Music Week is delighted to announce that Girls I Rate is returning as an event partner at the Women In Music Awards, hosting its Mentor Me Conversation series.
This year’s edition of the hugely popular daytime ceremony will take place on Friday, October 9, 2026 at JW Marriott Grosvenor House London. Bookings are open here.
This year sees Mentor Me brought to life again, as Carla Marie Williams MBE, founder of Girls I Rate and an award-winning songwriter interviews a range of artists and executives about their careers.
The conversations, filmed on the day of the event, will be available to watch back on Music Week’s social media platforms.
Founded in 2016, Girls I Rate is a movement that pushes for gender equality, representation and opportunities for women working in the music and creative industries, with a particular focus on addressing systemic inequality for women of colour. Today, it continues its mission with a dedicated online platform, monthly virtual mentoring sessions, songwriting camps and wider industry events.
Since 2021, Girls I Rate has run a partnership with Music Week called Mentor Me, which spotlights women working in the creative industries and asks them to share their top career tips.
Last year, Mentor Me Conversations saw Williams sit down with Inspirational Artist winner Skin from Skunk Anansie, Leigh-Anne and more leading female creatives. You can revisit all the action here.
Williams said: “We’re delighted to be bringing Girls I Rate’s Mentor Me Conversations back to the Music Week Women in Music Awards for a second year. Our relationship with Music Week has grown over a number of years, and it feels really special to continue building something that puts women’s voices, experiences and journeys at the heart of the day.
If you’re attending the awards this year, or there’s a woman you rate who’ll be in the room, put them forward
Carla Marie Williams MBE
“I’ll be sitting down with some incredible women from across music for honest, insightful conversations about their careers, the industry and what they’ve learned along the way. We’d love to see Mentor Me Conversations become an annual part of the Music Week Women In Music awards, creating a space where women can share their stories and the next generation can learn from them.”
The winner of the Campaigner award at Women In Music 2021 added: “If you’re attending the awards this year, or there’s a woman you rate who’ll be in the room, put them forward. We’d love to hear who you think should be part of the conversation.”
Last year’s sold-out ceremony marked another triumph as we celebrated 11 years of the event, with a host of top names from across the global music business in attendance.
Winners included New Artist winners Alt Blk Era, Mofe Soy, Satellite414 senior entertainment publicist, being presented with the Rising Star award by PinkPantheress, and Isabel Garvey, Warner Music’s outgoing COO at the time, presented with the Outstanding Contribution award by her friend and former EMI exec Baroness Hazarika. Take a look back at the awards action here.
To put forward women for the Mentor Me Conversations at Music Week Women In Music 2026, please contact charlotte.krol@futurenet.com
To learn more about Girls I Rate and get in touch, please contact info@girlsirate.com
For enquiries about table or seat bookings, please contact Kate Smith, customer relations manager: kate.smith@futurenet.com
For more information on Music Week Event sponsorship opportunities please contact Lawrence Cook at lawrence.cooke@futurenet.com
