Amazon Music joins forces with POWER UP to create vital space for Participants with a brand new residential strand

21 November 2025 - Press release

 

• Residential took place in collaboration with Amazon Music in Manchester at NQ from 19th – 20th November for the Year 5 Participants

• 5 new members joining the POWER UP Executive Steering Committee including POWER UP Year 1 Participants

 

POWER UP announces today that the new collaboration with Amazon Music has enabled a landmark new residential strand for the POWER UP network to take place in Manchester for the Year 5 cohort of the POWER UP Participant Network.

Hosted at NQ by POWER UP Year 4 Participant Latisha Pemberton over 19th – 20th November, the brand new residential created a vital space for the Year 5 cohort to build links and spend quality time together through organised sessions with themes including ‘Career Journey Mapping’, ‘Music as Recovery’, ‘Musical Meditation’, ‘'In Conversation between two legendary POWER UP Executive Steering Committee members, Jackie Davidson MBE and Paulette Long OBE and writing/production sessions as well as opportunities to foster deeper personal and professional bonds through networking and socialising.

The collaboration will also see Amazon Music HQ provide the venue for POWER UP’s in-person networking days in early 2026. The event, titled ‘POWER UP Money Day’, will offer a comprehensive deep dive into access to capital for founders in the music and creative industries, exploring pathways including grant funding, angel investment, private equity and venture capital where past speakers have included the likes of Jenny Tooth OBE (UKBAA) and Andy Ayim MBE (Angel Investment School).

Find out more about each of the Year 5 Participants here.

Laura Lukanz, Head of Music Industry UK ANZ, Amazon Music said, “We're thrilled to partner with POWER UP on their residential program. At Amazon Music, we believe that creating meaningful spaces for connection, learning, and collaboration is essential for fostering talent and driving positive change in the music industry. The team and I are looking forward to continuing to work alongside POWER UP to support their vital mission of empowering black creators and industry professionals, while helping to provide the kind of immersive educational and networking experiences that can transform careers.”

Senior POWER UP Manager, Yaw Owusu said, “Our first POWER UP Reset Residential was an opportunity for our Year 5 Participant Programme cohort to come together to reflect, unwind, collaborate and connect. With a number of activities ranging from sessions on using music to recover to a fireside chat between Ben Wynter, Jackie Davidson and Paulette Long to collaborative recording sessions to soundbaths and much more, this residential has been a vital respite for our participants as they continue on their mission to break through their own career glass ceilings and systemic barriers in the UK music industry"

Additionally, POWER UP announces that 5 new members have been added to the POWER UP Executive Steering Committee (ESC). The ESC, which was set up in 2020 to advise and steer POWER UP, meets multiple times each year and features some of the most influential Black professionals in the UK music industry today.

 

The new members joining the POWER UP Executive Steering Committee are:

• Charisse Beaumont – Founder and CEO of Black Lives in Music
• Donae’O – Artist, Producer and Label Owner (and Year 1 POWER UP Participant)
• Eunice Obianagha – Founder, Enspire Management and UK Music Head of Diversity (and Year 1 POWER UP Participant)
• Nick Eziefula – Partner at Simkins LLP (and Year 1 POWER UP Participant)
• Selina Wedderburn – Industry Professional (and Year 1 POWER UP Participant)

 

Eunice Obianagha, Founder, Enspire Management, Head of Diversity at UK Music and Year 1 POWER UP Participant said of joining the Executive Steering Committee, “Being part of a network of Black peers who share similar experiences and ambitions has been invaluable.

I’m genuinely excited to join the Executive Steering Committee of POWER UP and help shape the next chapter of this initiative.“

Ben Wynter, Co-Founder of POWER UP said, "I want to extend my deepest thanks to Amazon Music and in particular Paul, Laura, Marco and Dellessa for helping bring this collaboration to life. Their support has enabled us to launch our first-ever POWER UP residential, something we’ve long envisioned but simply didn’t have the budget to realise until now.

This residential will give our cohort the rare opportunity to spend meaningful time together, building networks, strengthening both professional and personal bonds, and creating the space for collaborations and business opportunities to flourish. It’s exactly this kind of investment that helps us continue moving the needle on equity and equality across the music industry.

I’m also delighted to welcome our new ESC members. Charisse brings an incredible depth of experience, insight and expertise, and her presence opens the door to even greater collaboration between POWER UP and BLiM as we move forward.

When Joe and I created POWER UP, it was always my vision for participants to find a pathway into the ESC. As we know, access to board roles can be particularly difficult for Black professionals, with “lack of experience” often cited as a barrier to entry. The ESC would help to bridge that gap, and provide fellows the opportunity to gain hands-on experience at a governance level while also bringing their invaluable first-hand knowledge of POWER UP to help guide and strengthen the programme from within.”

Co-founded by PRS Foundation and Ben Wynter, POWER UP’s Participant Programme elevates pioneering Black talent and is a key feature of the long-term initiative launched to address anti-Black racism and racial disparities in the music sector.

The programme - specifically designed to fit the needs of each annual cohort of participants - assists in the development of their careers and practice, to empower creators and professionals to break through glass ceilings and accelerate change across the industry. This includes grant support of up to £10,000 alongside capacity building masterclasses, mentoring, coaching, mental health and wellbeing support, and access to added value support from POWER UP Partners and the peer network which is integral to breaking down barriers.

Find out about all the POWER UP Participants so far, here.

Since POWER UP was launched in early 2021, the demand for a fairer and equitable music industry cannot be disputed. Over 1,697 Black music creators and industry professionals have applied for a place on the programme which is undoubtedly helping participants to break through glass ceiling barriers. (see: NOTES TO EDITORS)

The wider POWER UP Movement is harnessing the experiences of participants and Executive Steering Committee members to inform powerful, meaningful and wide-reaching action. During this fifth programme year, POWER UP will be publishing a ‘5 Years of POWER UP’ report - highlighting the impacts of the programme while sharing learnings in order to inspire active approaches to tackling anti-Black racism and further actions to improve the experiences of Black creatives in music.