This episode explores how intentional networks and meaningful recognition create long-term opportunity for women across the music industry. The conversation connects advocacy, technology, and community to the future of creative work.
Music careers are often discussed through the lens of performance, technology, or commercial success. Less visible is the connective tissue that sustains those careers: community, advocacy, and long-term support systems. In this episode of Music Evolves: Sonic Frontiers, the conversation centers on how structured networks and intentional recognition shape opportunity across the music industry.
Laura Whitmore, Founder of The Women’s International Music Network and Senior Vice President of Marketing at Positive Grid, shares how the organization was created to address a simple but persistent issue: women working across music often operate in parallel, rarely connected despite facing similar challenges. The network focuses on bridging that gap by creating shared spaces for visibility, mentorship, and collaboration across roles including artists, executives, engineers, marketers, and legal professionals.
A central anchor of that effort is the She Rocks Awards, now in its fourteenth year. The awards, taking place during The NAMM Show 2026, highlight women contributing across all layers of the industry, not only those on stage. The emphasis is on storytelling and presence, giving space for honorees to speak openly about career paths, obstacles, and resilience. That visibility has a ripple effect, normalizing leadership diversity and encouraging others to see themselves as part of the industry’s future.
The discussion also addresses how technology fits into this ecosystem. From AI-assisted music tools to digital platforms that broaden access, innovation plays a role when it amplifies creativity rather than replacing it. The focus remains on preserving human expression while using technology to remove friction and expand reach.
Another recurring theme is generational continuity. Younger creators and professionals bring new perspectives on consumption, creation, and community. Engaging them early, listening closely, and building inclusive pathways ensures the industry remains relevant and sustainable.
This episode frames music not only as art or business, but as a shared cultural system. Networks like this one reinforce that progress does not happen automatically. It is built through intentional connection, recognition, and sustained effort.
Laura Whitmore, Founder of The Women’s International Music Network and Senior Vice President of Marketing at Positive Grid | On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurabwhitmore/
Sean Martin, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine, Studio C60, and Host of Redefining CyberSecurity Podcast & Music Evolves Podcast | Website: https://www.seanmartin.com/
The Women's International Music Network: https://thewimn.com/
2026 She Rocks Awards: https://sherocksawards.com/
The NAMM Show 2026 is taking place from January 20-24, 2026 | Anaheim Convention Center • Southern California — Coverage provided by ITSPmagazine — Follow our coverage: https://www.itspmagazine.com/cybersecurity-technology-society-events/the-namm-show-2026
The NAMM Show 2026: https://www.namm.org/thenammshow/attend
Music Evolves: Sonic Frontiers Newsletter | https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7290890771828719616/
sean martin, laura whitmore, women’s international music network, she rocks awards, positive grid, namm, music advocacy, music marketing, women in music, music leadership, music, creativity, art, artist, musician, music evolves, music podcast, music and technology podcast
More from Music Evolves: https://www.seanmartin.com/music-evolves-podcast
Music Evolves on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnYu0psdcllTRJ5du7hFDXjiugu-uNPtW
Music Evolves: Sonic Frontiers Newsletter | https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7290890771828719616/
On Location with Sean and Marco: https://www.itspmagazine.com/on-location
ITSPmagazine YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@itspmagazine
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[00:00:00]
[00:00:49] Sean Martin: And hello everybody. You're very welcome to a new music evolves here on ITSP magazine. This is Sean Martin, your host, where I get to explore all kinds of things related to [00:01:00] music and even more pointedly, kind of the intersection of, of technology and music and the impact it has. Us as humans and, uh, I love music, which is why I love the show.
Get to, I get to host the show and get to talk to amazing people like my guest today, Laura Whitmore. How are you Laura?
[00:01:20] Laura Whitmore: Am Great. How are you?
[00:01:21] Sean Martin: I'm fantastic. I'm fantastic. We're enjoying a, a beautiful day here in, in New York for, didn't get much time outside, but, uh, it's a nice day today and, uh, we'll, we're gonna see each other in January in, in Southern California
during the NAM Show. I know it's coming up
[00:01:39] Laura Whitmore: next year.
