12th Annual She Rocks Awards at NAMM 2024

On January 25th the Anaheim Convention Center ballroom was rocked by the Women’s International Music Network (WiMN) She Rocks Awards. The group was founded in 2012 by Laura B. Whitmore to create a support system for women in the Music Industry and honor them via the annual awards presented with support by the NAMM Foundation. (See MJ Vol. 28, Iss. 25, 23-30 June, 2022).

Whitmore welcomed everyone to “her party” and acknowledged the past honorees in the audience. She shared, “We’ve given out 137 awards and will be adding to that tonight, a journey of extraordinary inspiration. You are in the company of exceptional women who not only shape the present but ignite a spark that fuels others to do the same. These women embody true leadership. Tonight is not just a celebration, it’s a call to action. The 2023 Global Gender Gap Report by the World Economic Forum showed the pace of gender equality is back to 2019 levels. At the current pace it will take until 2154 to achieve equality. We are elevating the voices of women in the industry and unlocking a reservoir of untapped creativity to foster an industry marked by innovation and inclusivity. We are dismantling barriers and constructing a music landscape with equity, dynamism, and a genuine representation of the multifaceted voices within our diverse community.” She thanked the NAMM Foundation for being a supportive partner to champion Women in Music and bringing the She Rocks Awards to the convention center.

Whitmore introduced the co-hosts Susanna Hoffs (Bangles) and AIJIA (Los Angeles based singer-songwriter, NBC’s Songland). Special presenters were Lyndsey Parker and Adam Weissler. 

The She Rocks 2024 Honorees are:

Debbie Gibson – the youngest artist to write, produce and perform a number one hit for the past 30 years, and celebrating 35th anniversary of her LP Electric Youth.

Lindsey Stirling – groundbreaking electronic violinist, dancer, and artist with 13.7 million subscribers and listed by Forbes at #4 in 2015.

Bonnie McIntosh – keyboardist for Post Malone, and has worked with Halsey, Kehlani, Melanie Martinez, and Selena Gomez. She is a Roland Artist.

Britt Lightning – lead guitarist for the all-female Platinum selling ‘80s rock band Vixen and the Musical Director at first women’s Rock ‘N’ Roll Fantasy Camp.

Kelsy Karter – Australian singer, songwriter, musician, and the frontwoman of Kelsy Karter & The Heroines, who sported a faux tattoo of Harry Styles on her face as a promo for her breakout hit, “Harry.”

Holly G – writer and Founder of the Black Opry and Black Opry Records, champion for artists of color, to amplify the voices of those left out. (Only 19 black artists played on country radio and three are women.)

Sylvia Massy – multi-platinum producer for Tool, System of a Down, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Johnny Cash, and Prince, with over 25 Gold and Platinum records. She is a best-selling author and entrepreneur.

Lindsay Love-Bivens – Artist and Community Relations Manager for Taylor Guitars with an emphasis on BIPOC community. She is a performing artist, guitar player, and worked at Taylor in guitar production and repair.

Melinda Newman – Billboard’s Executive Editor for the West Coast and Nashville, for over 25 years. She also writes for The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, Forbes and others. She won the 2020 CMA Media Achievement Award.

Laura Karpman – Oscar Award-nominated film composer and the first female Governor in the Music Branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. She has won five Emmys, a Grammy, and a Critic’s Choice Award.

Jamie Deering – CEO of Deering Banjos, which was founded by her parents Greg and Janet Deering. The company is a family-owned-and-operated American business for 48 years, with all Deering, Vega, Tenbrooks and Goodtime Banjos, and ProPiks being manufactured under the same roof in Spring Valley, California.

Many honorees credited their mother, women friends, bandmates, fans, and prior women in music for supporting their career. In the acceptance speech by Lightning, everyone affirmed, “Let’s normalize girls dreaming of being rock stars.” 

Live music performances were by Hoffs, Kelsy Karter & The Heroines, Karpman, AIJIA, Billie Feather, Lightning, and Gibson. The opening music act was PRS Guitars international touring artist Jimena Fosado with her trio.

The WiMN is an all-volunteer organization. Event sponsors: NAMM, PRS Guitars, Positive Grid, Monster Energy, Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Foundation, Reverb.com, Roland, Boss, Taylor Guitars, Exploration.io, Martin Guitar, Fishman, D’Addario, Ernie Ball, Freeman, Shure, Berklee Online, M.A.C. Cosmetics, 108 Rock Star Guitars, Sennheiser, Seymour Duncan, D’Angelico, AmpRx, EarthQuaker Devices, WRiiG, DW Drums, Cuccio, DiGiCo, SESAC, Hudson Audio Works, Rafter Marsh, TrueFire, The Sweet Taunts, Billboard, Guitar Girl Magazine, The Hollywood Times, Music Connection Magazine, Spin, and AXS TV. 

411: www.thewimn.com