Symphonic Distribution, a music distributor and technology provider, has announced the launch of its third annual Women Empowered+ mentorship program, aiming to bridge the gender gap in the music industry by connecting aspiring female music industry professionals with established executives for half a year of guidance and support.
Following the program’s success in previous years, Symphonic has assembled a diverse group of mentors, including industry leaders from Amazon Music, Meta and ASCAP. These experts bring a wealth of experience across various sectors of the music business, offering mentees insights into areas like streaming strategy, marketing, and artist development.
Mentors participating in the third year of the program include Ana Martínez (Senior Label & Artist Relations Manager, Latin Global, Amazon Music), Fernanda Bas (Strategic Partner Manager, Music Label Partnerships, Meta), Kate Cordova (Senior Director, ASCAP), Portia Sabin (President, Music Business Association), Paola Vacca (Cámara de Comercio de Bogotá), and Jessica Sobhraj (CEO, Cosynd).
Additional mentors from Sony Music Publishing, SiriusXM + Pandora, Beatport, SoundCloud, Music Managers Forum-US, and more are also participating.
“We are incredibly proud of the continued growth of our mentorship program and to be kicking off another exciting year,” said Janette Berrios, VP, Corporate Marketing, Symphonic Distribution.
“This program not only creates a space for professional development but also fosters genuine support that can help women and other diverse genders navigate through our industry, something I wish I had when I was just getting started in the music industry and as a Latina.”
Janette Berrios, Symphonic Distribution
“It’s incredibly gratifying to have so many new executives on board this year who share our passion for mentorship. This program not only creates a space for professional development but also fosters genuine support that can help women and other diverse genders navigate through our industry, something I wish I had when I was just getting started in the music industry and as a Latina.”
Now in its third iteration, the program has so far connected 165 mentors from various music industry companies with 340 mentees spanning regions including the US, Mexico, Latin America, South America, Europe, and Africa.
Selections for mentors and mentees will be finalized in April, followed by introductions, with mentor-mentee interactions scheduled to occur at least once a month for the next six months, either virtually or in person.
Symphonic will also conduct a kickoff call in April to review best practices, a midpoint check-in in July for progress assessment and potential recalibration, and a final wrap-up meeting in November for reflections on the program’s outcomes and learnings.
“The Symphonic Women Empowered+ Mentorship Program has been an awesome experience. I am so grateful to have been connected with my mentor, Maria! She has provided me with invaluable advice from her work and life experiences, helping me shape the next step in my career.”
Stephanie Falvo Liang, Smule
Stephanie Falvo Liang, Senior Manager, Artist Relations and Business Development, Smule, a previous mentee under the program, said: “The Symphonic Women Empowered+ Mentorship Program has been an awesome experience.
“I am so grateful to have been connected with my mentor, Maria! She has provided me with invaluable advice from her work and life experiences, helping me shape the next step in my career. Maria really has gone above and beyond to support me. I look forward to continuing our mentor/mentee relationship!”
Symphonic Distribution, the program’s host, offers content management and distribution platforms, global royalty collection and split payment services. It also provides label services to independent labels, managers, and artists.
Established in 2006 by music producer Jorge Brea, Symphonic has a presence in locations including Los Angeles, Miami, Canada, Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Spain, Ireland, and Africa.
The company aims to be a “true alternative” to traditional labels, Brea said in late 2022. The company is among the founding members of ‘Music Fights Fraud’, a global task force “aimed at eradicating streaming fraud,” alongside platforms like Spotify and Amazon Music, and other music companies like CD Baby and its parent company Downtown.
Music Business Worldwide