[00:01:40] Sean Martin: Next year, next year, next month. Both are, both are true. Both are true. And, uh, yeah, I went to, uh, it's funny, I first time at NAM was last year and the, the experience was incredible. And, uh, I got to experience just a little bit of it. And so I'm excited for what's, what's to come this year and, [00:02:00] and your, your event, uh, caught my attention and, uh, so I'm excited to talk about. Talk about the awards you're, that you're hosting, the awards, uh, ceremony you're hosting. But I want to first hear a few words about who you are and then, then I wanna get into the, uh, the network that you created and, uh, the, the history of that. But maybe some of the things that you've been up to, uh, yourself for.
[00:02:24] Laura Whitmore: Well, yeah, I mean, to start off, I'm a, I'm a marketer. I work, uh, as senior vice president of marketing for a company called Positive Grid. And we make guitar amps and software and it's been a really fun, uh, last five or six years I've been working with them, running global marketing. So, uh, pretty crazy there.
And then of course I am a musician myself, a singer songwriter. Um, and I've been working in the music, music industry, specifically musical instrument industry for pretty much my whole career. I've worked with a lot of brands, um, and I, you know, I. [00:03:00] I'm a strong advocate for women in music, as you know. Um, and so I launched, uh, the Women's International Music Network way back in 2012 and, uh, have been the founder of that organization, advocating and educating women in the industry and kind of bringing us all together and creating great focal points for conversation.
And I host a lot of panels and, and events as well throughout the year, but also during the NAM Show. So. I guess I'm just, you know, one of those people who is in it. I love talking to people and, uh, bringing people together and if I, if I can get two people in a room and something comes out it for them, I feel so good because I, I love, um.
Yeah, I guess that's me in a nutshell. But I have to tell you that I can't even tell you how many Nam shows I've been to probably like over,
[00:03:53] Sean Martin: Wow.
[00:03:54] Laura Whitmore: between the summer show and the,
[00:03:56] Sean Martin: Right.
[00:03:57] Laura Whitmore: it's a.
[00:03:58] Sean Martin: That's a lot. [00:04:00] It's, it's super cool. And, uh, the, the energy we, uh, Marco and I, my co-founder of, of the publication, he and I recorded the, the intro of the na show kickoff with John and. Just the energy and, and the vision of what they're doing, um, is so important. And yeah, I feel I'm a, I pretend to be a musician.
Well, I used to used to play a lot, uh, as a kid. Um, now I just dabble around with stuff. And my uncle, uh, funny enough worked for Pearl Way back in the day. And,
[00:04:32] Laura Whitmore: Oh yeah.
[00:04:33] Sean Martin: and I feel like I, I should have a job like you working in the music industry. Even if I can't be a professional
recording artist, I'd, I'd
[00:04:42] Laura Whitmore: Well, you know, as a youngster, I just wanted to be a rock star, but my parents were accountants, so they were like, I think I probably attended one of the very first music business programs, um, back in the eighties. So I did get a degree in music and business and that sort of as where I've [00:05:00] been my, my whole career.
So that worked out.
[00:05:03] Sean Martin: So cool, so cool. Well, I'm, I'm glad
you're there and and you're able to do this. So
let, let's talk about the, the, the network. So coming up on it, is it cross the 14 year mark coming up on the 14 year mark?
[00:05:16] Laura Whitmore: Yeah, well, it's the 14th anniversary of our award show. Um, but I guess it's 13 years of the organization because, like we started it and then we had an award show like right at the beginning. So, um, but yeah, it's been a, it's been a bit, and the Women's International Music Network, our mission is to bring women together in the industry, and it's not just about the musical instrument industry.
We like really bring a broad, you know, array of women from different walks of the industry together, both for the award show and for other events that we do. Um, we work with other women's organizations and we share different, you know, events and news. It's happening in the industry on our website, um, which is the women.com, [00:06:00] T-H-E-W-I-M-N com.
Um, and you know, we've just really been in it trying to keep the conversations going. Bring more women into the industry, encourage people to think about it for their careers. Um, as I mentioned, just like bringing, you know, it's really interesting, like when you're in the musical instrument part of the industry, you realize like, that there's like this weird separation between like the recording.
The performing part for some reason. And we have just really like broken down that barrier in our organization. And we work with a lot of people from publishing record labels, um, artists, like all different, you know, um, music industry companies. And it's just been so great to connect people and create opportunities and educate folks.
So if there's no membership to be a part of it, you just sign up for the newsletter and then you get to know about all the, the great stuff that we're doing.
