Girls I Rate (GIR), a movement focussed on equality, diversity and opportunities for young women in the creative industries, has named a Leeds Conservatoire graduate as the top prize winner in the 2022 GETHEARD Future Hitmaker Competition.
Ramona Rose, a Leeds-based Americana artist who graduated from our Popular Music course in 2016, and London rappers Abigail Asante and Kween Deekayy have been selected from over 600 applicants as winners of the competition.
Pictured left to right: Abigail Asante, Kween Deekayy and Ramona Rose. Winners of the 2022 GETHEARD Future Hitmaker Competition. Photo via PRS for Music website
Ramona Rose, Abigail Asante and Kween Deekayy were awarded Future Hitmaker funding of £3,000, £2,000 and £1,000 respectively. Created in collaboration with Carla Marie Williams, the Future Hitmaker Award is powered by PRS Foundation’s Hitmaker Fund and supported by Spotify. The prize also includes PIRATE.COM studio time to hone their craft, apparel from ellesse and audio equipment from audio-technica arming the winners with the tools to take their songwriting and performing careers to the next level.
The final three songwriters wowed the panel of judges who are some of the most influential A&Rs in the music industry: Shauni Caballero, Senior A&R Manager at Sony Music Publishing, Jodeci Chin, Music & Talent Manager at Vevo, Lloyd Murray, A&R Manager at Warner Records and Jacqueline Pelham-Leigh, Relationship Manager - Black Music at PRS for Music.
The live final, hosted by KISS DJ Ellie Prohan, took place on Saturday 3 December at West London members' club, Kindred. Over 130 young women from across the UK attended the event to listen to feedback and network with industry executives.
Girls I Rate founder and GRAMMY-award winning songwriter, Carla Marie Williams said, “My team and I were really impressed with the quality of this year’s submissions, over 600 young women sent in their music for us to listen to! Congratulations to all those shortlisted – you are all future hitmakers in my eyes.”
Jacqueline Pelham-Leigh, Relationship Manager – Black Music at PRS for Music added, “The final ten shortlisted submissions were all really impressive, it was difficult to narrow it down to the final three. Congratulations to Ramona Rose, Abigail Asante and Kween Deekayy on being selected as this year’s Future Hitmakers, we are excited to see and hear what you create.”
