As we approach the end of another tumultuous year alongside our partners, participants, collaborators and supporters, we reflect back on the challenges faced and our hopes for 2022 with Keychange Project Lead, Merle Bremer:

“Almost a year ago, I was working on my lines for my first ‘End of Year Message’ as Keychange Project Lead. At the time, I had been part of the team for just six weeks and was looking forward to 2021 full of expectations. I’m sure that was the case for many at the end of 2020 and now, a year later, many things were different than we would have expected. One line from last year was: We (...) hope to finally meet many people in person in the second half of the year (or earlier) - at the latest at the Full Network Meeting at Reeperbahn Festival in September 2021. That’s how it was - the first meeting took place at Reeperbahn Festival in September.

Let’s start at the beginning: The year kicked off with International Women’s Day on 8 March. Appropriately, we were able to secure EBU Music as a signatory of the Keychange pledge and discussed the (still missing) gender equality in radio. Although the first half of the year was once again marked by festival postponements or even cancellations, we were also happy to welcome a new festival partner to the Keychange network: Different Sounds from Poland. In the summer, we celebrated the 500th signatory of the Keychange pledge! This was incredibly motivating - especially in these pandemic years - to see so many recognise the need for gender equality and join the movement. Finally: Reeperbahn Festival and the first Full Network Meeting since January 2020. It was overwhelming to meet so many people finally in real life, to exchange ideas, to laugh, to talk. Most of it took place at the Gender Equality Hub that we organised together with TuneCore, who curated an incredible program for Keychange participants as well as other festival delegates. However, we also had to say goodbye. For Maxie Gedge, Reeperbahn Festival was the last event in her role as Project Manager for Keychange. Thank you once again for your outstanding and enriching work!

In the autumn, almost all the postponed festivals finally took place which kept Aysha, Francine, Marie and Mia from the Keychange team busy. At Linecheck in November, all partners met - digital or in person – and selected the Keychange participants that will take part in our talent development programme throughout 2022 (thank you to Linecheck for hosting this meeting!). Nothing else makes me look forward to next year so much and I look forward to meeting each and every one of them. It really wasn’t an easy choice as all the participants bring so much varied experience and incredible potential to the programme. I’m sure 2022 will be an exciting year with hopefully fewer postponements and no more cancellations - a Keychange year as it should be. I can’t wait. Until then: stay healthy, spend the holidays well - see you next year!”

- Merle Bremer / Keychange Project Lead