Even though we shouldn’t have to, I’d like to think we’re taking things into our own hands. After all, if they won’t give you a seat at the table, make your own table, right?

In general the representation for POCs in independent music is lackluster and it's not because there isn't any great music out there (there 100% is), but it's because the gate-keepers in the music industry are still white older men and this then reflects the lack of diversity.

Songs are really the driving force of our economy and employing the creators of songs seems like an obvious solution for a consistent supply of songs and in return, stable income for the creators.

This year is probably the first year in my life I've truly felt comfortable talking about it, mainly because I understand change doesn't happen when you're silent.

It’s a cold hard fact that compared with the actual level of diversity within UK society, the indie music world I’ve found myself in is overwhelmingly white, not just in terms of the the music and musicians who break through, but also in terms of behind-the-scenes decision makers, the journalists, the gatekeepers, people in positions of power within the industry.

Growing up, I didn’t see many Anglo-Indian women on 'Top of the Pops', I didn’t hear them on the radio, and I didn’t see them sell out shows at the o2. I believe that this is changing through my generation of musicians…

I honestly couldn’t recommend the Latch mentorship more, it gave me an amazing platform and I’m sure the new Latch mentees will love the experience just as much as I did and benefit from all the invaluable mentoring and expert knowledge.

Open Door is Latch’s mentorship scheme. 2021 will be the second year of the program with six talented individuals gaining music industry experience. The mentorships will consist of weekly video calls, access to learning resources, seminars…

With that potential audience out there, how can an artist reach them without the expertise the music industry traditionally provided? That's what we want to do with Feed... build the tools that give artists the marketing and financial resources they need.

“I work with Roo and reach out to brands that align with the artists we work with. I pitch ideas to brands to collaborate with our very talented artists. It's beneficial to both the artist and the brand as it increases exposure and helps break into new markets...”

Once the mentorship began, it was clear that Open Door was exactly the chance I needed. Weekly tasks set by my mentors Hannah and George helped sharpen my skills: drafting up press releases and pitches, scouring the web for new bands and the right places to plug them…

“My first professional job, in PR, was at a huge company with SO many people. I soon learned that you’ve got to be confident and put yourself out there if you want to make a mark with the work that you do. Also, to get over my fear of phone calls because they really do make your life so much easier….”

Speaking with multiple producers, pluggers, presenters, and more within the radio industry has helped me construct a path as I take my first steps into my career. Regular meetings with my allocated mentor were scheduled where I learned about radio plugging and the impact of this…

“graduating from uni was probably the biggest wakeup call to the realities of life that I've ever experienced. I knew Journalism and PR weren't easy careers to get into but I REALLY underestimated how hard that was and I also underestimated the state of the job market when I was leaving school too.”

Little Pink Book was born out of my passion for elevating women in the music industry and my love for curating events. At the time there was a lot of negativity around being a woman in music with campaigns such as Me Too and gender pay gap…

“I did what every teenager was doing at the time, I made a Tumblr blog. My goal was to post a song review at least once per day, which I did for four months until I received two offers, to be a writer for global online music blog Unrecorded and to be an A&R Scout for Los Angeles label IAMSOUND Records…”

“For us, streaming strategy is more holistic. We're always talking to people from across the industry to understand the ins and outs of DSP best practices. There are loads of amazing tools that can help to analyse the data and direct further action.”

“I think this applies to all industries, but I learned to not be afraid of running with any opportunities that are presented to me. I was quite anxious at the start and I generally like things to be straightforward. But it’s really important to be open to different opportunities…”

Safe to say, Open Door exceeded my every expectation. From day one, I was in contact with my mentor, Alex, who became an anchor and hugely helpful sounding board throughout the coming weeks. I was consistently impressed by the panels Latch curated, covering areas like…

“I have always loved music and am known in my friendship group for sharing new music but as I had originally pursued a career in fashion I thought I’d left it too late. It goes to show that with enough knowledge and experience, in time those skills become transferable.”