[00:06:54] Sean Martin: So did, when I, when I think about my show and I often [00:07:00] talk about it, there's the, the creators and the performers and the, then the distributors and, and then there's the, obviously the instruments and then the, the sound equipment, if they're performing and. There's all those parts and then I often forget, there's the whole business, there's the marketing, like,
like you're doing.
Um, there's the licensing and legal, all the, so much stuff going on in this industry. And, um, uh, how do you, how do you bring all those together for the folks that are part of your network?
[00:07:32] Laura Whitmore: Yeah, I mean we, we do specifically, like for example, the She Rocks Awards, which this is our 14th award show this year. Like we're very particular about making sure that the program covers. A wide, a wide array of different parts of the industry. And then when we do other events as well, when we do panels, we do live interviews.
We, um, you know, we send out news, we work with other organizations. We're really thoughtful [00:08:00] about making sure that there's representation from different parts of the industry. And so we've. We've created this great network of women, and a lot of times people would reach out to me and be like, Hey, I need this.
I wanna include this kind of person in my event or my panel or what I'm doing over here. And most often I will know somebody or I'll know who to ask. Um, and so we've created this sort of great interconnected space for women to represent and help each other and build, you know, more visibility in the industry.
[00:08:34] Sean Martin: So talk to me a little bit about the, the awards program. So the, the network kicked off with that. Um,
what, what? I mean, it's great to have awards. Um, what am I trying to say here? I think what, what, what, what's the, an award is an award, but there's, unless there's meaning behind it, right, I guess is really what I'm trying to get to.
So what, what's the, what's the real objective with having the awards[00:09:00]
other than just
[00:09:00] Laura Whitmore: Yeah. Well, it actually, the first idea was let's do an award show of during Nam for Women. Um, so the She Rocks Awards was kind of like actually the impetus for the whole organization to happen. Um, because as I started thinking about it, I was working with a lot of women in the industry. Prior to that I was actually writing a blog for Guitar World that interviewed like female guitar players and women in the industry and realized.
Hey, we don't know each other. Um, there's a lot of similarities in like, the issues that we face. Um, wouldn't it be great for us all to get together? Um, and so I thought, well, maybe I'll just make this event just to know people, you know. Um, but we started the awards. Show in 2012, and I thought, well, it can't just be about awards once a year.
Um, so I built the Women's International Music Network as like the home organization to be there year round. But the awards, you know, the impetus for it was, it's. Shine a [00:10:00] spotlight on what these amazing women have been doing and making other people realize, like there's women doing incredible things in all aspects of the industry, but they're just not visible, you know?
And, and even the ones that are like, you know, we had really big names at the Shoe Rocks Awards, huge A level performers, but they all get up and like tell their stories. And you sit there and go, oh my gosh, like I can't believe that this. Amazing visible person is struggling with like some of the same things that I'm, and you know, a lot of women have like similar issues or they wanna be inspired to hear these stories by these other women who have really like pushed through to make things happen.
And so, you know, it was really about creating that platform to share that inspiration, to tell those stories, to have this one night that feels like we all belong, you know, in that space. And if you come to the award show. Guarantee away feeling like crazy inspired and.[00:11:00]
Ton of performances, all these great speeches. We have dinner, um, it's like the classy event at nam. It's a gala. Um, and we have incredible gift bags from our sponsors and we include a ruffle and a silent auction and all that stuff. So it's a really special event. And yeah, I mean, over the years, I haven't added it up recently, but we've, I mean, it's our 14th year, so probably honored, you know, at least 150.
And, you know, you kind of look back and see like where, what has happened, you know, since then. And a lot of them have either like, become really integral in our organization and what we've done going forward, or they've connected with other women that they've met, um, from the awards or they're leading other areas.
So it's, it's been a really great, um, great event to kind of grow and develop over the years.
[00:11:57] Sean Martin: And it's amazing how [00:12:00] the the number of, uh. Women that are part of the music industry. I, one of the, so being in New York, I, I try to go as to as many music things as I can. One of my favorite over the summer was at the Lincoln Center. They had, um, a concert recognizing, um, basically the women behind the scenes in a lot of the, I don't know if you got to go to that or not, but,
[00:12:24] Laura Whitmore: No, I didn't, but that's cool.
