed in London, which faced years of criticism over concerns that it disproportionately affected Black music events. Its removal was an important moment, but it’s equally important we remember that history. There is still work to do, particularly around ensuring Black artists and executives have equitable opportunities as careers progress, but I’m proud to have witnessed and contributed to some of that evolution. Ultimately, art is made to be shared across the world, and I want to see even more Black artists given the infrastructure and opportunity to do exactly that.”
The conversation has to go beyond getting people through the door. We have to think about who can afford to stay, who progresses and who eventually gets to make decisions
Alexandra Ampofo, Metropolis Music
Why was it so important to you personally to found Women Connect, bearing in mind your already stacked day job? What was your goal with it and why was it needed? Likewise for Embrace Nation?
“I come from a community-led background – youth clubs, volunteering and charity work for as long as I can remember. It’s hard work, but it makes me happy knowing that I might be making even a tiny difference. That was the driving force behind starting Women Connect with my co-founder, Bre McDermott-King. When I was entering the industry, I was lucky to have a formidable woman in my corner, and Women Connect grew from wanting more of those opportunities for women and non-binary people. There is space for us all and there is strength in numbers. With Embrace Nation, which I led for six years, the goal was a community where employees could learn from and grow with one another. In a large business, so many paths never cross and therefore trying to form new relationships can be daunting. Creating a space where employees could meet, learn from each other and build their own ecosystem just made sense to me.”
With your work in those areas in mind, what’s the biggest challenge facing the live sector right now, in terms of accessibility to people from all backgrounds?
“One of the biggest challenges is making sure access at entry level translates into genuine progression and longevity. There has been progress, but the data shows there is still work to do, and socio-economic access is another important part of the conversation. That’s why the conversation has to go beyond getting people through the door. We have to think about who can afford to stay, who progresses and who eventually gets to make decisions. That means looking seriously at paid opportunities, mentorship, accessible recruitment, disability and health support, progression pathways and how we retain people once they’re in. Music has always been about community; it brings together people who may otherwise have very little in common, and the industry has to apply that same principle behind the scenes. No single organisation can solve every challenge, but if promoters, venues, agents, labels, artists and community organisations keep sharing resources and taking responsibility for the areas we can influence, meaningful change is absolutely possible.”
Can you share your biggest achievement so far?
“It’s probably Women Connect alongside my co-founder Bre McDermott-King and seeing it grow into what it is today. We built it ourselves, initially using our own money, personal connections and a lot of faith in what it could become. We wanted to create accessible, tangible and affordable opportunities for women and non-binary people in the entertainment industry. Over the years that has taken many forms – from workshops and mentoring, to conversations around mental health, period poverty, wellbeing and practical industry skills. I’m also proud of Gig Lab, an introductory live music programme designed to give women and non-binary creatives practical experience of how the live industry actually works, created in collaboration with Lewisham Music. We cover areas including promoting, booking artists, marketing, advancing and show-day operations, and the programme culminates in the cohort producing their own live showcase. There is so much talent out there, but talent needs access to information. Being able to create something that gives people a practical introduction to this world means a lot to me. And seeing people who have come through our programmes go on to build their own careers and communities is probably what makes me proudest.”
What advice would you offer young women about enjoying a successful career in music?
“Be kind, take risks and trust your gut. This industry is much smaller than it sometimes feels. How you treat people will always matter. You never know who you’ll work with again, so leading with kindness and respect is really important. Ask questions, stay curious and don’t be afraid of getting things wrong. Some of my biggest lessons have come from moments where things didn’t go exactly as planned.”
What’s the best advice you’ve ever had?
“We’re all here for a limited time, so make every moment a considered one and do things from the heart. Careers are important, but so are the people you meet, the experiences you have and how you make people feel along the way.”
Is there a young woman you'd like to shout out who you think is a rising star in the industry?
“I would love to shout out Celia Adesina at Metropolis Music. From the moment I met her, I’ve been excited about her journey in the live space. Celia is one of the most determined, intelligent and creative people I have ever come across, and she absolutely deserves her flowers for everything she has achieved in such a short space of time. She brings fresh ideas, curiosity and a brilliant energy to what she does – truly a breath of fresh air, and I’m really excited to see where her career takes her.”
Similarly, is there a young woman artist whose music you're enjoying right now/excited about?
“Solana! I think she is so creative, both with her sound and her visual styling. I really love that she pulls from different influences while still having such a clear sense of sonic identity. There’s something really refreshing about an artist who feels confident enough to experiment and build their own world around the music. I also love how she incorporates her Yoruba heritage into what she creates while still making it feel contemporary.”
Finally, what’s your biggest lesson from 2026 so far?
“Giving myself more time to heal from the physical and emotional impact of living with chronic illness. I’m a Type 1 diabetic and I also manage kidney disease, and although I may appear healthy from the outside, there are days when managing both is demanding. Chronic illness doesn’t stop when work gets busy and that’s been hard to accept. I’ve always been someone who likes to keep moving, so the biggest adjustment for me has been understanding that rest is necessary if I want to continue doing everything I care about. I’m learning to listen to my body sooner, rather than waiting until it forces me to stop. I’m still learning to find that balance, but I’ve become much more intentional about giving my health the same care and attention I naturally give everything else in my life.”
