Inspiration Award – The Shortlist is Set!
For the first time ever, we announced a global call for nominations for the Keychange Inspiration Award!
The Award honours and celebrates women and gender-diverse people who have made an extraordinary and pioneering contribution to the music industry. The award winners are our role models for the next generation, and for the Keychange network of talented artists and industry professionals.
Previously selected by Keychange partners, this year we’ve decided to shake things up a bit and look to our Keychange followers and community worldwide.
Now the Shortlist is set and we are proud to present our potential Award Winners:
Beril Sarıaltun is a musician, sound designer, and producer based in Istanbul, Türkiye. She is the founder of Kreşendo, a social enterprise transforming music into a platform for expression, inspiration, and inclusivity. Kreşendo supports musicians in their creative processes, curates special projects, and fosters a vibrant community through its annual festival, Bu Festival Bizim.
As the CEO of The Bank, Jakob Sørensen is committed to pushing boundaries—not just in business, but also in society. He actively engages in political discussions, particularly in media policy and gender politics, believing that industry leaders have a responsibility to influence the structures that shape our world.
Nicky Böhm is a cultural organizer based in Berlin. She serves as Vice Chair at Lilipad, a nonprofit providing multilingual libraries and educational experiences for displaced children, and leads community social arts projects at Refuge Worldwide, where she also hosts a radio show exploring diasporic storytelling.
Mary Otumahana is a artist, social entrepreneur, and community leader committed to creating opportunities for young people in music. She founded The RecordShop, a grassroots music space in Haringey, to provide free studio sessions, workshops, performance opportunities, and work experience for 11-25-year-olds.
Mélanie Gourvès is the director of Les Catherinettes, a collective dedicated to preventing sexual violence in the music industry. Through training, advocacy, and direct intervention, the team works to make festivals and venues safer and more inclusive. Since 2020, Les Catherinettes has collaborated with over 70 organizations—including festivals, cultural institutions, and music professionals—to develop safety protocols, survivor support strategies, and training programs tailored to the realities of the industry.
Women In Live Music (WILM) is a European non-profit organisation for women and like-minded peers working backstage in Production, Logistics and Technical. The organisation was founded Dec.2017 and consists of more than 8.000 members.
Passionate about equality and diversity, Maiju Talvisto serves as Co-Director of Shesaid.so Finland and advises the Arts Promotion Centre Finland on popular music and festivals. Throughout her career, Maiju has played a key role in shaping artist relations and production processes at major festivals like Pori Jazz and Flow Festival.
We Make Noise harnesses the power of music and technology to advance global gender equity, equipping our communities with tools that cultivate limitless potential. We blend music creation, technology training, community building, and career development to instill the mindset and skills needed for success in the music industry and beyond.
The winner will be announced at Tallinn Music Week in April.