[00:12:25] Sean Martin: so so incredible and just like the number of hits. And the number of women that were part of those hits that weren't the front people. Right. They were the backup singer, the guitarist behind the behind Prince or behind,
behind the, uh, uh, the, the people in the band. Um, but they made it. They made it what it was. And that to me is so inspirational all in itself. So are there any highlights from years past that that would be interesting?
Any, any memorable moments?
[00:12:57] Laura Whitmore: I mean, uh, people [00:13:00] ask me this question and I will say my favorite exceptions speech was Shirley Manson from Garbage, because she just told it like it was, she didn't, did not let any hold anything back. There was like crazy political things going on at the time, and she was, she was just so ballsy and great.
Um. So I loved that. Um, we had, uh, we honored Judy Collins like a few years ago, maybe like three or four years ago, and she just like started singing during her speech and she got the whole room to sing with her. I mean, being up there with like the B 50 twos or Melissa Etheridge and just like singing with them and dancing.
And I think maybe one of my favorite moments was Gloria Gainor. I'm gonna get emotional. Gloria Gainor performing. I will Survive. On stage and us being up there with her and getting to know her and just so many moments like that. You know, and I, I will say one [00:14:00] of the things that we, we've been talking about lately is how insane the Green Room is at the She Rocks Awards like people.
You're just hanging out with these people and you know, people are making connections. They're chatting, you're learning about their lives. It's just like such a super cool moment. Yeah,
[00:14:20] Sean Martin: Yeah, it's, it's easy to see a celebrity and forget that they're human,
right. And, uh, Yeah.
being, being behind the scenes, you get, you get to experience, uh, experience that for sure. Um, what can we expect this year?
[00:14:38] Laura Whitmore: Yeah, I mean, this year I, I try to change up the award show a little bit every year, so. There's some surprises, so I'm not gonna tell you all the surprises. Um, it'll be great. But we are honoring just an incredible array of women. And, and I'll start off with like our host this year, our Vicki Peterson from the Bengals, Andie Ner from Stitch Up Heart, who [00:15:00] we honored last year, and I loved her so much.
I asked her to come back and, and co-host. They'll both be performing, they'll be hosting, and they'll just be so fun. Um, and we have like a great array of honorees this year, including Carney Wilson from Wilson Phillips, and, um, she'll be performing with her daughter, which will be really cool. Um, we have Rachel Platten and it's like the 10th anniversary of the fight song.
Um, Rhonda Smith, uh, incredible bass player will be honored this year. Sophie Burrell, I don't know if you know her, but she's just this crazy great guitar player that was maybe one of the like, like the women on YouTube who have really like taken the reins and made a lot of like in person stuff happen from her celebrity on YouTube.
And she's a great player and she's being. To be our opening act as well by PRS. So she'll be actually performing a few songs, so she'll be really fun. Um, and we have Judith [00:16:00] Hill who, um, you know, she was in that documentary, 20 Feet from Stardom and she's worked with Prince and Michael Jackson. And she, she'll be performing with her like big family band, which they're so amazing, incredible energy.
And some of the behind the scenes people. Um, g. I can't remember the name of Tune Core
[00:16:24] Sean Martin: Yes.
[00:16:24] Laura Whitmore: be there. And, um, Heather Rafter, who is like an incredible attorney in the music industry who has helped so many, including the Women's International Music Network. Um, Kay Hanley and Michelle Lewis, who are from Sona Songwriters of North America.
Um, Lisa Warden from iHeart Radio. I've got my cheat sheet. We've got Rena, uh.
Designers from Japan, which I think is so cool. Um, they asked if we could honor her, and I looked her.[00:17:00]
In Japan are like product engineers, you know. Um, and then Susan Lip is our, um, Nam Honoree this year from Full Compass, and I probably Lisa McDonald's from Yamaha. So we just got this really great array of honorees and like I said, some special secret moments and just.
[00:17:21] Sean Martin: Uh, well, I'm, uh, I'm excited to, hopefully I'll get an invitation. I'm excited to, uh, at least see and hear what, what goes on there. Um, what, uh, I'm gonna shift kind of back to the, just to the network. Um, and maybe we'll wrap, start to wrap with some of this, the, the. The impact that it has, and you can, you can connect it to the awards as well.
Um, I think being recognized is important. Maybe help propel some people, but also being part of the network. Uh, you talked about some of the connections. Do you have any stories [00:18:00] from either or, or both?
[00:18:02] Laura Whitmore: I mean, there's been like so many young women that we've, we've met at, um, you know, we did a ton of in-person stuff prior to COVID and we've started to ramp that back up now. But we also, you know, it's kind of, it kind of enabled us to do a lot of online things. And there's been a lot of women that we've met over the years that have.
Entered the music industry. Some of them have like their own podcasts and other, you know, projects that they're working on now to help, um, other women, you know, forward, move forward in their careers. And I've just seen, I, I have that. It's funny because when we started out, we were literally like a breakfast at the Nam show.
We were like, oh. A breakfast, uh, cheapest meal of the day, you know? Um, and now I feel like we're this focal point, um, that has enabled, you know, a lot of women to feel like, oh, I belong here. Um, I can be more [00:19:00] visible. I've seen a lot more women in the panels and other events that happen, you know, during the NAM Show and other conferences as well.
Um, you know, Nam now has their own women's organization, women of Nam, which I'm, I'm, um, you know, active in and I'm really happy to see, you know, Nam get behind that and really be a, an amazing advocate for diversity in the industry. Um, you know, I just feel like, you know, back I mentioned how many MAM shows I've been to, like way back in the day you literally walked around thinking like, wow, I'm one of five women on the show floor, you know?
Um, and now I just see like a lot more visibility and I see. A lot of us knowing each other, welcoming each other, you know, helping each other get the next position if somebody's moving in their career or, you know, needs a resource. So I think that there's this just really great network of women in the industry now that our totally [00:20:00] open and willing to help each other and help, you know, younger women get their foothold in the industry.
So I can't say it's like hundred percent we're done. We're good. But I definitely see progress.
[00:20:11] Sean Martin: I, I wanna touch on that, and I certainly don't wanna get political, but that the, I mean, there's been a slight shift. I'll say backwards, uh, to
some degree. So how important is it that we maintain, focus and recognize that this is, this is important, which I
wholeheartedly believe it is.
[00:20:32] Laura Whitmore: I mean, I think like that's part of our mission, right? It's like you can't even let up for a minute. You know? Like you can't, you can't think like, oh, we're good. Like, we don't have to keep pushing about making sure there's diversity because like, like you said, there has been a step back and supporting diversity, at least in the United States, and it.
You, um, there's so [00:21:00] many deserving women. Can contribute so much to this industry. I think both from the business side, the artist side, but also like, you know, we're all in in this industry because we love it. But also, you know, you're, there's commerce and there's like, women are your customers too. You know, you don't wanna squeeze us out of the conversation or not really understand like how to communicate in the right way with those audiences.
So I just feel like it just. It just makes as much sense as ever, or more to, you know, to continue to talk about diversity, to continue to champion, you know, women and other minorities to be part of the industry. And I wanna give kudos to Nam because they've gotten behind our events, they've gotten behind other, they know elements of making sure that this conversation continues in, you know, in our industry.
And yeah, it's, uh. [00:22:00] We're still fighting.
[00:22:02] Sean Martin: Uh, well, we'll, we'll keep fighting. I'll, I'll join alongside you as well. I want to, it would be easy for me to, to, uh, to not bring this up just 'cause I'm enjoying everything else we're talking about, but the, the role of. Technology. Um, and I'd like your perspective on it because I think there's a lot of influence, uh, from people in your network and, and I obviously you're recognizing somebody who's building products, so just your, your thoughts on the role of technology here and, and how it helps,
[00:22:37] Laura Whitmore: Are you talking about ai?
[00:22:39] Sean Martin: uh, you can go there.
It's, it's a part of the technology, but I think even just, I mean, your own company, right?
[00:22:45] Laura Whitmore: Yeah. I mean,
[00:22:46] Sean Martin: building new things and using new things
[00:22:49] Laura Whitmore: Yeah. Yeah. I mean,
[00:22:51] Sean Martin: through new things.
[00:22:51] Laura Whitmore: there's always progress, right? Like you, I, I think, you know, we're the entertainment industry and we have to be at the pulse [00:23:00] of what, you know, how do people consume, right? And how do people, um, connect to, you know, what they love? I think technology. I, I, I think some of it's great.
You know, like even even ai, like I, I use my company's very AI forward. Um, we actually build AI integrated products and we always think about how can we help musician to, to express their own creativity, not replace it. And I think that's the key. If we're talking about technology that helps with efficiency, you know, all those things are good, but we don't wanna replace human creativity 'cause that's what makes us human.
You know, and so I think that there's, there's like a line somewhere. Um, and I wouldn't wanna cross that line because I, I, I do think it's important for us to recognize that we as humans bring [00:24:00] something really special and that special magic, um, to, to our society and to our planet. But I think you know, it, it's funny, we were talking about AI the other day and how.
At some point saying that something is AI enabled is gonna be like saying it's powered by electricity. Like back in the day when they finally got electricity, like there were people who were afraid of that too. Um, and you know, it's, it's one of those things that at some point we're gonna be like, oh yeah.
Like we don't even have to talk about that more because we know there's AI in there and it's helping it, this product do what it does. Um, I think just now it's all so new and hard to navigate and not know. You know, what, what is the right kind next step to take? So that's, that's always a tricky thing.
But I do think the key is, you know, let's help humanity be more creative and be more excited and connected, and not take those all the good stuff away, you know?[00:25:00]
[00:25:00] Sean Martin: Yeah. Still human. And I, I,
I, uh, I, I struggle with that line of, I called it being purist in, in the, in the creative aspects of it. And, and I forget who was telling me
[00:25:12] Laura Whitmore: It's tempting though, right? It's tempting. It's like, oh, do
[00:25:15] Sean Martin: you
[00:25:15] Laura Whitmore: this person or do I use this tool?
[00:25:17] Sean Martin: avoid it. I mean, I'm sure a lot of the software you use has AI in it, so even if I'm not
handing everything over to ai, it's, it's helping in some way.
But to your point, I'm,
I'm still guiding it and it's
[00:25:32] Laura Whitmore: yeah.
[00:25:33] Sean Martin: still
me presenting
[00:25:36] Laura Whitmore: I think that's still important. And we were even talking about it today. It's like, okay, we use all these tools to help us plan and, but they're, they never replace like that spark of genius that you have when you think of something that's never been done before and something great.
You know? So
[00:25:53] Sean Martin: Yeah. So talk
to me.
[00:25:55] Laura Whitmore: my,
[00:25:56] Sean Martin: Yes. I love it. Thank you for that. I think we're on the same [00:26:00] page.
Talk to me about the, the, the younger audience, um, and their role in keeping things alive and moving, bringing new ways of thinking about things and creative mindsets and,
and the importance of them being part of this.
[00:26:17] Laura Whitmore: Yeah, I mean, it's interesting because that, that there's like that trap there too, right? Like, you're like, who, who's buying the most guitars? Oh, it's, you know, 45-year-old, 50-year-old guys, right? But that means you can't stop marketing to other audiences because one day your audience is gonna get old and not buy anything anymore.
Right? Um, but I think, you know, there's so many exciting perspectives when you talk to younger people who are involved in music or, you know, really any industry. Um, you know, I have my, my kids are in their, their twenties and even when they were teenagers, like, it was so great to hear how they're connecting to things, how they're consuming things, what excites them.
Um, I [00:27:00] think it's really important. To continue conversations with other generations and make sure that, you know, you are, you're thinking about things in a new way. 'cause you do, you definitely lose sight of like how, what, what that new perspective is. And it's sometimes it's hard to relate to. Right. Um, I think in the music industry, especially like people of all ages consume music, people of all ages.
A guitar. Guitar. You know, there's like a actually a lot more, you know, girls and women picking up guitar. And we've definitely spent a lot of time, I did actually did a survey a couple years ago of girls and women to see like, what are their attitudes about guitar? What makes them wanna play? What makes them not wanna play?
You know, I act, I even had conversations with a bunch of music teachers who were teaching young girls to play guitar to see like, what's their experience working with. And it's different than working with, with boys. Um, there's a lot of different pressures and things girls have to deal with. Um, and it's [00:28:00] really, really interesting to hear that and to think about how are we connecting with like all generations and encouraging them to, to come together and wanna know what their opinions are.
And I actually good at
year. Networking event where they had industry professionals, net network with like people right outta college. And I ended up hiring somebody from, from that networking event for Positive Grid. So, um, and, and I really value like his, his opinions on things. So it's, it's, it's sometimes tricky because you're like, oh, how am I gonna find these people to talk to?
But I don't actually, I don't have.
[00:28:45] Sean Martin: I, I can see that, but also. Would just the, the fact that so many people can connect through music, even if it's different genres you like or different if you like listening or creating or whatever. There, there's always a connection in my mind. [00:29:00] And I, I primarily earn my living in the world of cybersecurity, which is so boring, I'll say it, compared to, compared to the music industry. Um,
[00:29:11] Laura Whitmore: It's so.
[00:29:13] Sean Martin: That's exactly, but it's amazing the number of people in, in that industry that are also musicians, DJs and drummers, guitarists, keyboard singers. I mean, almost
everybody I speak to, uh, at other events that are not music events. Somebody's nine times outta 10, they're, they're an artist in some way
[00:29:34] Laura Whitmore: Do you know it's how many people in every industry play some kind. They don't play anything but they love music and they actively participate in the music industry in some way. Even if it's just tickets, like it's, it's probably the majority of the population, you know? So it's a good thing.
[00:29:55] Sean Martin: he mentioned Judy. I saw her the other day, uh, perform
as a John Lennon [00:30:00] tribute was, she was amazing.
[00:30:02] Laura Whitmore: she's awesome. I hope I age like her. She looks fantastic.
[00:30:07] Sean Martin: I know. So let's wrap with this, Laura. Um, so I'll, let me first do this. So the, the event, uh, the 14th annual She walks awards will be on January 23rd. That's, uh, at the n I'm Hilton's part of the NAM show. So, uh, I encourage everybody who's gonna be at NAM to find a way to, uh. To be part of that if you can. And if you're not going to Nam, maybe uh, reconsider that so you can, uh, get to the award ceremony.
[00:30:40] Laura Whitmore: We also live the
[00:30:42] Sean Martin: Uh, there you go. Alright. There you go. Perfect. That's so, so cool. Um, so I wanted to make sure that, that I did that, but I'm gonna give you the final word for the, the community because I mean, I just pointed that, I mean, generally we, we [00:31:00] are a global community. Through music. Um, but your community maybe a, a, a call to call to action or an invitation to be part of it. Uh, what do you want people to know and, and how can they, how can they join you?
[00:31:15] Laura Whitmore: Yeah, I mean to, to, uh, you know, become involved with the Women's International Music Network, just go to the women.com, T-H-E-W-I-M-N com. You can sign up for our newsletter for free. We also are on, are on all the social platforms. We are really active on Instagram, Facebook, et cetera. Um, sharing. All kinds of news and events and what's going on, and opportunities.
We do giveaways, all kinds of stuff. Um, like I said, no charge, so, and we don't spam you with a lot of the email. So, and also, you know, we, um, we have volunteers help us at the She Rock Awards, so, um, we, I think we might be all set for this year, although I'm not a hundred percent sure, but we do bring in a lot of [00:32:00] people to help us.
And so if that's something you're interested in, if you're, um, you know, signed up. Or on our socials, you'll see when we have calls for things like that and we open up nominations for the 2027, she Rocks awards in May. So you'll get to know like when you can nominate somebody to be honored with the She Rocks Award.
So yeah, we're up there doing it.
[00:32:21] Sean Martin: That's fantastic. Well, Laura, it's a pleasure to, uh, to meet and chat with you and, uh, congratulations on, uh, tremendous success and, and, uh, best wishes for continued success in this important endeavor.
[00:32:35] Laura Whitmore: Thank you.
[00:32:36] Sean Martin: uh, congratulations to all the honorees. I'm excited to, uh, see who, who, uh. I don't know if there's a top prize.
What or what. What are some of the surprises that we're not talking about? No prizes. Surprises. There we go. Um.
[00:32:52] Laura Whitmore: It'll.
[00:32:52] Sean Martin: Yeah. So I hope, hope to see you there and, uh, hope everybody gets to, to enjoy Nam and the She Rocks Awards program and [00:33:00] becomes part of your, your network. And, uh, everybody listening to, uh, this music evolves.
Thanks for joining me. Hopefully I'll see you all in Anaheim as well in January. And, uh, stay tuned for more as I keep looking at how, uh, we can connect music to society. Through technology and of course through humanity. Thanks everybody.
[00:33:23] Laura Whitmore: Thank you.
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